Acid mantle

The acid mantle is a very thin, delicate, slightly acidic film covering the entire surface of human skin, serving as a protective barrier against pathogens and reduces body odor.[1][2] The acidic pH at the skin's surface mainly maintained by free amino acids and α-hydroxy acids (lactic acids) excreted from sweat; free fatty acids and amino acids from sebum; and urocanic acid and pyroglutamic acid.[3][2] While the viable epidermis below the stratum corneum has a neutral pH of around 7.0, the surface pH of the skin's acid mantle typically ranges between 4.5 and 6.5,[4][5] with an average assumption of 5.0 to 6.0.[6]

  1. ^ Monika-Hildegard Schmid-Wendtner; Korting Schmid-Wendtner (2007). Ph and Skin Care. ABW Wissenschaftsverlag. pp. 31–. ISBN 978-3-936072-64-8. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Principles of dermatological practice. Structure of the epidermis | DermNet". dermnetnz.org. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  3. ^ Kumar, Piyush; Das, Anupam (2023-03-01). "Acid mantle: What we need to know". Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology. 89: 729–732. doi:10.25259/IJDVL_153_2022. ISSN 0973-3922.
  4. ^ Zlotogorski A (1987). "Distribution of skin surface pH on the forehead and cheek of adults". Arch. Dermatol. Res. 279 (6): 398–401. doi:10.1007/bf00412626. PMID 3674963. S2CID 3065931.
  5. ^ Schmid MH, Korting HC (1995). "The concept of the acid mantle of the skin: its relevance for the choice of skin cleansers" (PDF). Dermatology. 191 (4): 276–80. doi:10.1159/000246568. PMID 8573921. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-03-01. Retrieved 2012-06-20.
  6. ^ Lambers, H.; Piessens, S.; Bloem, A.; Pronk, H.; Finkel, P. (October 2006). "Natural skin surface pH is on average below 5, which is beneficial for its resident flora". International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 28 (5): 359–370. doi:10.1111/j.1467-2494.2006.00344.x. ISSN 1468-2494. PMID 18489300. S2CID 25191984.