The Skin’s Acid Mantle

The acid mantle of your skin is a combination of perspiration, and sebum, both produced by glands in your skin. As they mix on the skin surface, they form a protective layer known as the acid mantle. Why is this important?

Explanation of the Terms “Acid” and “Alkaline”

We use the term “pH” is used to describe how acid or alkaline a substance is. It uses a scale of 0 (very acidic, for example battery acid), to 14 (very alkaline, such as liquid Drano). Water is neutral at a pH of 7. The pH system works in 10 fold multiples, for example soap with a pH of 10.5 has 10 times the alkalinity of soap with a pH of 9.5.

The pH of the Acid Mantle

The acidity of your skin’s acid mantle ranges from about 4 to 5.5, and varies from one part of the body to another. The pH of a man’s skin is usually more acidic than that of a woman.

Why the Acid Mantle is Important

It protects your skin from environmental factors such as wind, sun, chemicals and pollutants. The skin’s natural acidity neutralizes these chemicals and inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi. Keeping the skin at the proper pH level enables the skin to stay healthier, and less prone to acne, infections, or irritation.

How the Acid Mantle is Damaged

One of the most common ways to damage your skin is by washing with soap. Even “mild” soaps have a pH of around 9.5 – 11, and they disrupt the acid mantle, as well as removing natural protective fats, and drying the skin.

How to Protect the Acid Mantle

Be aware of the pH level of the products you use to clean your skin, and don’t use soap. Paper strips for testing pH levels are available at scientific or school supply stores. You’ll be shocked at how alkaline most soaps are, including those considered “mild” or “gentle”.

Obtaining Cleansing Products that Protect the Acid Mantle

• Click here for products for Normal to Dry Skin
• Click here for products for Combination to Oily Skin

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Tags: acne prone skin, Dry Skin, gentle skin cleansing products, mild soaps, non-drying bath and shower products, Oily Skin, older skin, protecting the acid mantle, skin products for men

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 13th, 2008 at 9:05 am and is filed under Dry Skin. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.