If you want to keep your skin healthy and glowing, you need to balance the pH of your skin. But a lot of people don’t know how to do that, or what it even means in the first place. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about skin pH. 

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What Is pH?

Potential hydrogen (pH) is a measure of how acidic things are. It is measured on a scale of 1 to 14, with the lower numbers being more acidic and the higher numbers being more alkali. 7 on the scale is neutral.  

People generally have negative associations with something being acidic, but when it comes to your skin, it’s actually best for it to be a little acidic. When your skin has slightly higher levels of acid, it is able to combat bacteria and free radicals that damage your skin and accelerate the aging process. However, too much acid can cause damage to your skin, so finding the perfect balance is vital. The ideal pH level for skin is 5. 

Many areas of the body that are less exposed to the elements maintain their own acidity quite well. However, you are more likely to have an imbalance in areas like the face and hands because they are exposed and they come into contact with a range of different substances.

What Can Impact Skin pH?

General exposure to the elements can cause a reduction in acidity, but there are also some specific factors that make the problem worse. 

The products that come into contact with your skin have a big impact. If you use a lot of antibacterial cleaning products, for example, this has an effect. A lot of cosmetic products upset the balance too. 

Being outside in the summer can make your skin less acidic too because sweat and sun exposure affect the pH. You should also be careful about washing your hands and face because tap water may change the pH of your skin, and washing too often will have a negative effect as well. 

You can buy pH testing kits for your skin, so you can get an idea of how healthy your skin is right now. Common skin problems like acne, dry spots, and redness are also signs of high alkali skin. If you think you have an issue, there are some ways you can balance the pH of your skin. 

How Can You Balance Skin pH?

Use gentle cleansers

If you use harsh cleansers, you can damage the pH balance and dry your skin out. Check the ingredients list on cleansers and find products with simple, natural ingredients. Alkali-based cleansers are useful for dealing with specific skin conditions like eczema, but they will dry your skin out if you use them on a daily basis. 

Moisturise daily

Dry skin is a common issue when you have alkali skin, so it’s important that you moisturise properly. Find good quality hydrating moisturisers to use on a daily basis and you lock in moisture and prevent dryness. Just check the ingredients list and avoid any harsh ingredients that will upset the balance. 

Use a skin toner

Toners are one of the best products you can use if you have alkali skin. When you use a toner, it neutralizes any remaining alkalinity on the skin and makes it more acidic. A good toner will also tighten your skin and prevent the signs of aging. For the best results, use a good cleanser first and then use your toner. 

See a dermatologist about specific skin problems

Often, people experience problems with skin pH when they are trying to manage specific skin problems. For example, heavily alkaline products are good at dealing with eczema, but they throw out the pH of your skin. Acne can be treated by increasing acidity, but it’s easy to go too far the other way. 

It’s best to see a dermatologist about these problems. They will be able to recommend the most effective treatments and may even prescribe specialist products. But most importantly, they can help you deal with skin issues while also balancing the pH at the same time, so your skin looks its best. 

If you are struggling with skin pH and you don’t know what products you should use, a dermatologist is a good source of advice. 

Understanding pH is so important if you want your skin to look amazing. Start by getting hold of some at-home test kits to see what your current skin pH is. You can then build a skin care routine to rectify the pH and get your skin looking great.