The Hidden Dangers of High pH Soaps You Need To Know!

The skincare world is complex with various factors influencing our skin health. One such factor is the 'potential hydrogen' or pH level of soap which affects skin dryness. Our skin naturally sits at a slightly acidic level around 5.5, protected by an acid mantle. Using soaps with high alkalinity disrupts this barrier leading to dry, irritated skin and exacerbating conditions like eczema or psoriasis. Hence, choosing soaps that align with your skins’ natural acidity is recommended for maintaining healthy skin.

The world of skincare is vast and complex, with numerous factors contributing to the health and appearance of our skin. One such factor that has been gaining attention in recent years is the pH level of soap and its impact on skin dryness.

The term 'pH' stands for 'potential hydrogen' and it measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is on a scale from 0 (very acidic) to 14 (very alkaline). Our skin naturally sits at a slightly acidic pH level of around 5.5.

Soap’s pH Levels on Skin Health

How Soap Affects Skin's Natural Barrier

Our skin has a protective barrier known as the acid mantle, which consists of sebum (skin oils), sweat, dead skin cells, and natural bacteria. This protective layer helps keep out harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi while locking in essential moisture.

When we use soaps that are too alkaline (having high pH), they can disrupt this natural barrier by stripping away its natural oils leading to dryness.

Soap’s pH Levels on Skin Health

Impact Of High-pH Soaps On Skin

Soaps with high pH not only lead to dryness but can also cause irritation, and inflammation, and exacerbate existing conditions like eczema or psoriasis.

Alkaline soaps dissolve the lipid layer in our stratum corneum (the outermost layer of our skin) more readily than mildly acidic or neutral soaps do which leads to increased water loss from the epidermis resulting in dryness.

Soap’s pH Levels on Skin Health

How To Choose The Right Soap For Your Skin

To maintain healthy skin it’s important to choose soaps that match your skin’s natural acidity as closely as possible.

Dermatologists often recommend using mild cleansing bars or body washes instead of traditional bar soaps because these products tend to have closer-to-skin-neutral PH values between 4-6.

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