Household Items that Help Restore the Skin's Natural pH Balance
Your refrigerator or cabinet is full of household items and products that can help balance pH levels in the skin. The surface of the skin should be more acidic than the internal body in order for it to keep bacteria from growing. Balancing the body's pH levels internally and maintaining skin's external pH requirements will keep it healthy. Natural products found at home are effective, cost efficient, and environmentally friendly.
Toner
Find a lemon, and make a lemon juice toner. Combine a teaspoon of lemon juice in a half a cup of water. Apply with a cotton ball to the face and rinse after 5 minutes. This lemon water toner will restore skin's pH balance as well as kill bacteria on the surface of the skin. The citric acid will also fight fine lines and wrinkles as well as acne.
- Find a lemon, and make a lemon juice toner.
- This lemon water toner will restore skin's pH balance as well as kill bacteria on the surface of the skin.
Full Body Spray
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Apple cider vinegar, which comes from fermented apples, is full of vitamins and minerals that help restore skin's pH balance when applied topically. Dilute one part apple cider vinegar in eight parts water 1. This blend can be left on for 20 minutes to 1 hour depending on skin sensitivity. It also has antibacterial properties to fight skin infection and clean out pores. One way to use this solution is to put it in a spray bottle and spritz the body several minutes before taking a shower. It also balances the pH levels on the scalp to fight dandruff and remove product buildup from hair follicles.
- Apple cider vinegar, which comes from fermented apples, is full of vitamins and minerals that help restore skin's pH balance when applied topically.
- It also balances the pH levels on the scalp to fight dandruff and remove product buildup from hair follicles.
Diet
A diet rich in certain raw foods will make the blood more alkaline. This allows the blood to absorb more oxygen to aid digestion, which leads to clearer skin. When your diet is too acidic, it leads to unbalanced pH levels in the skin. Columbia University's Health Q&A Internet Service suggests a diet rich in dark green leafy vegetables as well as colorful fruits such as citrus fruits and berries. Also drink lots of water for proper pH balance.
- A diet rich in certain raw foods will make the blood more alkaline.
Avoid
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There are several types of foods to avoid that cause acidity in the body disrupting skin's pH levels. These throw off pH balance within the body and can lead to premature skin aging and acne.
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References
- Home Remedies Web: Apple Cider Vinegar Health Benefits
- Beauty and Personal Grooming: Lemon as a Beauty Aid
- Prakash C, Bhargava P, Tiwari S, Majumdar B, Bhargava RK. Skin surface pH in acne vulgaris: Insights from an observational study and review of the literature. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2017;10(7):33-9.
- Luu LA, Flowers RH, Kellams AL, et al. Apple cider vinegar soaks [0.5%] as a treatment for atopic dermatitis do not improve skin barrier integrity. Pediatr Dermatol. 2019;36(5):634-9. doi:10.1111/pde.13888
- National Library of Medicine.Salicylic acid. In: PubChem. 2020.
- Bunick CG, Lott JP, Warren CB, Galan A, Bolognia J, King BA. Chemical burn from topical apple cider vinegar. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2012 Oct;67(4):e143-4. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2011.11.934
- Yagnik D, Serafin V, J Shah A. Antimicrobial activity of apple cider vinegar against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans; downregulating cytokine and microbial protein expression. Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):1732. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-18618-x
- Zheng LW, Di-Ze L, Lu JZ, et al. Effects of vinegar on tooth bleaching and dental hard tissues in vitro. Sichuan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban (China). 2014 Nov;45(6):933-6.
- Chang J, Han SE, Paik SS, Kim YJ. Corrosive esophageal injury due to a commercial vinegar beverage in an adolescent. Clin Endosc. 2019. doi:10.5946/ce.2019.066
- American Academy of Dermatology. Acne clinical guideline. 2020.
Writer Bio
Clark Sarullo is an experienced professional writer with expertise in natural skin care, hair care, nutrition, stress management, relaxation techniques, fitness and management of various health conditions. Other areas of expertise include personal finance, money management and debt solutions. Sarullo is based in Atlanta and holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the College of Charleston.