pH Level and Your Skin

It's a little known fact that unbalanced pH levels can trigger acne and cause existing breakouts to last longer. When this balance is disrupted, body acidity increases, immunity is reduced, and acne bacteria flourish. Did you know that when people say "a bad diet can cause acne" they are actually referring to the detrimental effect of an acidic pH level?

 What is the science behind pH levels? ​​

​The letters pH stand for the abbreviation “potential hydrogen”, or the measure of hydrogen-ions in a solution. In this case, the “solution” is your blood, and your pH level would be the amount of oxygen present within. For optimal health and skin condition, the pH level should stay balanced in the range of 7.0 – 7.5.

A pH reading that lands in higher numbers on the chart below (from 7.0-9.5) is considered alkaline, and is rich in oxygen. A reading that lands from 6.5-4.5 is acidic and  oxygen-deprived. For optimal health, human blood should remain at a level between 7.0-7.5. Once below that level, the body becomes riddled with disease. Above the 8.5 level, cells become too oxygenated and begin to die.

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Why is it important to have a balanced pH level?   ​

Bacteria, viruses, and cancer feed on acid, which is a byproduct of sugar. If your body is highly acidic, the more likely it is to succumb to illness and bacteria overload. This includes acne bacteria overload! Those who are commonly hits with colds, flu and bronchitis often have bad eating habits, and an exceptionally acidic pH level. High pH also contributes to inflammation, meaning that when the body encounters a foreign pathogen, it takes longer to heal. 

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What foods help create optimal pH level? ​

Example #1 – Bad diet = High acidity
Say a person eats the following diet daily, for one week:  Pancakes, sweetened coffee, grilled cheese, soda, spaghetti, sourdough bread and beer. At the end of the week, their pH level would probably be around 5.0-5.5 (very acidic). They would be very prone to illness and acne breakouts. Processed foods, refined white starches, alcohol and refined sugar all cause high acidity in the blood. This in turn leads to body-wide inflammation. 
 
Example # 2 – Healthy diet = Low acidity
Now take another person who eats this diet daily, for one week: Scrambled eggs, fresh strawberries, lemon water, caesar salad, carrot sticks, iced tea, and a chicken breast with broccoli. Since this person has incorporated non-acid forming foods such as vegetables and fruit, and also avoided sugary drinks, their pH level would be significantly more alkaline, probably in the range of 6.0-7.0.  Their immune system would be strong, and they would be far less prone to breakouts.

It's also beneficial to drink raw juice blends, as most vegetables and some fruits lower acidity in the blood.  This goes to further balance your pH level, while boosting immunity and amping up detoxification, helping skin stay clear. Click here to view some healthy juicing recipes for acne prone skin. 

The video below does an excellent job of explaining the detrimental effects of high acidity. ​

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​Exactly how does pH level effect my skin?

The p.Acnes bacteria feeds off of any acidity in the body. When your body is consistently acidic, it basically generates food for all types of bacteria to thrive. The p.Acnes bacteria are no exception, as they also feed off of acidity. When the body is overly acidic, a small breakout can become large and inflamed, and can take several weeks to heal.

Just as the skin remains breakout free if oxygen is allowed to permeate pores, the body remains in balance when its blood level has the proper oxygen level and pH balance of 7.0-7.5. Unfortunately, most people have much more acidic blood, and land around the 5.0 range, which is far too acidic to keep inflammation at bay.

If you are prone to acne and oily skin, it's best to stick to a diet that's predominately free of sugar & carbs, with plenty of fresh vegetables. After a few weeks, you will see that your pH level becomes closer to the goal of 7.0, and breakouts will occur far less frequently. If you do suffer from the occasional breakout, it will heal quickly. Incorporating more green foods into your diet and drinking fresh lemon water several times a day will do wonders to flush toxins from your body. The alkalizing effect of these foods take down any inflammation – both internally and externally.

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How will I know when my pH level has reached the 7.0 level?

When alkalization is optimal, you will notice improved energy levels, clearer skin, faster healing, fewer occurrences of indigestion, improved memory, and improved immunity.

The use of pH Balance Test Strips can also help track your progress on a daily or weekly basis. They allow you to test quickly, using saliva or urine, and accurately identify the current pH level of your system.