pH of the Skin: Issues and Challenges
The concept of expressing acidity as the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration was defined and termed pH in the beginning of the 20th century. The general usefulness of the pH concept for life science was recognized and later gained importance to analytical research. Reports on results of pH measurements from living skin established the term acid mantle – the skin’s own protective shield that maintains a naturally acid pH. It is invisible to the eye but crucial to the overall wellbeing of skin. Chronic alkalization can throw this acid mantle out of balance, leading to inflammation, dermatitis, and atopic skin diseases. It is therefore no surprise, that skin pH shifts have been observed in various skin pathologies. It is also obvious that the pH in topically applied preparations may play an important role. Optimal pH and buffer capacity within topical preparations not only support stability of active ingredients and auxiliary materials, but may also increase absorption of the non-ionized species of an acidic or a basic active ingredient. They may even open up opportunities to modify and “correct” skin pH and hence accelerate barrier recovery and maintain or enhance barrier integrity. Further efforts are needed to standardize and improve pH measurements in biological media or pharmaceutical/cosmetic vehicles to increase and ensure quality, comparability, and relevance of research data. In this volume, we present a unique collection of papers that address past, present and future issues of the pH of healthy and diseased skin. It is hoped that this collection will foster future efforts in clinical and experimental skin research.
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1 - 10: The Acid Mantle: A Myth or an Essential Part of Skin Health?ByChristian Surber;Christian SurberaDepartment of Dermatology, University Hospital, Basel, andbDepartment of Dermatology, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland;Search for other works by this author on:Philippe Humbert;Philippe HumbertcDepartment of Dermatology, University Hospital, Besançon, France;Search for other works by this author on:Christoph Abels;Christoph AbelsdDr. August Wolff GmbH & Co. KG Arzneimittel, Bielefeld, Germany;Search for other works by this author on:Howard MaibachHoward MaibacheDepartment of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USASearch for other works by this author on:
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11 - 18: Buffering CapacityByEhrhardt ProkschEhrhardt ProkschDepartment of Dermatology, University of Kiel, Kiel, GermanySearch for other works by this author on:
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19 - 25: Measurement of Skin Surface pHByJohan L. du Plessis;Johan L. du PlessisaOccupational Hygiene and Health Research Initiative (OHHRI), North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa;Search for other works by this author on:Aleksandr B. Stefaniak;Aleksandr B. StefaniakbNational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV, USA;Search for other works by this author on:Klaus-Peter WilhelmKlaus-Peter WilhelmcproDERM Institute for Applied Dermatological Research GmBH, Schenefeld, GermanySearch for other works by this author on:
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26 - 32: Skin Surface pH in Newborns: Origin and ConsequencesByJoachim W. Fluhr;Joachim W. FluhraDepartment of Dermatology, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany;Search for other works by this author on:Razvigor DarlenskiRazvigor DarlenskibDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, andcDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, Tokuda Hospital, Sofia, BulgariaSearch for other works by this author on:
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33 - 47: Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Affecting Skin Surface pHByMiranda A. Farage;Miranda A. FarageaThe Procter and Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH, andSearch for other works by this author on:William Hood;William HoodaThe Procter and Gamble Company, Cincinnati, OH, andSearch for other works by this author on:Enzo Berardesca;Enzo BerardescacSan Gallicano Dermatological Institute, Rome, ItalySearch for other works by this author on:Howard MaibachHoward MaibachbDepartment of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA;Search for other works by this author on:
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48 - 53: Gender, Age, and Ethnicity as Factors That Can Influence Skin pHByEung Ho ChoiEung Ho ChoiDepartment of Dermatology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, South KoreaSearch for other works by this author on:
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54 - 63: Endogenous Factors That Can Influence Skin pHByAttila Oláh;Attila OláhbDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, HungarySearch for other works by this author on:Balázs István Tóth;Balázs István TóthbDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, HungarySearch for other works by this author on:Attila Gábor SzöllősiAttila Gábor SzöllősibDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, HungarySearch for other works by this author on:
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64 - 70: Lipids in the Skin and pHByJohannes Wohlrab;Johannes WohlrabaDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, andbInstitute of Applied Dermatopharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), GermanySearch for other works by this author on:Alexandra Gebert;Alexandra GebertaDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, andSearch for other works by this author on:Reinhard H.H. NeubertReinhard H.H. NeubertbInstitute of Applied Dermatopharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), GermanySearch for other works by this author on:
