The skin performs many functions, the main one being to protect our body from the outside, with which it also puts us in contact.
The good news is that pH plays a central and indispensable role in ensuring this protective barrier functions perfectly .
The bad news is that the skin's pH is under constant attack from external aggressions : smog, temperature changes, chemical substances.
Skin care products help to maintain the pH at its ideal level and therefore the skin itself is protected.
What is pH?
pH is a physical quantity , discovered in the early 1900s, which indicates the degree of acidity or basicity of a solution.
The neutral pH value is 7, that of pure water at 25°. The general pH value of the skin is between 4.7 and 5.7 5. A value lower than 7 is acidic and higher is alkaline, if it follows that the natural pH of the skin is slightly acidic for this reason we speak of acid mantle.
The pH of each person's skin varies slightly based on gender, body part and various factors including hormones so it does not remain identical over the years.
Why is skin pH important?
When we talk about pH we are referring to the skin's acid mantle which is very important for the health of the protective barrier.
- Neutralizes aggressive alkaline substances.
- It reduces bacterial proliferation.
- Maintains the ideal environment for the skin's natural bacterial flora.
In these conditions the skin becomes dehydrated, more sensitive and reactive to environmental factors and more prone to infections, eczema, dermatitis
The external factors that most stress the skin are
- chemical agents
- alkaline based cosmetics
- temperature and humidity changes
- pollution and dirt
- washing too frequently or with very hot water
Then there are internal factors that modify the pH
- Genetics, biological age and hormones affect the pH of the skin.
- For example, a newborn's skin has an acid mantle that is not yet fully formed and has super delicate skin.
- During periods of hormonal change (such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause), the pH of the skin also changes.
