Journal ArticleDOI
Natural skin surface pH is on average below 5, which is beneficial for its resident flora
TLDR
Assessment of skin surface pH of the volar forearm before and after refraining from showering and cosmetic product application and the effect of pH on adhesion of resident skin microflora was assessed; an acid skin pH (4–4.5) keeps the resident bacterial flora attached to the skin, whereas an alkaline pH (8–9) promotes the dispersal from the skin.Abstract:
Variable skin pH values are being reported in literature, all in the acidic range but with a broad range from pH 4.0 to 7.0. In a multicentre study (N = 330), we have assessed the skin surface pH of the volar forearm before and after refraining from showering and cosmetic product application for 24 h. The average pH dropped from 5.12 +/- 0.56 to 4.93 +/- 0.45. On the basis of this pH drop, it is estimated that the 'natural' skin surface pH is on average 4.7, i.e. below 5. This is in line with existing literature, where a relatively large number of reports (c. 50%) actually describes pH values below 5.0; this is in contrast to the general assumption, that skin surface pH is on average between 5.0 and 6.0. Not only prior use of cosmetic products, especially soaps, have profound influence on skin surface pH, but the use of plain tap water, in Europe with a pH value generally around 8.0, will increase skin pH up to 6 h after application before returning to its 'natural' value of on average below 5.0. It is demonstrated that skin with pH values below 5.0 is in a better condition than skin with pH values above 5.0, as shown by measuring the biophysical parameters of barrier function, moisturization and scaling. The effect of pH on adhesion of resident skin microflora was also assessed; an acid skin pH (4-4.5) keeps the resident bacterial flora attached to the skin, whereas an alkaline pH (8-9) promotes the dispersal from the skin.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
pH in nature, humans and skin.
TL;DR: Normalizing the pH by acidification through topical treatment helps to establish a physiological microbiota, to repair skin barrier, to induce epidermal differentiation and to reduce inflammation.
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Cosmetic features and applications of lipid nanoparticles (SLN, NLC).
Eliana B. Souto,Rainer H. Müller +1 more
TL;DR: A detailed review of the literature is presented in attempts to emphasize several advantages of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) for cosmetic applications.
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Metal oxides based electrochemical pH sensors: Current progress and future perspectives
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed a pH sensor for food processing, health monitoring, agriculture and nuclear sectors, and water quality monitoring, which is on high demand in numerous applications.
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The impact of the pH value on skin integrity and cutaneous wound healing
TL;DR: A routinely performed monitoring of the wound pH and a subsequently adapted wound therapy would most possibly improve chronic wound therapy.
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Structural and biophysical characteristics of human skin in maintaining proper epidermal barrier function.
TL;DR: The knowledge of biophysical skin processes may be useful for the implementation of prophylactic actions whose aim is to restore the barrier function.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Moisturization and skin barrier function.
TL;DR: The present paper reviews the current understanding of the biology of the stratum corneum, particularly its homeostatic mechanisms of hydration, and discusses how each maturation step leading to the formation of an effective moisture barrier—including corneocyte strengthening, lipid processing, and NMF generation—is influenced by the level of SC hydration.
Journal ArticleDOI
Dermcidin: a novel human antibiotic peptide secreted by sweat glands.
Birgit Schittek,Rainer Hipfel,Birgit Sauer,Jürgen Bauer,Hubert Kalbacher,Stefan Stevanovic,Markus Schirle,Kristina Schroeder,Nikolaus Blin,Friedegund Meier,Gernot Rassner,Claus Garbe +11 more
TL;DR: In sweat, a proteolytically processed 47–amino acid peptide was generated that showed antimicrobial activity in response to a variety of pathogenic microorganisms, indicating that sweat plays a role in the regulation of human skin flora through the presence of an antimicrobial peptide.
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EEMCO Guidance for the Assessment of Transepidermal Water Loss in Cosmetic Sciences
TL;DR: Measurement of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), based on the estimation of the water vapour gradient in an open chamber, is being used to support claims of cosmetics including product mildness, reduction in irritative skin reactions, skin hydration, skin repair, protective effect against UV damage and others.
Journal ArticleDOI
EEMCO guidance for the assessment of stratum corneum hydration: electrical methods
TL;DR: The improvement of stratum corneum hydration is one of the most important claims in the cosmetic industry and should be considered a priority for further research.