Clinical insights about the role of pH in acne

INTRODUCTION

Acne vulgaris is the most common dermatological disorder globally.Psychological and emotional distress due to acne, including poor self-esteem, social anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation have been reported in various studies. Acne is a complex multifactorial disease with its pathophysiology incompletely elucidated. An impaired skin barrier function in acne as well as decreased amounts of ceramide levels have been reported. In acne, when skin bar- rier integrity is compromised, functional properties (eg, higher sebum excretion, larger sebaceous glands, evident subclinical inflammation), and ultrastructural ones (eg, enhanced filaggrin expression, reduced free fatty acids, linoleic acid, free sphingosine, and total ceramides) are altered. Maintaining a light acidic skin surface pH (of 4 to 5) to keep the skin barrier intact, which in turn reduces the risk for dry and irritated skin, may be of benefit to those individuals suffering from acne.

C. Lynde, J.Tan, S. Skotnicki, et al