When it comes to personal care; be it hair care, body care, and skincare; a popular term thrown around is pH balance. But what exactly does pH really mean? Today we are breaking down what pH balance is and why you should care about it.

What is pH?

Firstly, pH stands for “potential hydrogen.” By this definition, the pH is used to measure the acidity-alkaline relativity of a substance “based on the amount of hydrogen ion activity in a substance.” The pH level is measured on a 1 - 14 value scale revolving around a neutral 7. A value of 7 and under is considered acidic, and a value above 7 is alkaline.

What Is The pH Balance of The Skin?

The skin is the largest organ in the body so it needs to be understood and handled with care. As such a major organ, the skin is designed to function as a well oiled machine. Where the skin is concerned, the ph balance refers to the acid mantle (moisture barrier) of the skin which sits comfortably between 4.5 and 5.5. At this level, the skin cells turn over in a 28 day cycle; it protects itself and repairs itself.

As noted, the pH is a spectrum, so it varies between people, and extensions of the body. For example, the scalp has a pH balance of around 5.5 but the hair has a pH value of around 3.5. This is why it is so important to pay attention to the products incorporated in your routines.

What Is A Damaged pH Balance?

A compromised barrier is when the moisture barrier is disrupted. This could follow irritation in the skin by the introduction of a product that is too concentrated for the skin to handle or too drying. This results in skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, and rosacea.

Other contributing factors could be the byproduct of mixing ingredients that are not designed to be combined; such as some forms of Retinol and Vitamin C. The problem can be exasperated even more when there is inflammation in the skin as the skin becomes more sensitive, or the skin itself is compromised by micro-tears from harsh exfoliators.

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How To Restore pH Balance of The Skin

Restoring a compromised skin barrier can take time especially when it comes to severely compromised skin, as with skin conditions like the three mentioned above. The essence of restoring the skin back to optimal health begins from the inside. The body’s internal pH is not the same as the skin but what you put on the inside influences how the skin barrier functions.

There are topical options also. The first thing to do when you notice compromise in your skin barrier is to stop using all your active ingredients. Let your skin normalize by implementing a gentle skin restoring routine and using medicated soothing creams like Hydrocortizone and Cicalfate to promote skin cell restoration.

See: What To Do When Your Skin Reacts To A New Product

The pH Balance and Acne

I mentioned before that cleansers tend to be on the alkaline side resulting in drying out the natural oils in the skin. This is increasingly problematic because a certain level of acidity in the skin is needed to inhibit the growth of acne-causing bacteria. When you dry out the skin, you effectively get rid of the skin’s first line of defense.

On the other hand, this doesn’t mean you can load your skin up with powerful acids for good results. Using too many acidic products (or high concentrations) such as AHA’s BHAs, Retinoic Acid, and Amino Fruit Acids can also dry out the skin further weakening the skin barrier and opening it up to bacteria and environmental damage. These ingredients do wonders for the skin when you use them in correct order, concentration, and combinations.

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How To Maintain pH Balance of The Skin

The skin enjoys balance, so you don’t want to be in excess on either side of the spectrum. Luckily, these days you can find a plethora of gentle cleansers specifically designed at a comfortable low pH which help to maintain the skin’s natural barrier. Toners are also a great way to help balance the skin’s pH and prepare your skin for the next step in your skincare routine.