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How Skin pH Affects the Acid Mantle and Barrier Function

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Respect and protect your skin’s optimal pH to help restore healthy barrier functions.

The skin is an amazing organ, and one most people take for granted as its protective layers are invisible to the naked eye.

Take, for example, the skin acid mantle – it’s a naturally-occurring acidic layer that fulfils multiple rolesR1 :

  • Maintains the skin’s moisture levels
  • Supports the structural integrity of the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the epidermis)
  • Forms the first line of defence against bacteria
  • Assists in the activation of ceramide metabolism
  • Modulates serine protease activity* relating to the formation of the cornified cell envelope** (a tough, insoluble structure which supports the skin barrier)

* serine proteases are enzymes that play a role in the renewal or regeneration of skin cells

 

In healthy skin, pH levels range from pH4-6, with tests indicating that pH5 or lower allows optimal barrier function
R2 . In eczema-prone skin, however, pH levels are elevated; this leads to increased protease activity and activation of the protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) which causes:R3, R4, R5, R6 :

  • Reduced synthesis of ceramides and free fatty acids, which are essential lipids
  • Inhibited secretion of lamellar bodies which are integral to skin structure
  • Defects in the acidic antimicrobial barrier
  • Increased inflammation and itching
Skin-pH-Acid-Mantle-2

Ultimately, elevated skin pH leads directly to skin barrier defects; maintaining an optimal skin pH, therefore, is a significant factor in managing eczema-prone skinR7 .

Established research show that restoring the skin’s pH level to its naturally acidic state allows its barrier functions to resume, effectively reversing the chain reaction that leads to inflammation and itching that are hallmarks of eczema-prone skinR8 . This includes supporting the skin’s ability to produce ceramides, the dominant component in the skins’ physiological lipids.

Ceramides, which form a 3:1:1 ratio with cholesterol and free fatty acidsR9 , can also be supplemented topically.R10 This same ratio is employed in patent-pending Ceradan® Advanced Barrier Cream, a ceramide-dominant emollient cream designed to replenish essential lipids. With zinc lactobionic acid to normalise the skin’s pH level to its normal acidic state of pH4-6, it also helps to inhibit serine protease activity in a stable, low pH formula that is suitably mild to eliminate stinging upon application.

Tests show that ceramide-dominant emollient cream is effective in restoring barrier function, reducing the severity of eczema-related symptoms. After only three weeks of twice daily application, results included R13, R14 :

  • Significant reduction in transepidermal water loss (TEWL)
  • Reduction in the severity of itching
  • Progressive improvement in the integrity of the stratum corneum
  • Improved barrier function

These results, which contributed to significantly improved quality of life for participants, were measured using both patient self-assessment tests and clinical observationsR15 . Most importantly, they offer reassurance that symptoms of eczema can be managed with appropriate care, leading to reduced dependence on steroid-based treatment, a common cause for concern among parents of young children who suffer from eczema-prone skin.

Restoring the pH level to its naturally acidic state allows the skin barrier functions to resume

For more information on skin pH and the acid mantle in relation to managing eczema-prone skin, speak to your doctor for advice.

Results may vary.

References:
1. Lee H-J et al. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res 2014;6(4):276-287. 2. Panther DJ, et al. J Clin Med 2015;5:970-978.
2. Lambers H et al. Natural skin surface pH is on average below 5, which is beneficial for its resident flora. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2006 Oct;28(5):359-70. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18489300
3. Danby SG, Cork MJ. pH in Atopic Dermatitis. pH of the Skin: Issues and Challenges. 2018. Basel Karger, vol 54, pp95-107.
4. Ali SM, Yosipovitch G. Skin pH: from basic science to basic skin care. Acta Derm Venereol. 2013 May;93(3):261-7.
5. Lee HJ, Lee SH. Epidermal permeability barrier defects and barrier repair therapy in atopic dermatitis. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2014 Jul;6(4):276-87
6. Alan Cowan, Gil Yosipovitch. How Deep Should We Scratch? Pharmacology of Itch. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology. Springer, 2015. Volume 226. pg 99.
7. Monika Hildegard Schmid-Wendtner, The pH of the Skin Surface and Its Impact on the Barrier Function. Skin pharmacology and physiology 19(6):296-302 · February 2006
8. Hachem JP et al. “Sustained serine proteases activity by prolonged increase in pH leads to degradation of lipid processing enzymes and profound alterations of barrier function and stratum corneum integrity.” J Invest Dermatol. 2005 Sep;125(3):510-20. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16117792
9. Vávrová K., Kováčik A., Opálka L. Ceramides in the Skin Barrier, Eur. Pharm. J. 2017, 64 (2): 28-35.
10. Mao-Qiang et al (1993a). Optimization of Physiological Lipid Mixtures for Barrier Repair. The Society for Investigative Dermatology, Inc. Vol. 106, No. 5 May 1996
11. [data on file]
12. [data on file]
13. Chamlin SL et al. J Am Acad Dermatol 2002;47:198-208.
14. Kircik LH et al. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2011;4(3):34-40
15. Koh MJ et al. Comparison of the Simple Patient-Centric Atopic Dermatitis Scoring System PEST with SCORAD in Young Children Using a Ceramide Dominant Therapeutic Moisturizer. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) (2017) 7:383–393, DOI 10.1007/s13555-017-0186-1