I realize that reference may be aging out of popular awareness, but Silence Of The Lambs is too well done to let it die. Anyways…
Your skin is a highly intelligent organ. Not something to be trifled with.
It is the primary line of defense between you and the environment.
Part of this nonspecific defense system is an acid mantle.
Sweat mixes with natural oils to create a slightly acidic coating that nurtures the good bacteria while keeping out the bad.
You have two types of sweat glands:
Eccrine glands that are distributed around the body and excrete inorganic minerals (sodium, potassium, etc.), lactic acid, urea, and ammonia.
Apocrine glands that are located around the armpit and groin that pass amino acids, steroids (the pheremones!), urea, and ammonia.
Then, there are sebaceous glands that produce… sebum! (Not CBum…) That’s the oily combination of wax, fatty acids, squalene, and triglycerides.
Together, these mix up to create a perfect home for healthy bacteria to outcompete the baddies that want in. It’s just the right acidity and has all the necessary nutrients.
This collection of natural bacteria is called your skin’s microbiome.
And the more acidic, the better (to a degree, obviously). There seems to be some variation between sexes, but it’s contingent on where you measure and when.
The natural pH of healthy humans can vary, but when studied, people who went without exposure to water, soaps, or chemicals tended to settle around a 4.5 pH.
As a BJJ enthusiast, I was interested to learn that Staph Aureus is inhibited at a pH of 4.8 in a mixture with Lactic Acid. (There’s so much more about lactate I’ll discuss).
Healthy skin will normalize its pH in around an hour, so I’m not saying you shouldn’t shower. BUT… There is a case to be made for treating your skin differently.
Things to think twice about (or stop doing…)
Constant hand washing. (Especially antibacterial soap).
Excessive hand sanitizer use (alcohol based is pH 7, non-alcohol based is >7.)
Multiple showers/baths a day - especially hot showers. (Most soaps have a high pH - good study, though I think their suggested 5.5 skin pH is 1 point too high).
Using skin care products that are alkaline or impact oily-ness of the skin.
Excessive sunscreen use - it’s alkaline (pH > 7). General product type ranking.
I’m not saying to never do this stuff, but anything done in excess has a consequence.
Plus, the “War On Germs” is not one we can win. The only thing you’ll lose in the attempt is your sanity. (And your health.)
If you’re always dealing with rashes, breakouts, excess oil, skin infections, or dryness, maybe it’s time to try something different.
I already use a charcoal shower filter but am going to give shorter, colder showers with just an acidic pH soap around the stinky bits a shot for a while.
I’ll report back when I’m single again!.
I’ll still use my Defense Soap for after BJJ for the anti fungal essential oil properties, but that’s only 2-3 days a week.
Plus, tallow is a great option for supplementing your skin’s natural oils after a shower. (This is what my girlfriend uses.) She lets me borrow some on occasion.
There is SO much more to this, of course. Let me know what you think and what questions you have in the comments below!