Maintaining Your Skin's pH Balance

The pH level of you skin refers to how acidic or alkaline your skin is. Skin that has a pH balance of 7 has a neutral pH level. While this may sound like the best pH level to have it is actually a sign that your skin is not as healthy as it should be. Actually your skin needs a slightly acidic pH level to protect your body from bacterial infections. If you feel that your skin’s pH is out of balance there are a few things that you can do to get it back to where it needs to be, some where around 5.5.

Using a Skin Toner

The first thing that you can do to rebalance and maintain a healthy skin pH level is to use a skin toner. These skin care products are designed to both, remove residues, dirt, debris, and left over make and to balance your pH level. These products also are designed to neutralize free radicals, to create a smoother looking skin texture, to reduce the size of your pores, to control oil, and to transform shiny skin into radiant skin. Some of the ingredients that you should look for in a good skin toner include: polyphenol, silica, and fennel.

Using a Dietary Supplement

If you want to manage your body pH as well as your skin pH level then using a dietary supplement may be just what you are looking for. These supplements are typically used for people who are looking for anti-aging and cancer prevention products. What you should understand is that while your skin should have a slightly acidic pH level, your body needs to be alkaline. Using a dietary supplement to encourage a body pH level that is slightly over 7 will help your body operate better, which in turn will provide your skin with what it needs to maintain its proper pH level of 5.5.

Soap Can Be the Enemy

Ordinary soap can be the worst thing for your skin’s pH balance. This is because commercial soap tends to have a strong alkaline balance. When you use soap on your skin it can actually reduce the acidity of your skin and turn it more alkaline. If your pH is not restored to a more acidic level you will be susceptible to bacteria infections and other skin disorders. To avoid these problems look for acidic cleansers or use a toner in conjunction with your soap.

Educate Yourself About Your Skin

The best way to maintain your skin's health is to educate yourself about the skin and its needs. While you can read medical texts on the skin, most people will not be able to understand this technical information. Your best bet is to read articles designed for the public. Your local health department, women’s magazines, and beauty magazines are good sources for easy to understand information about skin care. Companies that manufacture skin care products are another great source for information. Many of these companies have websites where you can download and view information about skin care and their products.