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The Skin Acid Mantle: An Update on Skin pH
Sarah G Brooks1, Rami H Mahmoud1, Rachel R Lin1
1Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, Miami Itch Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology
|September 7, 2024
Summary
The skin's acid mantle, a crucial buffer system, regulates the skin microbiome and barrier function. Maintaining optimal skin pH is vital for preventing and managing dermatologic diseases.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Skin Physiology
- Microbiome Research
Background:
- The acid mantle is a critical skin buffer system in the stratum corneum.
- It maintains an acidic skin pH, essential for barrier integrity, microbiome balance, and inflammation control.
- Altered skin pH significantly impacts epidermal barrier function and dermatologic disease progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms linking skin pH to dermatologic pathologies.
- To explore the role of the acid mantle in skin health and disease.
- To highlight the therapeutic potential of pH-targeted interventions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing studies on skin pH and dermatologic conditions.
- Analysis of the physiological roles of the acid mantle.
- Synthesis of current research on pH-disrupting factors and their consequences.
Main Results:
- Skin pH is integral to epidermal barrier function and microbiome homeostasis.
- Deviations from optimal skin pH are associated with various dermatologic diseases.
- Understanding these pH-dependent mechanisms is key to disease management.
Conclusions:
- The acid mantle's role in maintaining skin health is multifaceted.
- Skin pH is a critical factor in the pathogenesis of numerous skin conditions.
- Targeting skin pH offers a promising therapeutic avenue for dermatologic care.
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