Surely beauty enthusiasts have seen many times on the packaging of popular multi-functional cleansers or toners: "Balance your skin's pH level". So what is the skin's pH, and why is pH balance so important? Let's explore with Just Skin to help your skin stay healthy and radiant!
What is the pH of the skin?
In chemistry, pH is a scale from 0 to 14, which helps determine the acidity (0-7) or alkalinity (7-14) of a substance. Our skin is protected by a thin acid mantle, which is made up of amino acids and lactic acids. They are responsible for keeping the fats and moisture necessary for the skin. This acid mantle maintains an ideal pH of 5.5, a mildly acidic environment.
At this pH level, they allow our skin to maintain a good skin barrier, along with the amount of sebum and natural moisturizers, they create a solid "shield" to protect the skin called the acid mantle. This layer is responsible for preventing the penetration and development of bacteria, as well as protecting the skin from harmful agents from the environment.
Why is pH balance important?
Nothing is correct, and the same goes for pH. When the pH is too high or too low, it will disrupt the "natural ecosystem" on the skin, making it easy for the skin to become inflamed and irritated. At this time, the amount of oil as well as the amount of natural good bacteria on the skin is accidentally eliminated, causing the skin's resistance to weaken, making the skin more sensitive to the outside environment. This is also one of the reasons why oily and dry skin is at risk of acne outbreaks at any time if the skin's pH is not balanced.
When the acid mantle is out of balance, bacteria will have the opportunity to penetrate and grow on the skin. Not only that, the pH imbalance will destroy the structure of the outermost layer of dead cells, making the skin less elastic, more sensitive, and more susceptible to inflammation and, as a result, acne will "rise one after another".
What are the signs that your skin is out of pH balance?
Some signs that your skin is having problems with pH balance are when: your skin is prone to redness, too dry, often stinging, peeling, or too oily. Do you see these signs familiar? These are all signs of sensitive skin, with a thin and damaged skin barrier. These are all reactions of the skin to certain irritants, such as bacteria, dust heat, etc.
Normally, products with too high alkalinity will make the skin drier and flakier, reducing skin moisture, leading to phenomena such as eczema, and making the skin show signs of aging, such as wrinkles on the skin. At this time, the alkalinity will inhibit the ability to resist matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) - an enzyme that can destroy collagen structure, causing wrinkles and sagging skin. While the skin has a pH that is too low, that is, high acidity (about below 4.5), it will cause the skin to often become inflamed and red and break out in acne.
Causes of pH imbalance
The pH of the skin can be affected by many things we often come into contact with. They can be the skincare products we are using, such as: using a cleanser that contains high detergents or contains too much alkalinity is one of the main causes of changes in the pH of the skin. In addition, the skin's pH is also unbalanced due to several reasons, such as:
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We wash our face too often and many times every day
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Pollution, dirt
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Changes in weather, temperature, humidity
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Exposure to harsh chemicals
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And even the foods we eat every day, such as spicy, greasy foods, etc.
How to rebalance the skin's pH?
Proper skin care
Dermatologists all have a common point of view when it comes to the skin's pH balance, which is proper skin care. Experts also mention that one of the steps that causes the skin to lose its pH balance the most is the cleansing step. If you have a habit or preference for washing your face with hot water, stop immediately and replace it with warm water, because hot water will remove and destroy the skin's protective layer. Check the cleanser you are using to make sure it is gentle and has the right pH instead of containing high detergents.
💡 Suggestions from Just Skin:
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Powder Face Wash: Gentle, does not dry the skin, suitable for all skin types.
Choose products with the right pH
This is one of the ways to help protect the pH balance and not affect the skin's protective acid mantle. Prioritize choosing and using products with a pH ranging from 4-6. If you choose products with a pH that is too high, from 7 or higher, they will have more alkaline properties, so they can easily make your skin tight, dry, and lose its natural moisture. Although products with a high pH will give you a feeling of deep cleansing, and no longer greasy, in the long run, your skin will often show signs of being thin, weak, and easily irritated by external factors.
💡 Suggestions from Just Skin:
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Toner Pad 5% AHA: Exfoliates dead skin cells, balances pH and prevents acne.
In addition, you can also maintain a natural pH balance by checking the active ingredients in your daily skincare products. Active ingredients including vitamins or natural antioxidants will help promote cell renewal and help the skin maintain a balanced pH after cleansing, which will be the top checklists to help you choose products.
Conclusion
Balancing pH is a basic but very important step to maintain healthy skin. Choose gentle products with the right pH and take care of your skin properly to protect the natural acid mantle. Don't forget to visit Just Skin to find the most suitable products for your skin.
Wishing you always radiant and confident with healthy, beautiful skin! 🌟