What affects the change in the acidity of the skin?

The skin, like any other organ, has its immutable values. Skin constants can have physiological fluctuations in order to adapt the organ to environmental conditions. Thus, the acidity of the skin surface is an important constant, which varies depending on external factors. Acidophilicity of the skin was first discovered at the end of the 19th century, since then the acidic reaction of the skin has been an axiom. Then the acidity of the skin was explained by the fact that the stratum corneum is impregnated with acidic compounds of the excreted sweat. What affects the acidity of the skin? What are the values ​​of skin acidity in different parts of the body?

What factors and substances form the acidity of the skin?

As a result of research, it has been established that the normal acidity of skin ranges from 4.2 to 5.6. What substances form the acidity of the skin, read further on estet-portal.com. Later studies indicate a skin acidity of 5.5. This indicator of skin condition is important to consider when choosing cosmetics.

What makes the surface of the skin acidic? It is assumed that among the exogenous and endogenous factors that affect the acidity of the skin are sebaceous and sweat glands, humidity, anatomical zones, proton pumps, genetic predisposition, bioenergetic processes and age.

Substances that take part in the formation of skin acidity:

• Lactic acid is produced during the passive oxidation of the superficial layers of the skin.
• The products of passive metabolism contribute to the maintenance of skin acidity. These are cholesterol sulfate, free fatty acids, urocanic acid, pyrrolidone carboxylic acid.
• Active proton pumps represented by sodium – hydrogen anion-exchange proteins are found in the membranes of lamellar bodies. They can take part in the acidification of the intracellular space of the lower layers.
• Bacterial lipases generate free fatty acids, which may be partly involved in the formation of skin acidity.

What are the age-related features of skin acidity in newborns?

At birth, the skin of a baby has an acidity of 6.6, but after a month it becomes acidic and approaches the values ​​of adults. There is an opinion that the increased acidity of the skin in infants is associated with a difference in the chemical structure of skin lipids.

Cosmetics for infants and newborns should have different acidity values ​​to prevent irritant reactions. Thus, when buying a cream or other product for a newborn, it is important to pay attention to its acidity.

Skin acidity is a constant value between the ages of 18 and 60, after which the acidity rises slightly, then decreases after a few years. Dark-skinned people have lower skin acidity values ​​compared to fair-skinned people, which affects pigmentation.

Acidity of the skin in different anatomical areas of the body

Skin acidity differs in different anatomical areas. This is influenced by the number and type of bacteria, the density of the sebaceous, sweat glands and humidity.

So, on the surface of the nose, the acidity of the skin is the lowest. It has been established that acidity affects the density of skin bacteria. Sites with epidermal staphylococcus have the lowest skin acidity values.

The greatest acidity of the skin is observed in places with high humidity. Thus, the high density of sweat glands and the activity of microflora increase the acidity of the skin, in places with a high concentration of sebaceous glands, a decrease in skin acidity is observed.