The Connection: Acid Mantle and pH Balanced Skin Care

Do you have sensitive skin? Do you frequently experience rashes and acne, among other skin health issues, even when you use just natural soap and water? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then your skin’s acid mantle is out of balance and you have to look into pH balanced skin care products.  

The close connection between your skin’s acid mantle and your skin care product’s pH level cannot be dismissed in your desire to enjoy healthy, radiant and beautiful skin. But you have to gain a deeper understanding of the connection so that you will continue using the natural skin care products with the right pH levels.  

Acid Mantle

Also known as the hydrolipid film, the acid mantle is a slightly acidic protective film on the skin’s surface that serves as the interface between the body and its surroundings.  It has a unique structure that covers the skin’s entire surface including:

•   Oily secretions that come from the sebaceous glands, which keeps the skin moisturized  
•   Water that comes from the sweat glands, which has a potent bactericidal effect

Other components of the acid mantle are lactic acid, urocanic acid, pyrrolidine carboxylic acid, fatty acids, and amino acids.

The hydrolipid film may be very thin but it has several crucial roles in maintaining good skin health including:  

•   Protection against environmental assaults from bacteria, fungi and viruses
•   Secretion of enzymes that break down excess oil (sebum) in the skin
•   Keep skin soft and supple
•   Boost the immune system so that pathogen growth can be prevented

The bottom line: Keep your acid mantle healthy and you will likely keep your skin healthy, too.  

pH Balance

pH (power of hydrogen) refers to the level of acidity or alkalinity of a substance. pH values can range from 0 (most acidic) to 14 (most alkaline), thus, a pH of 7 is considered neutral.  

Human skin is naturally acidic at 4.0 to 5.5 pH levels, which is necessary to ward off bacteria from invading it.  Emphasis must be made that pathogenic bacteria thrive in alkaline conditions.  

But many people use skin care products that have either too low or too high pH levels, which adversely affect the skin’s overall health by robbing it of its protective layer – the acid mantle. The more frequently these skin care products are used, the more likely that the skin suffers from rashes, acne and dryness, among others.  

With these skin health issues come another set of problems – the higher risks for infections since the skin has been compromised. Add in the higher risks for age spots, fine lines, and wrinkles due to the dryness of the skin and you will want to take appropriate and immediate action.

For more information please visit our website: www.phacebioactive.com