Why Skin pH Matters—Simple Steps to Restore Balance

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEffectsBalance pH on Skin TypeReasons for ImbalanceBasic Skin Care Routine

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Effects

Balance pH on Skin Type

Reasons for Imbalance

Basic Skin Care Routine

Skin pH Effects

The pH of the skin’s acid mantleplays a vital rolein maintaining the stratum corneum, the outerlayer of skin cells. Healthy skin’s natural acidity helps protect it from bacteria (often or other pathogens) and maintains the right balance of natural oils, keeping it hydrated.

Symptoms of Imbalance

The acid mantle is not as effective when your skin pH is too acidic or basic. As a result, your skin can become dehydrated, dry, and more susceptible to bacteria. When facial skin pH is out of balance, the symptoms include:

The Effects of Skin pH Imbalance on the BodyCertain body parts, such as the groin, armpits, and spaces between fingers, are more acidic than facial skin. In these parts, the pH imbalance allows odor-causing bacteria to grow out of control, resulting in a strong, musky odor.

The Effects of Skin pH Imbalance on the Body

Certain body parts, such as the groin, armpits, and spaces between fingers, are more acidic than facial skin. In these parts, the pH imbalance allows odor-causing bacteria to grow out of control, resulting in a strong, musky odor.

How to Read a pH Scale

The 14-point pH scale is broken down into the following scores:

Home devices and kits can measure skin pH. However,dermatologists(skin specialists) use devices that rely on electrodes or handheld meters, which can offer more accurate results.

Optimal Facial pH

Skin pH can vary from person to person; however, the pH range that protects and retains moisture in healthy skin is between 4 and 5.5.Facial skin tends to be more alkaline than other body parts, and there can be individual differences.

How to Balance pH Based on Skin Type

Normal Skin

Normal skin looks smooth and uniform, with no visible pores or blemishes.People with this skin type have a balanced pH, so the goal is maintenance. For this type, use cream or lotion-based skin cleansers close to the skin’s natural pH of about 5.5 and avoid body soaps (they have a higher pH) on the face.

Dry Skin

Oily Skin

Oily skinis shinier and features larger pores. People with oily skin may experience pimples, blackheads, and other blemishes. Oily skin is more acidic, so it can tolerate cleansers and products that are more alkaline, such as bar or gel soaps.Acne treatments, such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and sulfur, can prevent blemish-forming bacteria.

Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin easily becomes irritated and rough, leading to symptoms like discoloration, scales, blisters, dryness, or swelling.Washing with acidic products, and using moisturizers and products with humectants like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, petrolatum, and dimethicone, may help protect the acid mantle.

Aging Skin

Aging skin is more alkaline.The pH increases as the stratum corneum gets thinner, becoming pale, dull, uneven, and dry. Aging skin can become looser and develop wrinkles and spots of discoloration.People with aging skin should opt for lower-pH products alongsidetopical retinoids(chemical compounds that are natural derivatives of or related to vitamin A).

Reasons for Facial pH Imbalance

A range of health conditions and environmental and lifestyle factors destabilize the acid mantle and cause pH imbalances, which can arise due to:

Ingredients to Look Out ForThe following ingredients found in facial cleansers, moisturizers, and other skin care products can impact your skin’s pH balance:AlcoholParaben, phthalate, alkylphenol, and other artificial fragrancesPotassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, and carboxylate found in alkaline soapsSodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)

Ingredients to Look Out For

The following ingredients found in facial cleansers, moisturizers, and other skin care products can impact your skin’s pH balance:AlcoholParaben, phthalate, alkylphenol, and other artificial fragrancesPotassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, and carboxylate found in alkaline soapsSodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)

The following ingredients found in facial cleansers, moisturizers, and other skin care products can impact your skin’s pH balance:

The key to maintaining a healthy skin pH is a basic skin care routine that maintains the acid mantle. A basic skin care routine typically involves the following steps:

Summary

Your skin’s pH can significantly impact its health and appearance. Healthy skin is naturally acidic, which helps it protect the body. When this is out of balance, the skin can lose moisture, and it’s easier for bacteria or other pathogens to disrupt the skin. Signs of pH imbalance on the face include dry, flaky, or itchy skin, acne, skin sensitivity, and discoloration.

10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ali S, Yosipovitch G.Skin pH: from basic science to basic skin care.Acta Derm Venerol. 2013;93(3):261-267. doi:10.2340/00015555-1531Kuo SH, Shen CJ, Shen CF, Cheng CM.Role of pH value in clinically relevant diagnosis.Diagnostics. 2020;10(2):107. doi:10.3390/diagnostics10020107Li R, Rodrigues M, Li L, et al.Association between skin acid mantle, natural moisturizing factors, and antibacterial activity againstS. aureusin the stratum corneum.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2023;16:1595-1606. doi:10.2147/CCID.S409534United States Environmental Protection Agency.What is pH?du Plessis JL, Stefaniak AB, Wilhelm KP.Measurement of skin surface pH.Curr Probl Dermatol. 2018;54:19-25. doi:10.1159/000489514Lynde C, Tan J, Beecker J, et al.Skin surface pH.J Drugs Dermatol.2019; 18(12):suppl 1.Oliveira R, Ferreira J, Azevedo LF, Almeida IF.An overview of methods to characterize skin type: focus on visual rating scales and self-report instruments.Cosmetics. 2023;10(1):14. doi:10.3390/cosmetics10010014Rodan K, Fields K, Majewski G, Falla T.Skincare bootcamp: the evolving role of skincare.Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2016;4e1152. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001152Prakash C, Bhargava P, Tiwari S, Majumdar B, Bhargava RK.Skin surface pH in acne vulgaris: insights from an observational study and review of the literature.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2017;10(7):33-39.Hawkins S, Dasgupta BR, Ananthapadmanabhan KP.Role of pH in skin cleansing.Intern J of Cosmetic Sci. 2021;43(4):474-483. doi:10.1111/ics.12721

