pH for please hold it right
Skin pH has been recognized as an important factor and has been investigated for almost a century now! Acid mantle is a very thin film on the skin surface composed of sebum and body sweat. The composition is slightly acidic due to the combination of the amino acids coming from from sweat and fatty acids in the sebum.
Throughout our life span, skin’s pH changes from near neutral (around 7) of newborn skin, to slightly acidic (lower pH) within your first year of life, and then gradually becomes more alkaline (higher pH) as we age. As PH INCREASES WITH AGE, the acid mantle can become compromised.
Why acidic pH matters?
- The pH determines the appropriate activity of IMMUNE cells and key enzymes.
- SKIN RENEWAL process and skin cells integrity is maintained and balanced through a pH below 5.0.
- SKIN RECOVERY and regeneration are closely related to slightly acidic pH.
- A slightly acidic skin surface provides SKIN DEFENCE by supporting antimicrobial peptide production and healthy skin microbiome balance. A low pH environment inhibits the growth of pathogenic (bad) bacteria and supports the growth of commensal (good) microflora.
Skin pH disturbing factors
There are many factors that can affect skin surface pH, such as:
- WATER– tap water pH ranges between 6.5-8.5 according to the EPA standard, and a treatment with it can increase skin pH even by one unit for a couple of hours.
- CLEANSERS– frequent cleansing may cause prolonged skin pH increases that can adversely influence the barrier repair mechanism and cause skin irritation.
- COSMETICS– most cosmetic products have a pH above 5 (between 5.5 and 7.00) and can have a major impact on the skin surface pH, which has health implications.
Consequences
- Skin recovery is delayed.
- Removal of the good bacteria is enhanced, which facilitates pathogenic flora colonization.
- Protein swelling is enhanced and the lipid barrier disturbed, which makes it easy for irritants to penetrate the skin.
- Essential skin enzymes are negatively influenced, which further impairs barrier function.
Skin pH friendly skincare
Maintaining a slightly acidic skin pH is crucial for SKIN HEALTH. Every skin care product is a potential skin surface modifier, which is why we pay extra attention to it and adjust the pH of our formulations to the skin’s physiological level during development. Our skin moisturisers were IN-VIVO TESTED to prove their pH-balancing effect after application!