Normal facial skin pH tends to be acidic, which is in the range between 4.5-5.7. To keep the pH of facial skin in balance, you need to take proper care of skin health.
Various facial skin problems, such as acne, oily skin, redness, and signs of premature aging are not only caused by exposure to pollution and sunlight, as well as the use of skincare products. The reason is, the pH of facial skin also affects skin health.
That means, maintaining facial pH is very important so that levels remain balanced and can help keep skin healthy.
Come on, find out what pH of facial skin is and what is the right pH level for the human face in the following article.
What is the pH of facial skin?
Basically, the potential Hydrogen or skin pH is a measure used to indicate the level of acidity or alkalinity of the skin.
pH has a measurement scale from 0-14. If the pH of facial skin is neutral or at 7, it means that the skin level is not acidic or alkaline.
The pH of the face is said to be acidic if it has a pH size below 7.In contrast, the pH of the skin is classified as alkaline or alkaline, if the pH size of the face is high or above 7.
What is the normal pH of facial skin?
Number 7 is not the correct pH of facial skin. A study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Science concluded that the pH scale of normal human facial skin should be below 5 or classified as acid.
The natural pH of the skin is protected by the acid mantle, which is a thin layer on the surface of the skin that is made up of lipids or fats, amino acids, and oil secretions in the skin.
Acid mantle is what functions to maintain skin moisture, protects the skin from pollution and dirt, prevents inflammation, dehydration, and skin aging, and acts as a skin defense against exposure to pathogenic bacteria. That is why, the pH of human facial skin must be acidic.
In adult women, the ideal facial skin pH is between 4.5-5.7. Meanwhile, men usually have a slightly more acidic pH level than women.
Newborns usually have a high skin pH. However, as we get older, the pH level of the baby’s facial skin will decrease to become acidic. The study results show that the average pH of newborn skin is 7.
In people with oily skin, the pH of the skin is usually 4-5.2. People with dry skin generally have a pH above 5.5.
What happens if the pH of the face is imbalanced?
If the pH of the face is not balanced, various skin problems can arise. The pH of the face is too acidic, for example, the skin can experience redness, and even pimples may appear.
Meanwhile, the pH of the face that is too alkaline can cause dry and flaking skin.
In fact, you can experience inflammation and signs of aging, such as wrinkles and fine lines, due to certain enzymes that break down collagen in the skin.
In addition, you can experience a number of skin diseases, such as eczema and psoriasis, due to the pH of your face being too high.
Some of the factors that can cause facial pH imbalance are as follows.
1. Age
Facial pH imbalance can be caused by age. Because, as you get older, your skin will become alkaline or alkaline.
As a result, there are signs of aging, such as wrinkles, fine lines, pigmentation, and other skin problems.
2. Excessive sun exposure
Excessive sun exposure can weaken the acid mantle of the skin so that it affects the pH of the face to become alkaline.
As a result, your skin will be prone to various problems, such as dull skin, acne, and pigmentation.
3. Use of bath soap to wash your face
For those of you who often use soap to wash your face, you should stop this habit now.
The reason is, soap is often the culprit for facial skin pH imbalance. Bath soap has a pH level of 9.
This amount is certainly too high so that it risks disturbing the pH of your face.
4. Diet that is not right
Did you know that diet can also affect the pH level of the face?
Yes, eating too much acidic food can actually affect skin health.
Therefore, try to limit your consumption of caffeine, sugar, refined grains, and alcohol to prevent your facial pH from turning sour.
5. Inappropriate skin care
A number of improper skin care habits can actually disrupt the pH level of your skin. For example:
- Wash your face often using hot water
- Scrubbing the face too vigorously (for example, when scrubbing or drying the skin)
- Use of facial cleansers that contain harsh ingredients
- Wash your face too often