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.
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
Contact me through my website for details on how to buy gentle non-soap cleansers suitable for your skin type. We have liquid and cream products formulated for dry, oily, acne prone, and older skin. For people who prefer a solid bar that looks like soap, we have these for men and women, plus body products for the bath and shower.
Rhona Turner coined the term "The Anti-Aging Authority" after observing the effects of her"inside and out" approach to looking healthy and younger. Rhona's many happy customers have achieved similar results, and now Rhona shares with others - via her website - the benefits of the anti-aging strategies and products she and others have used with such success. Visit http://theAntiAgingAuthority.com for more free information and advice.
Labels: Protecting Your Skin From Dryness - The Importance of the Acid Mantle