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71 - 78: Influence of pH on Skin Stem Cells and Their DifferentiationByAlexandra Charruyer;Alexandra CharruyerDepartment of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USASearch for other works by this author on:Ruby GhadiallyRuby GhadiallyDepartment of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USASearch for other works by this author on:
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79 - 86: The Influence of Calcium on the Skin pH and Epidermal Barrier During AgingByMark Rinnerthaler;Mark RinnerthalerDepartment of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, AustriaSearch for other works by this author on:Klaus RichterKlaus RichterDepartment of Biosciences, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, AustriaSearch for other works by this author on:
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87 - 94: pH and Microbial InfectionsByFrank Rippke;Frank RippkeaBeiersdorf AG, Research and Development, Hamburg, Germany;Search for other works by this author on:Enzo Berardesca;Enzo BerardescabSan Gallicano Dermatological Institute, Rome, Italy;Search for other works by this author on:Teresa M. WeberTeresa M. WebercBeiersdorf Inc., Research and Development, Wilton, CT, USASearch for other works by this author on:
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95 - 107: pH in Atopic DermatitisBySimon G. Danby;Simon G. DanbyaSheffield Dermatology Research, The University of Sheffield Medical School,Search for other works by this author on:Michael J. CorkMichael J. CorkaSheffield Dermatology Research, The University of Sheffield Medical School,bThe Paediatric Dermatology Clinic, Sheffield Children's Hospital, andcDepartment of Dermatology, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UKSearch for other works by this author on:
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108 - 114: Role of Skin pH in PsoriasisByPaul L. BigliardiPaul L. BigliardiDepartment of Dermatology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USASearch for other works by this author on:
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115 - 122: pH and AcneByNanna SchürerNanna SchürerDepartment of Dermatology, Environmental Medicine and Health Theory, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, GermanySearch for other works by this author on:
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123 - 131: pH and Buffer Capacity of Topical FormulationsByJohannes Wohlrab;Johannes WohlrabaDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, andbInstitute of applied Dermatopharmacy, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), GermanySearch for other works by this author on:Alexandra GebertAlexandra GebertaDepartment of Dermatology and Venereology, andSearch for other works by this author on:
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132 - 142: The Relation of pH and Skin CleansingByJürgen Blaak;Jürgen BlaakResearch and Development and Regulatory Affairs, Kneipp GmbH, Würzburg, GermanySearch for other works by this author on:Peter StaibPeter StaibResearch and Development and Regulatory Affairs, Kneipp GmbH, Würzburg, GermanySearch for other works by this author on:
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143 - 151: pH and Drug DeliveryByNina Østergaard Knudsen;Nina Østergaard KnudsenLEO Pharma A/S, Ballerup, DenmarkSearch for other works by this author on:Gitte Pommergaard PedersenGitte Pommergaard PedersenLEO Pharma A/S, Ballerup, DenmarkSearch for other works by this author on:
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152 - 165: Metamorphosis of Vehicles: Mechanisms and OpportunitiesByChristian Surber;Christian SurberaDepartment of Dermatology, University Hospital, Basel, andbDepartment of Dermatology, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland;Search for other works by this author on:Ulrich KnieUlrich KniecPharmaceutical R&D, Dr. August Wolff GmbH & Co. KG Arzneimittel, Bielefeld, GermanySearch for other works by this author on:
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166 - 172: Influence of Topical Formulations: Lipid Lamella Organization and Lipid Composition of Stratum Corneum as a Surrogate Marker for Barrier IntegrityByDorothee Dähnhardt;Dorothee DähnhardtaMicroscopy Services Dähnhardt GmbH, Flintbek, Germany;Search for other works by this author on:Christian Surber;Christian SurberbDepartment of Dermatology, University Hospital, Basel, andcDepartment of Dermatology, University Hospital, Zurich, SwitzerlandSearch for other works by this author on:Stephan Dähnhardt-PfeifferStephan Dähnhardt-PfeifferaMicroscopy Services Dähnhardt GmbH, Flintbek, Germany;Search for other works by this author on:
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173 - 182: Skin Care Products: Age-Appropriate CosmeticsByChristoph Abels;Christoph AbelsaDr. August Wolff GmbH & Co. KG Arzneimittel, Bielefeld, Germany;Search for other works by this author on:Irena Angelova-FischerIrena Angelova-FischerbDepartment of Dermatology, Kepler University Hospital, Linz, AustriaSearch for other works by this author on:
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183 - 200: Skin Care Products for Healthy and Diseased SkinByChristian Surber;Christian SurberaDepartment of Dermatology, University Hospital, Basel, andbDepartment of Dermatology, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland;Search for other works by this author on:Nina Dragicevic;Nina DragiceviccPharmacy “Belgrade”, Belgrade, Serbia;Search for other works by this author on:Jan KottnerJan KottnerdDepartment of Dermatology and Allergy, Clinical Research Center for Hair and Skin Science, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, GermanySearch for other works by this author on: