The pH Factor & Your Skin

One factor in maintaining healthy, beautiful skin that many of us don’t consider is our skins’ pH. In this article you will learn what the pH factor is, why it’s important for your skin, and how to promote a healthy skin pH.

Written by Louise Lemon, Green Health Research Contributor

What is the pH Factor?

First, it’s important to understand what the pH factor is and what it measures. The pH factor measures the acidity or alkalinity of any given substance, in this article your skin. An interesting fact to note is that there is no one definition of what the “p” in pH stands for! While it is agreed that the “h” stands for hydrogen, scientists disagree as to what the original developer of the pH concept meant the “p” to represent. The idea of pH was first introduced in the early 1900s, and the modern measurement scale of pH was adopted in the 1920s.

The pH scale goes from 1-14, with the lower numbers representing a higher acidity level and the higher numbers indicating a higher level of alkalinity. A pH of 7 is neutral, or balanced between being acidic and alkaline. For example, water has a pH of 7 and is neutral, while most raw vegetables are alkaline and fermented foods like vinegar, cheese, and yogurt are acidic.

Your Skin’s pH Factor & Its Role

Like almost everything we come in to contact with on a daily basis, different components of our body have their own unique pH levels. The pH level of blood, urine, and other bodily fluids are all virtually equivalent without major differences from person to person. This is necessary because in order to properly perform their unique functions our body parts must all maintain a delicate equilibrium and this equilibrium is the same for all humans.

In our bodies the skin’s pH is regulated by a thin film which covers skin and is called the “acid mantle.”  The acid mantle is composed of lactic acid and amino acids naturally produced by the body. The pH of a normal adult’s healthy skin is between 4.5-6. The exact pH varies depending on what area of the face is being examined. This pH range means that healthy skin should be slightly acidic.

This may seem surprising, but having slightly acidic skin is vital because bacteria, viruses, and funguses have a much harder time growing in an acidic environment. When your skin is at a healthy, acidic level microorganisms have a much harder time establishing themselves and damaging your skin.

Also, having a skin pH in the 4.5-6 range helps your skin heal itself faster and promotes optimal cell renewal. If your skin becomes too alkaline it is not only easier for acne and other problems to develop and damage your skin, it is also harder for your skin to try and repair these problems itself.