It is known that the pH for normal skin is 4.5 to 5.5, moderately acidic. Of course the Ph itself varies throughout different body parts. If the skin contact with something which is either too alkaline or too acidic, it will affect the natural protective barrier of your skin (the acid mantle). Which leads to slowing barrier renewal, prolonging injures and causes skin problems like rashes, irritations, peeling etc. Also average pH varies depending on the skin type, because not everyone’s skin is vulnerable to the same factors like harsh detergents or weather.

The pH of skin care producs

Usually manufacturers try to create skin care products for the skin with a pH which falls within a range that shouldn’t have a bad influence on your skin. But after applying such products your skin will get back to the normal conditions within a couple of minutes to a couple of hours. The natural level of pH is 7, is also known as pH of distilled or pure water. So the skin pH won’t be affected at all in case of using products with pH of 7. Usually skin care products have a slight affect on the skin in order to receive desirable results without causing irritation or preventing it from normalizing in a short terms.

Acidic peels

Thus it is really stressful to apply Glycolic Acid peels which have pH around 2.5-3.0. Some products and Glycolic peels among them have very low acidic pH, so they actually can cause more damage than helping skin.

Pay attention: Experienced Physicians stated that in order to conduct a successful peel, the pH should be around 2.5 and 3.0.

Fast acting peel won’t be successful in case having pH more than 3.0, because these peels can provide enough exfoliation for skin being there only for a short time. While peels with pH lower than 2.5 aren’t only ineffective but also can cause injures to skin. Due to the fact that acid content isn’t balanced and skin is being injured instead of exfoliating, which all together ruins the target of applying peels to improve your skin.

Here are a number of reasons why fast-acting skin peel must have pH between 2.5 to 3.0:

Our skin’s external layers called stratum corneum. In order to reveal healthy-looking, fresh skin, Glycolic Acid penetrates this upper layer. This external layer also has in it many skin’s natural antiwrinkling, anti-aging and anti-bacterial protection and besides it is also the primary sun screen of the skin.

The hydroplipid barrier also influences the skin, the process of water keeping and an acid mantle, formed of mature skin cells, bacteria, sweat and sebum.

Both the hydrolipid barrier and the acid mantle are important protectors for the skin and shouldn’t be destroyed but because of often usage and what is more important not proper usage of low pH acid products and high power skin care regimens they are broken.

The upper layer is needed to protect new cells which are forming under the skin surface; it is important they develop properly to be healthy when they appear at the surface. So if the upper layer is constantly attacked by the substance that degrades it, new cells are injuring and when delivered to the surface in unhealthy, dried out state. And this will be seen at your skin, in the form of wrinkling, uneven skin tone, dryness, etc.
Thus, those of you who still believe that low pH and high acid concentration help your skin, will bear consequences later.

Optimal pH level of glycolic peels

It is highly recommended to have moderate approach, which means applying skin peels with pH level between 2.5 and 3.0 and wearing a sunscreen constantly when you have exfoliates on your skin.

Pick carefully formulated skin care products that are sold by the manufacturers who care more about skin health than about public misleading with a smaller pH product. Then your skin will be clear of debris, new skin cells developing will be stimulating instead of destroying them. These products will also activate new collagen to thicken the skin not thinning and ruining it. And your skin all together will be healthy and beautiful with long-lasting effect.

The main target is to improve the skin, not to destroy it.
In order to get rid of acid after peel procedures just apply lukewarm water. As we have mentioned before, water possesses pH of around 7.00 which makes it greatly alkaline. Thus one of the easiest ways to neutralize acid peels is applying plain water, which has alkaline nature.