Natural barrier on the surface of human skin
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]
^ 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 .
^ a b "Principles of dermatological practice. Structure of the epidermis | DermNet" . dermnetnz.org . Retrieved 2024-03-10 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .