Understanding your skin’s pH is crucial to improved skin health. It’s used in the health of your, skin covering ranging from hydration, barrier function and many others. What is skin pH, why is it significant, what does skin pH look like, and how do you maintain skin pH?
Understanding pH
Before discussing skin pH, it would be important to know
what exactly is pH. pH is simply an abbreviation for "potential of
hydrogen" and measures the strength of acidity or alkalinity within a
substance on a 0 to 14 scale of pH: Acid: less than ph of 7 Neutral: ph. of 7
is Alkaline (or basic) : greater than ph. of 7
Free water has a net neutrons’ charge of 7, which makes it a
neutral solution. Acidic is below 7, whereas alkaline is above 7.
What is skin pH?
It can be called the pH level or measure of the acidity or
alkalinity that exists on the skin's surface. That perfect pH is to be measured
between 4.5 and 5.5, hence being a bit of an acid. This slight acidity is very
much useful for maintaining the integument and its health because of its
barrier function.
Acid Mantle
The acid mantle is the thin layer comprising of sebum or natural oils and sweat on the outermost skin layer. It plays many functions, in some ways:
- Barrier Function: This prevents bad bacteria, viruses, and
other environmental pollutants from reaching inside the skin.
- Hydration: The acid mantle prevents dryness and flakiness on
the skin by keeping it hydrated.
- Microbial Balance: It allows the acid mantle to favor all the good skin flora while inhibiting the harmful microorganisms.
Why does it matter if the skin is slightly acidic?
There is an optimal pH of the skin for the following reasons
1. Intact Skin Barrier
The balance of the pH helps keep the integrity of the skin
barrier functions. High alkalinity which would make the pH to be greater than
5.5 weakens it, hence more permeable. A higher level of permeability will give
a higher loss of water and entry of irritants as well as damaging pathogens.
2. Hydration
This directly affects hydration as pH alters its capacity to
retain moisture. In the acidic case, the occurrence of TEWL is reduced, which
thus means conserving hydration in the skin. An imbalance, therefore, can occur
and, as such, may cause a shift in pH in the state formed to dry and dehydrated
skin.
3. Acne and Other Skin Conditions
The skin pH causes the formation of acne and other
disorders. If there exists an alkaline condition, the bacteria responsible for
multiplication cause acne, whereas normal condition maintains a balance of the
ecological condition of the skin. Others are eczema and psoriasis that become
worse through the pH disorders.
4. Product Effectiveness
Most of the skincare products are developed best to be
operational at a certain ph. Therefore, products having very high or low pH
will not function as expected. They can irritate the skin or produce adverse
effects.
Factors affecting the pH of the Skin
There are a number of factors that determine the pH of the
skin. Some of them are discussed below:
1. Skincare Products
Other skin care products which have active ingredients that
severely impact the pH levels of the skin are cleansers, toners, and
moisturizers. Harsh soaps, for example, and other varieties of alkaline
cleaners have disrupted natural acidity of the skin.
2. Diet
Others involve the type of diet which can dictate the pH in
your skin. This is a diet full of sugars and other processed foods with more
inflammation as well impacting the health condition of your skin, though it
influences your pH balance too. A healthy diet comprised mostly of fruits,
vegetables, and healthier fats is meant to yield healthy skin.
3. Environmental Factors
Holding such conditions as humidity, temperature, and
pollution, some changes occur in the skin ph. Dry and windswept climatic
conditions remove water, hence, making its pH alkaline.
4. Aging
The pH of a skin changes with time altering its value. The
longer the age, the skin is more alkaline to cause dryness and possibly other
disorders.
5. Hormonal Changes
Hormonal changes, especially in adolescence, menstruation,
and pregnancy, may also affect the skin ph. These may stimulate oil production,
hydration level, and sensitivity to skin.
View More: Dry Skin in Winter Home Remedies
How to Maintain Skin pH
Keeping the skin pH stable is important to keep the skin
healthy. This is how you keep the pH of your skin stable:
1. Use Right Cleansers
Use gentle, pH-balanced cleansers that are sulfate-free and
alkaline-free. Search for products that state to be 4.5 to 5.5 in ph.
2. Avoid Over-Exfoliating
Over-exfoliating is bad because it breaks down the skin
barrier and disrupts its ph. Exfoliate only 1-2 times a week. Use gentle Exfoliants.
3. Hydrate Your Skin
Use moisturizing and serum products with hyaluronic acid,
glycerin amongst others. This keeps the moisture on the surface other than
allowing acidification to go on.
4. Use of Toners in Correct Manner
When applying toners, make it a formula with no alcohol and
milder acids type, which encompasses AHAs or BHAs that still allow holding the
acidification.
5. Diet
Phytochemical-density moderation involving foods such as
avocado, nuts, seeds, fruit, and vegetables and the moderation of
vitamin-density involving the same foods.
6. Skin Care
Apply sunscreen every day as a defense against penetration
of UVs in the skin that will affect the pH balance, thus resulting in early
aging. Buy products with broad-spectrum SPF and is pH balanced.
7. Hydrate
Nourish your skin from inside by taking water all through
the day and night. This general applies to all body functions; therefore it is
important to help the skin through proper hydration.
When to See a Dermatologist
However if you feel or someone feels that they have abnormal skin pH or they have always had a skin disease in their whole lifetime, one may need to see the dermatologist. Here are some signs that you need to visit a dermatologist:
- Severe Dryness and Flakiness: Whenever your skin appears to
be dramatically dry and flaky, an imbalance of pH can cause this.
- When Acne is Chronic: A condition which does not alleviate
with self-medications might require expert attention.
- Flaring Up Eczema or Psoriasis: In case your ailment
increases or worsens. You have always to look to the doctor for treatment.
- Irritation or Allergic Reactions: The moment the products start irritating you or you get allergic reactions such as itching and redness; look at what it is.
Conclusion
The pH in your skin falls under general health; you will be
closer to achieving the very healthy, good, and glow complexion if only you
know what it means and how it should be maintained. You could find the perfect
product that may support this very natural barrier of skin of yours or healthy
life with a dermatologist consultation about anything.
Please book an appointment with the best Dermatologist in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and all major cities of Pakistan through Instacare, or call our helpline at 03171777509 to find a verified doctor for your disease.
