In the first part of this article we discussed basic facts about acid mantle. We understood that skin has a protective layer of acidic oils on it, called the acid mantle. This protective layer is found all over the skin. Acid mantle is a mixture of sweat and sebum. Disturbing this acidic mantle may cause many problems. That is why, we hear so much about pH balanced products. The normal skin pH is 4 to 5.5, so it is acidic. Do you know about pH?



What Is pH?

pH measures acidity or alkalinity of any product. Water is neutral and has a pH of 7. Acids have pH below 7 and alkalis have pH greater than 7 up to 14. The pH of any product will be between 1 and 14. If it is acidic, its pH will be less than 7. If it is basic/alkaline, its pH will be between 7 and 14. The lower the pH of an acid the stronger it is and the higher the pH of an alkali, the stronger. it is. For example, you have two alkaline solutions, one with a pH of 8 and other with a pH of 9. The solution with a pH of 9 will be stronger than that of pH 8. Similarly if you have two acids-one with a pH of 2 and other with pH of 3,the acid of pH 2 will be stronger than the acid of pH 3.

To maintain the acid mantle your cleanser should have pH of between 4.to 5.5 or it should have pH of 7. If you use any product with pH higher than 7, it will destroy the acid mantle. You can always measure the pH with litmus paper. Many manufacturers write the pH of the product on the pack.

How to maintain acid mantle?

1. Avoid using harsh soaps and cleansers.

2. Moisturize skin frequently with a slightly acidic moisturizer.

3. Protect yourself from the sun.

4. Use pH balanced skin care products.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.