“Roopada”
Scientific Beauty News
Letter
3. Skin
pH
pH is the measure of Acidity. pH of skin refers to the acidity of the external layers of the skin. Your skin needs certain amount of oil to stay water proof and resist infections.
pH is the measure of Acidity. pH of skin refers to the acidity of the external layers of the skin. Your skin needs certain amount of oil to stay water proof and resist infections.
The
sebum produced in the sebaceous glands is released on the skin surface by tiny
ducts that lie next to the hair follicles.
When
the amount of sebum is too little, it can lead to dry skin and premature
development of the wrinkles.
Too
much of sebum can lead to oily skin and acne.
The
sebaceous glands are activated by the hormones. Mainly the Androgens. These
androgens stimulate the sebaceous glands. Due to the influence, the glands
enlarge in size and they start secreting more of sebum.
Our
skin is naturally designed to fight infection and environmental stresses and
its effectiveness is affected by its pH level. The pH level of the skin refers
to how acidic or alkaline it is. On a scale of 1-14, with 1 being the most
acidic to 14 being the most alkaline, 7 is considered a neutral reading for
your skin’s pH. Our skin has a thin, protective layer on its surface, referred
to as the acid mantle. This acid mantle is made up of sebum (free fatty acids)
excreted from the skin’s sebaceous glands, which mixes with lactic and amino
acids from sweat to create the skin's pH, which ideally should be slightly
acidic at about 5.5.
Using
astringents, toners and soap removes the acid mantle and can leave the
skin vulnerable to fungal or bacterial infections. Broadly speaking, be
worry of any soap that isn’t labelled pH balanced” because you don’t know
what’s in it. Body soaps shouldn’t be used on your face.
Maintaining
the Ideal pH: Create beautiful skin that will last a lifetime.
Many factors can interfere with the delicate balance of the skin’s acid mantle,
both externally and internally.
As we age, our skin becomes more acidic in response to our lifestyle and our environment. Everything that comes in contact with our skin (products, smoking, air, water, sun, pollution) can contribute to the breaking down of the acid mantle, disrupting the skin’s ability to protect itself.
As we age, our skin becomes more acidic in response to our lifestyle and our environment. Everything that comes in contact with our skin (products, smoking, air, water, sun, pollution) can contribute to the breaking down of the acid mantle, disrupting the skin’s ability to protect itself.
Maintaining
the Acid Mantle – Optimal pH Skin Care :
The acid mantle is an effective form of protection, but if your pH level is too alkaline or too acidic, the mantle is disturbed and your skin may suffer through dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.
The acid mantle is an effective form of protection, but if your pH level is too alkaline or too acidic, the mantle is disturbed and your skin may suffer through dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis.
Most soaps,
tend to be too alkaline for the skin, as they strip away natural oils causing
dryness and irritation.
Skin
that is too alkaline can be more susceptible to acne because a certain level of
acidity is needed to inhibit bacterial growth on the skin.
You
may have noticed that many cleansers and shampoos are now avoiding the use of
sodium laurel sulfate, which has an approximate alkaline pH level of 10 and can
be very drying and irritating to the skin. Choosing mild cleansers and toners
that are slightly acidic (close to 5) will benefit all skin types in properly
maintaining the acid mantle.
Now
instead of sodium laurel sulphate, sodium laurel ether sulphate is used. This
is a safer surfactant. Similarly you need to use Acidic cleansers like AHA
Smooth-N-Glow face wash.
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