Contributed by Diana Straub
Your skin is the largest organ of your body; when it is broken, it allows germs an entrance to breed infection. Your skin is your body’s first line of defense against germs and the acid mantle that lays atop the skin and secretes a thin, film composed of: oils, fatty acids, lactic acid, amino acids, and a moisturizing factor, which act as a barrier serving to maintain skin’s proper PH level and to defend from environmental invaders.
We expose our skin to many different environments, some of which have an adverse effect on our skin. You may need to re-establish your acid mantle should your skin be:
• Frequently dry, flaky, itchy, irritated or inflamed
• Sting after applying skincare products
• If you apply a mix of different brands
• Using products for sensitive skin, your skin is often red or irritated
• Typically delicate, but that sensation increased in your mid to late 30s
• Feeling squeaky clean when leaving the shower
Alaskans frequently experience an unbalanced acid mantle on the skin of their hands during the cold, windy, winter months. When hand lotion is applied, it may have left you with a stinging or itching sensation with redness. Perhaps you thought that reaction was from a fragrance in the lotion; however, the acid mantle can be washed away and it may be the lack of a proper acid mantle to protect your skin from a lotion with a high PH.
Causes of an unbalanced acid mantle:
• Washing hands with industrial strength cleansers; not using a hand cream afterward
• Cleansing your facial skin & leaving skin un-moisturized
• Appling facial cleansers, toners, exfoliators, moisturizers, etc., from multiple manufacturers
• Using age inappropriate skincare products
• Influence of hydration, nutrition and exercise
• Medications and hormonal changes may dehydrate skin.
How can you repair a damaged acid mantle?
• Increasing your water and good oil intake
• Learn the PH levels of the products you use, and use only routine leaving your skin at a 5.5 PH
• Utilize a skincare consultant, aesthetician, or cosmetologist to select a skincare routine for your skin
People with more severe cases may need the assistance of an aesthetician and facial that includes galvanic current. The services of an aesthetician you can expect to pay for, but their skincare product knowledge should be available to you free of charge. Contact me if you need a recommendation.
Diana Straub, Cosmetologist
907-841-7245
FB@DianaMKinAK