10 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ali S, Yosipovitch G.Skin pH: from basic science to basic skin care.Acta Derm Venerol. 2013;93(3):261-267. doi:10.2340/00015555-1531Kuo SH, Shen CJ, Shen CF, Cheng CM.Role of pH value in clinically relevant diagnosis.Diagnostics. 2020;10(2):107. doi:10.3390/diagnostics10020107Li R, Rodrigues M, Li L, et al.Association between skin acid mantle, natural moisturizing factors, and antibacterial activity againstS. aureusin the stratum corneum.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2023;16:1595-1606. doi:10.2147/CCID.S409534United States Environmental Protection Agency.What is pH?du Plessis JL, Stefaniak AB, Wilhelm KP.Measurement of skin surface pH.Curr Probl Dermatol. 2018;54:19-25. doi:10.1159/000489514Lynde C, Tan J, Beecker J, et al.Skin surface pH.J Drugs Dermatol.2019; 18(12):suppl 1.Oliveira R, Ferreira J, Azevedo LF, Almeida IF.An overview of methods to characterize skin type: focus on visual rating scales and self-report instruments.Cosmetics. 2023;10(1):14. doi:10.3390/cosmetics10010014Rodan K, Fields K, Majewski G, Falla T.Skincare bootcamp: the evolving role of skincare.Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2016;4e1152. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001152Prakash C, Bhargava P, Tiwari S, Majumdar B, Bhargava RK.Skin surface pH in acne vulgaris: insights from an observational study and review of the literature.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2017;10(7):33-39.Hawkins S, Dasgupta BR, Ananthapadmanabhan KP.Role of pH in skin cleansing.Intern J of Cosmetic Sci. 2021;43(4):474-483. doi:10.1111/ics.12721

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Ali S, Yosipovitch G.Skin pH: from basic science to basic skin care.Acta Derm Venerol. 2013;93(3):261-267. doi:10.2340/00015555-1531Kuo SH, Shen CJ, Shen CF, Cheng CM.Role of pH value in clinically relevant diagnosis.Diagnostics. 2020;10(2):107. doi:10.3390/diagnostics10020107Li R, Rodrigues M, Li L, et al.Association between skin acid mantle, natural moisturizing factors, and antibacterial activity againstS. aureusin the stratum corneum.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2023;16:1595-1606. doi:10.2147/CCID.S409534United States Environmental Protection Agency.What is pH?du Plessis JL, Stefaniak AB, Wilhelm KP.Measurement of skin surface pH.Curr Probl Dermatol. 2018;54:19-25. doi:10.1159/000489514Lynde C, Tan J, Beecker J, et al.Skin surface pH.J Drugs Dermatol.2019; 18(12):suppl 1.Oliveira R, Ferreira J, Azevedo LF, Almeida IF.An overview of methods to characterize skin type: focus on visual rating scales and self-report instruments.Cosmetics. 2023;10(1):14. doi:10.3390/cosmetics10010014Rodan K, Fields K, Majewski G, Falla T.Skincare bootcamp: the evolving role of skincare.Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2016;4e1152. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001152Prakash C, Bhargava P, Tiwari S, Majumdar B, Bhargava RK.Skin surface pH in acne vulgaris: insights from an observational study and review of the literature.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2017;10(7):33-39.Hawkins S, Dasgupta BR, Ananthapadmanabhan KP.Role of pH in skin cleansing.Intern J of Cosmetic Sci. 2021;43(4):474-483. doi:10.1111/ics.12721

Ali S, Yosipovitch G.Skin pH: from basic science to basic skin care.Acta Derm Venerol. 2013;93(3):261-267. doi:10.2340/00015555-1531

Kuo SH, Shen CJ, Shen CF, Cheng CM.Role of pH value in clinically relevant diagnosis.Diagnostics. 2020;10(2):107. doi:10.3390/diagnostics10020107

Li R, Rodrigues M, Li L, et al.Association between skin acid mantle, natural moisturizing factors, and antibacterial activity againstS. aureusin the stratum corneum.Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2023;16:1595-1606. doi:10.2147/CCID.S409534

United States Environmental Protection Agency.What is pH?

du Plessis JL, Stefaniak AB, Wilhelm KP.Measurement of skin surface pH.Curr Probl Dermatol. 2018;54:19-25. doi:10.1159/000489514

Lynde C, Tan J, Beecker J, et al.Skin surface pH.J Drugs Dermatol.2019; 18(12):suppl 1.

Oliveira R, Ferreira J, Azevedo LF, Almeida IF.An overview of methods to characterize skin type: focus on visual rating scales and self-report instruments.Cosmetics. 2023;10(1):14. doi:10.3390/cosmetics10010014

Rodan K, Fields K, Majewski G, Falla T.Skincare bootcamp: the evolving role of skincare.Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2016;4e1152. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001152

Prakash C, Bhargava P, Tiwari S, Majumdar B, Bhargava RK.Skin surface pH in acne vulgaris: insights from an observational study and review of the literature.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2017;10(7):33-39.

Hawkins S, Dasgupta BR, Ananthapadmanabhan KP.Role of pH in skin cleansing.Intern J of Cosmetic Sci. 2021;43(4):474-483. doi:10.1111/ics.12721

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