pH, Soaps and Skin

pH

An acid is a chemical, which releases hydrogen ions when it’s dissolved in water.

The pH value is the value of hydrogen ions concentration in solution.

An alkali is the opposite if an acid. It removes hydrogen ions from the solution. When an alkali is added in the correct proportion to an acid, it neutralizes the acid. Alkalis have very low hydrogen ion concentrations. Sodium Hydroxide and Potassium Hydroxide are strong alkali.

Acids have a pH value at below 7 ( 6.9 downward ), alkalis have a pH above 7 ( 7.1 upward ) and neutral solutions have a pH of exact 7. Strong acids have a very low pH and strong alkalis have a very high pH. The pH scale measures how acidic or basic a substance is. Each whole pH value below 7 is ten times more acidic than the next higher value. For example, a pH of 4 is ten times more acidic than a pH of 5 and 100 times (10 times 10) more acidic than a pH of 6. The same holds true for pH values above 7, each of which is ten times more alkaline (basic) than the next lower whole value. For example, a pH of 10 is ten times more alkaline than a pH of 9.

Distilled water is neutral, with a pH of 7.0.

Chemicals that are very basic or very acidic are called “reactive.” These chemicals can cause severe burns. Automobile battery acid is an acidic chemical that is reactive. Automobile batteries contain a stronger form of some of the same acid that is in acid rain. Household drain cleaners often contain lye, a very alkaline chemical that is reactive. Vinegar and lemon juice are acidic substances, while laundry detergents and ammonia are basic.

Substance	pH scale value
Battery acid	<1
Gastric juice	2
Lemon juice	2.4
Milk	6.5
Blood	7.34-7.45
Handmade soap	9-10
Bleach	12.5

pH, Soap and Skin           

There are many questions, claims, controversies and conflicting information about pH and skin.

- One company claims their product is "pH balanced for skin".

- Another company claims their products are made without the questionable chemicals in the "pH balanced" product.

Basically, each camp has a stake in the answer. What is up with this?

Remember 99.72% of cosmetic claims are complete fabrications.

Your skin makes a lightly acidic ( 4.5 – 6.5 ) secretion to help protect itself, differs throughout parts of the body. This is called the Acid Mantle. Because it is acidic, the most effective way to clean it off, along with excess oils, dirt and germs, is using an alkaline foaming system (soap!).

Your skin begins secreting the mantle immediately. Within 20 minutes it is about 1/3 strength and with 2-3 hours it is back up at full strength.  This varies slightly person to person, and there are rare cases of this mechanism failing in very sick individuals.

In other words - this is an absolute non-issue.

It is interesting to note that the mildest cleanser you can use - properly handmade bar soaps - also have the highest pH at 10.01. So don't let anybody tell that mildness equals low pH - it just ain't so!

There is a lovely advert on TV (or there was) in which the advertisers said that their Bodywash was the best because it had very low pH. This means it is very acidic, would you use that product if you know it’s acidic?

Poorly quality and mass producers bar soaps usually have Free Alkali in them; this is what makes them harsh and drying. Basically, the manufacturers are allowing there to be some left over alkali in the soap. This is good for shelf life, but bad for dry skin. It will find every last bit of natural oils in your skin and saponify them (turn them into soap), leaving your skin dry and "squeaky-clean".

The reason this non-issue became a marketing war, is that detergent products have a pH that is more acidic than soap products.

Thing is, about 15% of us are sensitive to detergents. Others are sensitive to the preservatives, colors and fragrances used by mass producers in both soap and detergent products.

So how should YOU, the concerned consumer, who cares enough to read this missive, make intelligent buying decisions?