Acids & Bases. Why Should I Care?

When it comes to skincare and products, pH really does matter.

The acid mantle is a thin, hydrolipidic film that plays an important role in skin barrier function as well as immunity. A disrupt of the acid mantle can lend itself to lower layer damage & impaired function. Since the health of your skin depends on pH, if your cleanser is too harsh, it will strip the skin of its protective capabilities leaving you susceptible to damage, infection and disease. This stripping of skin creates an environment where it becomes difficult for it to return to its optimal pH before you wash again, causing a domino effect. This can lead to a variety of problems including but not limited to topical infections, redness, excessive oil production, dry breakouts and a parched dermis. To reduce the risk of disrupting your acid mantle, it is important to make sure that you use a gentle pH balanced cleanser, moisturizer daily and exfoliate weekly.

Don’t forget that your skin is the first line of defense against the environment, pathogens & pollutants. We must do all that we can to keep the skin functioning at optimum health. 

 

Resources:

http://www.beautymagonline.com/beauty-articles-4/1105-ph-cleansers-2

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18489300

http://www.justaboutskin.com/skin-ph-acid-mantle/

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty/ph-levels