Our Australain Chief Formulator, Dr. Mike Thair, shares his toughts about pH and skin.
Notably, we see many product claims of pH balanced for skin. In fact, like many other body care product claims this is misleading. Let’s examine the scientific facts:
FACT 1:
Firstly, your skin produces what is known as an Acid Mantle. This is a slightly acidic secretion designed to protect. Basic chemistry tells us that if this is acidic, the most effective way to clean off accumulated oils, dirt, and germs, is by using an alkaline soap. Handmade natural cold process soaps usually have an alkaline pH between 9.0 and 10.0. This is ideal for the job. Many mass produced soaps, many of which are SYNDETS (synthetic detergents), have pH values between 5.0 and 7.0 (acidic to neutral). So, they are not so ideal for skin cleaning purposes. Therefore, you do not need to use soap that is pH balanced for skin.FACT 2:
Secondly, the long-term use of soap does not affect the skin pH. The surface pH of human skin is around 5. Washing the skin with an alkaline soap will certainly increase the pH of the skin. But, it will return to a more acidic pH within a few hours. Scientific research suggests that long-term continuous use of alkaline soap does not affect the pH-maintaining mechanism of human skin. (see Takagi, Y., Kaneda, K., Miyaki, M., Matsuo, K., Kawada, H. and Hosokawa, H., The long-term use of soap does not affect the pH-maintenance mechanism of human skin. Skin Research and Technology. 2015 May; 21(2):144-8). Again, this is evidence thet you do not need to use soap that is pH balanced for skin.Lets put pH balanced for skin to the test
To demonstrate, let’s put the theory to test. Check out our soap products. Make a purchase, and see for yourself. If you have any queries, please contact us. Remember, at Indochine Natural you can talk to the people who make the products.Dr. Mike Thair
Co-founder & Chief Formulator
Indochine Natural Sdn Bhd
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