What is pH?
The term pH means "potential hydrogen", and it refers to acidity level of substances.
What is the pH of skin?
Your skin barrier is acidic: It has a pH of around 4.7 (anything below 7 is acidic; anything above 8 is alkaline).That barrier is made up of lipids, cholesterol, ceramides, and fatty acids all of which need an acidic environment to survive. We want skincare products close to your skin’s natural pH level.
If you use products that are very alkaline (a pH level of 8 ) or too acidic (under 3 ), you can disrupt the pH balance of skin, which can result in inflammation, redness, and breakouts.
What are other factors affecting pH of skin?
using wrong products
aging
climatic change
air pollution
hormonal changes
physical scrubbing
hard water
hot showers
acne
sweat
too much sun exposure
frequently washing your face/skin
detergents
What are the signs if your skin's pH is not balanced?
Skin is too red, too dry, itchy or flaky, it can be too oily or having frequent breakouts.
How to maintain balanced pH skin?
Be Gentle to your skin- Use gentle face wash/cleansers (sulphate free). Alkaline face cleanser/soaps irritates your skin and disrupts skin's pH.
No matter what is your skin type, always moisturize your skin with suitable moisturizer.
Wear a sunscreen regularly.
Drink water at regular intervals and include seasonal fruits and green veggies in your diet.
Avoid processed & canned food/drinks.
Look for skin care products rich in ceramides, cholesterol & fatty acids to restore damaged skin barrier.
For hair choose pH balanced shampoo & conditioner.
Be regular in your skin care routine and maintain healthy lifestyle.
