pH of Eczema Skin

It is important that you gain an understanding about the pH of your eczema skin, so that you can better choose the appropriate type of products to apply on your body.

The average or normal pH value of human skin is between 4 and 6.5, although this may vary to the area of skin on the body. The term pH expresses the hydrogen ion activity of a solution, or the power of hydrogen. The pH value of normal skin implies that at physiological pH, the surface of the skin is negatively charged and is acidic.

This acidic surface has been termed the “acid mantle” and it appears that an acid skin surface provides a better barrier against microbial incursions. The acid mantle and your outermost layer of skin (the epidermis, also called the stratum corneum) make the skin less permeable to water, thereby preventing invasion by microorganisms. Microbes have difficulty surviving in an acid environment.

More recent discoveries indicate that high skin pH (or alkaline skin) is associated with reduced surface lipid concentrations and higher trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) values. This means your skin loses more water and becomes drier.

The pH of eczema skin has been shown to have higher than normal values. Diseases associated with higher skin surface pH include eczema, contact dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, and dry skin. Acute eczema can elevate skin surface pH to 7.3-7.4. The higher ph of eczema skin allows Staphylococcus aureus to proliferate on the skin, which can lead to development of discoid eczema and some forms of dermatitis.

Damage to the acid mantle and epidermis tends to increase skin PH and thus renders the skin vulnerable to infections and other diseases. For example, hand washing three times a day with cleansing agents alters the acid mantle for several hours, and additional damage occurs with each subsequent washing. Skin pH that is too low also damages the skin, and many superficial chemical peels lower skin pH to 2.5, maintaining it for at least 2 hours. To keep the pH of eczema skin as near normal as possible, the patient must avoid agents that alter the acid mantle and damage the skin.

When you buy skin care products, it is wise to check the packaging information. You’ll want those that have pH values 4.0 to 6.5, or that state the product is ‘pH balanced.’ To balance your internal with your external pH, you may have to make appropriate adjustments in your diet. An acidic internal pH can be addressed by increasing fruits and vegetables intake; whilst too much alkalinity will require more proteins and carbohydrates. This attention to internal and external pH should help you stabilize the ph of eczema skin.

Comments

3 Responses to “pH of Eczema Skin”

P.H.Chan on April 10th, 2008 12:24 am

I always thought fruit and veg makes you body chemistry more alkaline.
Jen on April 10th, 2008 1:21 am

Interesting! I love this website.
So, does anyone know how to test for internal pH?
P.H.Chan on April 25th, 2008 10:55 pm

You can buy PH paper to test your saliva and urine, Jen.

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