The Science of Healthy, Clear and Vibrant Skin. Why You Need Moisture and Mild Acidity

[Sponsored Post]: This post is sponsored by SoPhytoPRO, a pH balanced, whole-food skin nutrition line.

 

Moisture and Mild Acidity: The Key To Healthy and Vibrant Skin

Lets understanding the science behind optimal skin function so we can restore the skin microenvironment such that it encourages the innate mechanisms for restoration and renewal.
The outer layer of the skin is known as the acid mantle and, as its name suggests, is acidic in nature. The acidity of this layer is roughly the same as a bowl of crushed fresh tomatoes (pH 4.6 to 5) and the skin functions best in this mildly acidic state.

Mild Skin Acidity is healthy for the skin because it:

1. Allows the skin to absorb nutrients in skin care
2. Shields the skin from bacterial proliferation and irritation
3. Alleviates skin sensitivity
4. Constricts follicles and reduces pore size
5. Tightens and firms the skin
6. Keeps skin clear of debris
7. Encourages new skin-cell growth
8. Stimulates new collagen production
9. Helps the skin regulate its own natural moisturizing production

What Affects Skin pH?

Many factors affect skin pH; ranging from hormone imbalances, to a diet rich in acidic foods (dairy, sugar and refined carbohydrates) to emotional imbalances, and weather changes. A full list of factors that affect skin health are listed below.

• Cosmetics containing acids (e.g. alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), retinoids, and harsh foaming agents) emotional imbalances: Anxiety, depression, fear, and worries can interfere with the secretions of our glands by suppressing or overstimulating them and altering the quality of our acid mantle. Skin looks dull, due to lack of circulating oxygen induced by stress.
• environment (all pollutants, UV rays are alkaline in nature)
• Diet (if rich in acid-forming foods such as meat,
dairy, sugar, and other refined carbohydrates)

How Can you Preserve The Native Moisture Factor (NMF) of Your Skin?

Effective cleansing is the cornerstone to maintaining healthy skin. Paradoxically, many commercially available cleansers have alkaline ingredients which alter the skin’s natural protective capabilities. (All soaps are naturally alkaline and as such adversely affect skin’s natural chemistry.) Cleansing the skin while simultaneously helping to maintain healthy moisture levels and a mild acidic pH is key.

Glycolic acid is one of the most commonly used alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) in skin care. It is derived naturally from raw sugarcane juice. For any topical compound to be effective, including AHA, it must penetrate the skin where it can act on living cells. Bioavailability (influenced primarily by small molecular size) is an important factor in a compound’s ability to penetrate the top layer of the skin. Dead skin cells exfoliate (shed) after glycolic acid
is applied. The acid dries out excess surface oil and dissolves the dead skin cells’ adherence so that they naturally slough off and are replaced by new cells. The result is a cleaner look to the skin.

It is thought that glycolic acid also stimulates collagen production to some extent. In addition, it keeps the skin moisturized by keeping water bound to the skin, thus preventing drying; and it can bleach some spots on the skin. Another added advantage of glycolic acid is that its penetrating quality helps other skin care ingredients reach deeper into the skin, making them more effective.

Wrinkles, UV and Oxidative Damage

Oxidative damage caused by free radical exposure is responsible for up to 80% of skin aging.[2] Quenching those reactive oxygen species (ROS) with antioxidants is the key to preventing and reversing the signs of premature aging, which include:

• Fine lines and wrinkles sagging
• Dull or withered complexion
• Hyperpigmentation
• Skin sensitivities or allergies
• Broken thread veins
• Scar tissue

Parabens: Common Ingredients Found In Skincare Products That You should Avoid

The paraben family comprises butylparaben, parabens, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, sodium methylparaben, sodium propylparaben,ethylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben, and benzylparaben. Parabens are synthetic preservatives widely used in cosmetics and personal care products, which according to several studies may exert serious adverse health effects, including hormone disruption, organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), reproductive toxicity and infertility, birth or developmental defects.

A 2004 United Kingdom study detected traces of five parabens—intact—in the breast cancer tumors of 19 out of 20 women studied.[6] It is not known whether parabens directly initiated the tumors. What is known is that the body cannot break down parabens, and their presence in the body disrupts healthy hormone balance by mimicking estrogen.[7] It is for these reasons that health-minded women are seeking paraben-free products.

Sodium Laural Sulfate (SLS) May Damage Cell Membranes

Nearly every leading brand of shampoo, as well as almost every popular foaming personal care product, contains an ingredient clinical studies use worldwide—as a skin irritant! The ingredient is called sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and it is a petrochemical- derived synthetic detergent. The International Journal of Toxicology reported that SLS, “had a degenerative effect on cell membranes.”[8] SLS not only has been shown to deposit heavily on the skin surface and in the hair follicles but also residual levels of SLS from skin contact with it have been found in tissues in the brain, heart, lungs, and liver. Damage to the eyes has also been reported. SLS may not be a carcinogen itself; however, it may interact with other ingredients in a product to form carcinogens, such as nitrosamines.

