Remedies Beauty

Understanding "pH" and having a Well Balanced Skin

First, what is skin pH?

Well, pH refers to the balance of acid and alkali in your skin and naturally your skin will be slightly acidic at around pH 5.5. Your skin needs to be slightly acidic to help fight the bacteria that may try to invade it. The pH (power of hydrogen) factor is a term most of us have heard but not many of us fully understand its importance, how it relates to our skin, skin care and some of the skin problems we get.

Calculated on a scale of 1 to 14 the pH refers to the level of acid or alkaline in it. Below 7 is acidic, above 7 is alkaline. The optimum level for the BODY is 7 as neutral. Your SKIN needs to be at pH 5.5 and more to explain why below.

However, our skin has a different pH and to avoid dry skin it is important to choose skincare treatment beauty products that have the proper pH balance.

The pH of a normal skin will range from pH 4 to pH 6.5. This is slightly acidic and this type of skin environment is referred to as the skin's 'acid mantle'. One of the main functions of the acid mantle is to protect the skin and body from absorbing bacteria as bacteria cannot survive in an acidic environment.

If your acid mantle is unsettled the skin also becomes more susceptible to bacteria and damage. Despite the fact that Acid and Alkaline are at the opposite ends of the pH ranges, either extreme can cause dry skin. Cosmetics and make up too need to be considered for a good skin care and your skin care products.

Alkaline levels stronger than pH 8 can be extremely irritating to the skin. A lot of the off the shelf skin care products and cosmetics are far too alkaline.

Some skincare soaps can have a pH factor of 9 or even 11 ! and many household cleaners range between 10 and 12 which is why they recommend using rubber gloves !

If the acid mantle is maladjusted by using a skin care products that is too acid or alkaline, it would normally take at least 8 hours for the skin to get back to something like normal. The problem can be made worse of course, if we are using the same beauty care products again before that period is up.

Hence, if you are not aware of what products you are regularly using on your skin then a permanently Dry Skin can result.

Fortunately, this condition is not actually permanent and you can start improving it by having a look at the label on the products. Quite often it will say what the pH is or describe it as being 'pH balanced'. Ideally you need to see a number not just a general description

So, look for skin care products that are between pH 4 and 7 and these should keep your skin within a satisfactory range and the ideal level to maintain is 5.5pH to avoid drying skin.

BEAUTY, FOODS, YOUR BODY and pH

Unfortunately many foods and some skin care products have the effect of changing our skin pH slightly and putting it out of balance. Good foods to eat to help keep the pH of the correct level are those that contain the alpha-hydroxy acids. Food in this category includes apples, blackberries, any citrus food and tomatoes are a good source too.

A lot of this well being and skin pH starts from the inside and by helping to ensure your ph balance stays in the right range, you can improve your skin and have some control of your acne, rosacea skin.

The start of acne rosacea comes from the acid accumulation within the body and if you do not remove it from the body the acid stays there and continues to build up. This increase in acid is what contribute towards sickness, disease, acne, rosacea, etc. If you start being mindful of what the ph balance in your food and drink are, then it can help control your Acne Rosacea.

As stated previously the ph scale is between 0 and 14 and the higher the pH the more alkaline the food and/or drink is, which is good. The lower the pH, the more concern you should have in what you are eating as the food and drink with a low pH are just not very good for you. For your body the ph balance should remain on the more alkaline side between 7.35 and 7.45 as this is more neutral and normal.

One way of helping to balance your intake is that you should eat only about 20% of acid food and drink, and 80% of alkaline foods and drinks.

Just by thinking about your intake and managing it better by trying to reduce acid intake, drinking plenty water as it is alkaline pH 7.3 and eating fresh fruits and vegetables which have a ph of 7.0 and higher you skin and well being will improve.

Intake below pH7.0 is not ideal and should be taken sparingly and some examples here are Beef (5.0), White Sugar (5.0), Pasta (5.0), Coffee is 2.2 and a diuretic so will dehydrate too, alcohol is also not so good ranging from Beer at pH2 and Vodka pH4.

Being mindful of your ph balance and amending your diet will keep your body cleaner help your skin care and help eliminate waste quicker. This is important as well because the longer waste products are in your body the more acid build up occurs. This can lead to sickness and all kinds of associated health problems.

In the lives we live now more than ever we are exposed to air pollution, fast food diets, processed foods, damaging UV rays, stressful jobs, busy social/family lives etc. All of these contribute to skin problems is some way and its delicate pH balance.

Remember the function of the Acid Mantle (pH 5.5) is to prevent infection, as well as maintain the skin's barrier. Skin that maintains its hydration is less prone to irritation and loss of elasticity which helps your skin stay younger looking.

Using skincare products that are designed to avoid the disruption of the natural pH balance of the skin can be extremely useful for long-term skin health.

THE SKIN AGEING PROCESS AND pH

In our late teens and early 20’s our Acid Mantle is well developed and provides a good barrier to protect against potentially harmful bacteria and external environmental issues. Our skin will usually look healthy, will heal quickly and generally feel like it can look after itself.

As we get older the skin’s pH becomes more and more neutral and then more prone to bacterial growth as the acidity fails to kill it, as it used to. The skin weakens and we develop problems as age increases.

On top of the sometimes self inflicted disruption of the pH level comes the aging skin process itself. The biochemical changes in collagen and elastin which gives its firmness and elasticity change. This varies from individual to individual but as the skin becomes less elastic, it also becomes drier and the underlying fatty tissue begins to disappear resulting in the skin sagging.

It is of great importance to have a good skin care regime in which high quality skin care products are supplied and used in treatments. Remember you cannot replace your skin and is one of the most important organs you have. So, look after it and invest in it as it pays you back in the long term before it is too late.

You will stay younger looking so much longer.

YOU ONLY HAVE ONE SKIN SO LOOK AFTER IT ……… NOW!

MEN AND SHAVING !

A classic situation here would be men shaving every day and sometimes twice with a shaving foam or gel that has a high pH value. The result, dry flaky and irritated skin that can sometimes deteriorate into patches of really tender skin and then the last thing you feel you want to do is shave!!  A mans skin care can start right here with a good skin care routine which includes the correct products for shaving.

Would you want to put a Household Cleaner on your Face

.............................. would you ?