The History of NO SOAP™

Thomas Edwin Bamford, Sr., MD had a general practice which he carried out in his home office at 418 North Delaware Street, Syracuse, New York, North America. An orphan himself, he could not afford much soap in England where he was born and, later, in Wales where his father worked in the mines. He continued growing up in the tenements of New York City. After his mother died, he and his brother had to go to Remsen, New York, as a farm hand. The supportive Welch community there must have recognized his potential and helped him complete his formal education.

Though the air could be rough, wet and cold there, it was not until he began practice in upstate New York that he saw patients who, every winter, developed painfully dry, cracking skin. Over time he recognized the importance of avoiding too much soap, then the harsh soaps (Ivory is still fine for those who live in Florida), then the milder soaps (Cashmere Bouquet). He then had the sudden insight, NO SOAP™ would be best way to promote healthy skin.

This novelty product was quick to clear the damaged skin of his General Practice patients in Syracuse, New York, where he had in home office at 418 North Delaware Street. He also served as the Medical Director of a large psychiatric hospital, where it is likely NO SOAP™ was also a blessing to patients.

A Family Tradition

Thus far four generations of North American Drs Bamford have promoted this skin saving alternative to traditional, lye based, defatting skin products (any soap, body wash or shampoo).

Thomas E. Bamford, Jr., MD followed a course at Colombia P&S, then practiced Psychiatry and Neurology on Park Avenue in New York City, New York, while he taught at Colombia University. Later he took his family to Bronxville, New York. Although he did not base his Psychiatric and Nerurologic practice only on alternative medicne, NO SOAP™ became a watchword for those who came and also said, “I’m going crazy with this skin burning and itching. It happens every winter. Is there no hope or help for me?” Tom never made claims that this simple remedy, just a novelty item really, prevented suicides.

Joel TM Bamford, MD majored in Latin America Studies at Stanford University (California) and attended Johns Hopkins Medical School (Baltimore). Fascinated by Central and South America where he was first exposed to Dermatology on Project Hope (Guayaquil, Ecuador, 1964, working with Dermatologist Dr. Evelyn Wallace of Carmel, California). Joel has designed, carried out and published research on many of the most common afflictions of the skin:

1. OTC shampoo is effective to clear Tinea versicolor a common mild skin condition.
2. Evening Primrose Oil Is Not Helpful for Atopic Eczema
3. Rosacea is not caused or made worse by Helicobacter pylori

Local foundations have been able to help him fund these projects (The Duluth Clinic Foundation and the Miller-Dwan Foundation).He has been lucky enough to teach Dermatology to Dermatologists, Family Practitioners, medical students and nurses in La Cieba (Honduras), Quito (Ecuador), Asuncion (Paraguay) as well as Duluth, MN (North America). As he left the University of Miami Dermatology training program, he brought North, what assistant professor, doctor Richard Caplan recommended, “Alpha Keri oil is the first and essential thing to pack when you head to Chicago or anywhere North.”

It only took one winter to anecdotally observe that Ivory cuts oil, but leaves the skin at great risk in the north central USA. First, Joel had his patients cut back from Ivory to Dove, use Alpha Keri oil and apply heavy creams (Nivea, Eucerin to name a few). But, only when he began to demonstrate NO SOAP™ bars that his patients returned with a pleased, satisfied smile, “Doc, my skin is great now. I can enjoy the winter here again. Eh, thanks.”

Listen to a recent DorkForestRadio.com interview with Dr. Bamford about NoSoap.

Sarah Bamford Seidelmann, MD is a board certified Pathologist with extra training in Dermatopathology. She began her practice in Wausau (Wisconsin) and says, “So far my patients never ask questions about their skin. But, during the winter months I often see the ravages of using any soap on the skin. From what I’ve observed of dried cracked skin in association with severe skin infection, I believe some skin infections and death might be attributed, in part, to the use of soap products. I strongly advise NO SOAP™ to the quick ( ie, the living people), mainly my friends and family.”