Less irritating detergents known as ethoxylated detergents (e.g., sodium laureth sulfate, lauramide DEA) may be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which the federal government lists as a probable carcinogen.[9]

Mixing Moisture and Natural Oils Help to Promote Skin Hydration

Research shows that aged and dry skin is lacking moisture, not oils. Skin requires equal amounts of both water and oil in order to function in a healthy manner: water hydrates the skin and oil prevents the water from evaporating. So they key to restoring vibrant skin is using products that have both oil and moisturizing agents.

Key Takeaways

The key to a healthy skin is regular cleansing and maintaining mild acidity and moisture levels. Diets rich in dairy, processed foods, smoking, alcohol and excessive UV radiation can have a negative affect on skin health.

Learn More About SophytoPRO Skincare Products

SophytoPRO is an innovative all-natural skin care system formulated with pure, natural ingredients.
By naturally optimizing skin pH and moisture content, the SophytoPRO products help all skin types to look and feel healthier and more radiant. All products are made with an average of 95% certified organic ingredients and are gluten free.

References
1. Shaughness G. Supplements. Holistic Family Practice, Herbal Therapies and Nutrition Web site, January 2012; Chang J. Vitamin Supplements. isites.harvard.edu/ fs/docs/icb.topic163904…/Vitamin_Supplements_Jenn. doc; Murray R. Natural vs. Synthetic. Long Natural Health Web site. http://www.longnaturalhealth.com/health- articles/natural-vs-synthetic, 2011.
2. Poljšak B, Dahmane R. Free radicals and extrinsic skin aging. Dermatol Res Pract. 2012;2012:135206. doi:10.1155/2012/135206.
3. Jung YC, Kim EJ, Cho JC, et al. Effect of skin pH for wrinkle formation on Asian: Korean, Vietnamese and Singaporean. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2012 Jul 25. doi:10.1111/j.1468-3083.2012.04660.x.
4. Prakash P, Jakhete N, Watts K, et al. Information about cosmetic ingredients is difficult to obtain: a potential hazard for celiac patients. [ACG abstract 236]. Am J Gastroenterol. 2011;106(suppl 2):S93. http://www.nature. com/ajg/journal/ v106/n2s/pdf/ajg2011336_4a.pdf.
5. Perlmutter D. Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs and Sugar—Your Brain’s Silent Killer. Publication date: September 3, 2013.
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8. Final report of the amended safety assessment of sodium laureth sulfate and related salts of sulfated ethoxylated alcohols. Int J Toxicol. 2010 Jul;29(4 Suppl):151S-61S. doi:10.3109/10915818309142005.
9. United States Environmental Protection Agency. Technical Fact Sheet–1,4-Dioxane. http://www.epa.gov/ fedfac/pdf/technical_fact_sheet_14-dioxane_2013.pdf. Published January 2013. Accessed February 4, 2013.
10. Mohatta CD. Aging skin care—know more about common AHA molecules. American Chronicle. http:// amchron.soundenterprises.net/articles/printFriendly/12902. Published August 27, 2006. Accessed January 23, 2013.
11. Miami Cosmetic Research Group (MCRG) & Baumann Cosmetic & Research Institute, Miami, FL.
12. United States Food and Drug Administration. Skin bleaching drug products for over-the-counter product use; proposed rule. 21 CFR Part 310. http://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/78n-0065-npr0003.pdf. Published August 7, 2006. Accessed January 23, 2013.
13. Baumann L. The Skin Type Solution. New York, NY; Random House, Inc.; 2006.
14. Knott A, Reuschlein K, Mielke H, et al. Natural Arctium lappa fruit extract improves the clinical signs of aging
skin. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2008 Dec;7(4):281-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1473-2165.2008.00407.x.
15. Makpol S, Abdul Rahim N, Hui CK, et al. Inhibition of mitochondrial cytochrome c release and suppression of caspases by gamma-tocotrienol prevent apoptosis and delay aging in stress-induced premature senescence of skin fibroblasts. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2012;2012:785743. doi:10.1155/2012/785743.
16. Oomah BD, Ladet S, Godfrey DV, et al. Characteristics of raspberry (Rubis idaeus L.) seed oil. Food Chemistry. 2000 May;69(2):187-193. doi:10.1016/S0308-8146(99)00260-5.
17. O’Lenick A, Steinberg D, Klein K, et al. Oils of Nature. Carol Stream, IL: Allured Business Media; 2008.
18. Alkalize for Health. Toxic Cosmetics Ingredient List. http://www.alkalizeforhealth.net/Ltoxiccosmetics.htm. Accessed February 4, 2013.