Understanding pH Skin Balance

March 1, 2024

Did you know your skin is protected by its own shield called the ‘acid mantle’? The acid mantle plays a pivotal role in maintaining the overall wellbeing of our skin, and it’s only when things go wrong that we wonder what's happening!

This slightly acidic film is composed of sebum, sweat, and natural skin oils and is responsible for keeping lipids and moisture in while blocking out germs, pollution, toxins, and bacteria. Its acidity, measured by pH ("potential hydrogen”), is crucial for it to function properly and is a measure of the acid-alkaline ratio of any substance.

The ideal pH for adult skin is 4.5–5.5 pH, while newborns are closer to 7 pH

What Happens When pH is Too High or Too Low?

When the acid mantle is compromised by unbalanced pH, the skin becomes vulnerable to infections and irritations. Not to mention making you feel stressed! Skin conditions like dermatitis, acne, and eczema can be made worse.

High pH or alkaline skin symptoms may be caused by hormonal changes (i.e. decreased estrogen, thyroid or autoimmune issues), over washing, or using harsh cleansers and can lead to dryness, redness, sensitivity, and itching. While conditions such as eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis are complex, they too can respond positively to rebalancing the acid mantle.

Low pH below 4.5–5 pH causes inflamed and irritated skin that will have you reaching for calming and healing creams.

The Role of Diet and Hydration

Maintaining a balanced diet that's rich in antioxidants, omega rich fats and phytoestrogens will support the acid mantle by reducing inflammation & stabilizing estrogen levels, while hydration increases your skin's moisture content.

Eat foods rich in antioxidants, like fruits, vegetables, and herbal teas
Use oils rich in antioxidants, omegas, medium-chain fatty acids, and Vitamin E
Tofu, flax & sesame seed, Vit B2, B6 & Vit D support estrogen balance
Stay hydrated. Try for eight cups of water a day
Limit sugar and alcohol intake
Those with highly alkaline skin conditions may consider regular use of probiotics and apple cider vinegar, consumed a few hours apart can be more conducive. (ACV - diluted before a meal.)

A Good Skin Routine
Consistency and simplicity are the key. Everyone's skin is different, so it's essential to pay attention to how your skin reacts to different products and adjust your routine accordingly.

Wash in warm but not hot water (which can disrupt the acid mantle)
Use natural cleansers and toners which help balance and sooth the skin
Moisturising is crucial for maintaining healthy skin. For those with quite sensitive or irritated skin, perhaps consider our Skin Karma and Balance Face Lotion and for inflamed skin: After Sun
Use sunscreen to protect from UV and environmental stress, perhaps our natural broad-spectrum Sun Guard may suit your skin and routine
For dry flakey skin consider adding body oil to your creams for extra hydration & pH balance

Each Skyezone product is formulated to achieve the pH suitability for its function and tested with our Milwaukee pH Monitor then adjusted as required.
For example, Cleopatra Cleanser is 4.0 – 4.5 pH, while our face lotions are in the 5.5 – 6.0 pH range.
Our herbal Shampoo is 7.0–7.5 pH to open and clean hair follicles, while our herbal Conditioner is 4.5–5.0 pH to close and protect hair follicles and scalp tissue.

Best wishes in your skin care journey, and hopefully you will achieve that often-elusive balance we all desire. Researching this topic and applying it into practice has been illuminating. Even after 22 years of making skin care, there is always something more to learn, and remember!

For a more in depth look into this topic, these references may assist:

Wikipedia explains the acid mantle
Pubmed explains skin pH and its resident bacterial flora
Ask any one of your AI assistants to :"Give me a questionnaire to test my own skin pH"
It's very intersting to compare: Chat GPT, Co-Pilot and Gemini
Have fun and learn on the way.