What is SKIN pH

Your skin has a pH scale of about 5.5  The pH scale determines how acidic or basic something is. The pH scale ranges from 1-14. 1-6 is acidic. 7 is neutral. Matters ranging from 8-14 are categorized as alkaline or basic. The pH of the skin determines how to destroy harmful microbes and exposure to pollution. Ideally, the skin needs to be acidic to keep moisture in and to deflect harmful microbes.

WHY PAY ATTENTION TO SKIN pH

pH balances are more serious then one might assume. Skin imbalance can be an indication of an underlying health issue. Every section of the body has to keep a certain pH balance to keep homeostasis. pH balances start at the kidneys. The kidneys are responsible for filtering out waste and keeping bases needed for the body. Everything on the surface of the skin is a direct reflection of how the body’s organs are functioning. The internal organ structures affect the skin, hair and nails. This can be commonly seen in Xerosis . Which is a medical term for extremely dry skin. Without vitamin A, the skin cannot repair itself properly.  This is linked with people who are on dialysis. This is because the dialysis increases vitamin A levels and decreases sweat. Vitamin A is essential to immune function.

VITAMIN A 

Vitamin a is responsible for the production of efficiency of white blood cells.  Vitamin A is also a contributor to epithelial cells . The human boat is able to obtain vitamin A and deliver it to the lymphatic system. Even though Vitamin A is usually gained from food sources. However dialysis for the kidneys may experience an imbalance of micronutrients and vitamins such as vitamin A.  

Healthy skin ranges from 4 and 7. However skin pH vary depending on the focused area. Areas that are more exposed to the outside world are more basic. Parts of the body that are not as exposed are more acidic, such as the armpits and the genitali region. As stated before, every organ in the body has to keep a pH balance. Acidosis is an indication of the body not being able to expel acid from the lungs and airways. 

  Lactation acidosis is related to metabolism. And it happens due to lactic acid build up in the bloodstream. In relation to skin, the acid guards the skin and helps to retain moisture and soak in useful antioxidants. Skin that is high in acidic is often oily and inflamed . If it is too acidic the rate for acne and eczema are at risk. Lactate acid build up starts due to oxygens deficiency in the muscles. Therefore the muscles are not able to break down lactic acid and send it to the bloodstream to be filtered out.  . A constant buildup of lactic acid and lover impairment can lead to jaundice, which is the yellowing of the skin. 

The  body can be too basic due to respiratory malfunctions. In this case, there is a lack of carbon dioxide present. And it over powers the oxygen in the lungs. This type of alkaline in the body is more manageable. And is managed by breathing in and out. Overall alkaline can effect the stick, can cause dry skin and increase wrinkles.

How to protect skin pH 

Beside the organs constantly needing to be at homeostasis, factories such as soap pH, skincare and water pH all can affect the skin's barriers. Most soap on the market is basic, which is why a lot of people suffer from dry skin.  The more basic pH skin has, the drier it tends to be. If one constantly uses a basic soap on top of a normally basic skin pH, they will suffer from chronic dry, and itchy skin. Many people miss out on using lotion after bathing and rinsing soap.  Lotion’s pH is usually around 5-6 . Which is acidic and will restore the skin's barrier. 

The face washes on the market have a pH or 7-9. Ranging higher on the basics. This is good only if your skin is more acidic and oily.  Most people do not read the back of any skin care bottle. That is because advertising on social media, and the appearance of the bottle is just enough to persuade someone with acne to buy. Consumers should opt to buy brands that are more sensitive towards the skin, even when treating acne. Brands such as CeraVe and La Roche-Posay are gentle cleaners, even to target acne. These brands are effective in protecting the skin Barrier and targeting specific skin needs. CeraVe face washes are on an average of 6.2 . Which is generally neutral to the skin. CeraVE Foaming wash for oily skin cleans the oil, but also has nourish ingredients to balance out the formula. It includes ceramides for the skin's barrier. Hyaluronic acid to plump and moisturize the face for direir skin. Lastly, Niacinamide promotes an even tone and hydration. Another popular skin brand is La Roche- Posay because they’re skincare is beneficial to the skin barrier. They clean the oil without stripping the skin. These cleaners have a pH of 5.5 which will not affect the skin barrier but encourage it. Even for super sensitive skin, they remain with a simple formula for the base of the face wash. And they state what skin type is best for the product 

Neutrogena is a very popular brand, however not the best. Face washes targeted for acne are rated at 3.3-4 on the pH scale. Which is extremely acidic for the skin. Especially if you are dealing with oily skin. And may cause more irritating effects after usage. Neutrogena is marketed towards acne, but does not inform the consumer of which skin type the products should be used. Furthermore, Neutrogena has strong color dyes and fragrance in their products. Fragrance in products are unnecessary and cause more irritation 

REFERNCES 

Cher ye, K. (2022, August 25). What’s so important about skin ph? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/whats-so-important-about-skin-ph. 

Emily Jorge, D. (2018, December 31). Kidneys & your skin: No kidding. The Derm Centers. https://www.thedermcenters.com/kidneys-your-skin-no-kidding 

Whelan, C. (2022, March 25). What can vitamin A do for your skin?. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skincare/vitamin-a-for-skin

Whelan, C. (2022a, March 16). Lactic acidosis: Symptoms, causes, treatment & more. Healthline.