The Acid Mantle Story. Body Guard Against Infection

The ACID MANTLE of the skin = your skin

Where does the acid mantle come from ?

1. Enzymes and transport systems in the skin cells accumulate natural acidic substances in the superficial skin layers
2. Sweat contains amino acids, citric acid and lactic acid which contribute to the skin surface acidity
3. Sebum contains fatty acids which also form part of the so-called acid mantle
4. The skin's resident flora of bacteria and fungi produces natural acids

What is the acid mantle good for ?

• It inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi on the skin whilst encouraging the proliferation of harmless species to supersede the bad ones
• It provides the optimal working conditions for enzymes producing lipids which keep the water within the body and skin and prevents the penetration of irritants, allergens and toxic substances and thus maintains the skin's barrier function
• It provides the acidic milieu needed for allow a regular shedding of skin cells from the surface thus maintaining its function and aesthetic integrity.

The importance of the acid mantle for the ecological balance on the skin

The skin is populated with saprophytic, apathogenic micro-organisms (Staphylococcus epidermitis, Propioni-bacterium spp., Micrococcus spp., Brevibacterium spp. (Dotte 1990) which are well adapted to the slightly acidic conditions. They prevent the colonialization of the skin surface by other, potentially pathogenic species (Marchionini, 1928). In the competition between the different microorganisms, the pH 5.5 favours the apathogenic over the pathogenic species, the latter of which predominately have growth optima around the neutral pH.

Influence of pH on the conformation Stratum corneum lipids

Influence of pH on the formation of stratum corneum lipids

• Precursors of the stratum corneum lipids are formed by the keratinocytes, liberated from the Odland bodies, and processed by enzymes in the intercellular space of the stratum corneum to yield less polar structures
• Glucocerebrosidase, acid phospholipase, and acidic sphingomyelinase have an acidic pH optimum
• The regeneration of the barrier function after disruption is optimal at pH 5.5, inhibited at pH 7.0 (Mauro et al., 1998)

Cleansing products can interfere with the acid mantle

Sebamed Medicinal Skin Care

What is medicinal skin care?

• Legal category: cosmetic products No drugs! Not primarily for curing diseases!
• Main functions: cleansing, care, deodorisation, protection
• Added functions:
  1. Maintaining the skin's health and integrity
  2. More suitable for sensitive and problem skin than conventional cosmetics
  3. Helping recovery of damaged, diseased skin

Does it feel, act, look or smell different?

For users with normal and healthy skin: NO! At least, not immediately.

• Purely cosmetic properties are equivalent to conventional cosmetics.
• BUT
  • It supports the maintenance of the protective functions of the skin
  • It supports the recovery of impaired protective skin functions
  • It strengthens the resistance of the skin against noxious environmental influences

For whom does it feel or act differently?

• For users with sensitive and problem skin
• For users with high awareness of their skin's state and requirements
• For users with normal skin on a long-term basis
  • less irritation
  • less drying
  • perceivably better and long-lasting skin care effect
  • reduction of skin problems
  • better efficacy of therapy in skin diseases
  • quicker healing of skin disorders / diseases

What is the secret?

• pH 5.5 helps the skin to help itself
  1. Keeps skin's barrier function against dryness, irritants and allergens in optimum working condition
  2. Supports protective resident skin flora, inhibits the growth of pathogenic bacteria and fungi
• High quality and high safety of the ingredients; formulat concentrations with optimum benefit-to-risk ratio
  1. Optimum skin care efficacy
  2. Reduced risk of skin irritation, allergy or damage
• Dermatological testing of efficacy and skin tolerance in persons with sensitive and problem skin

Characteristics of the brand:

• pH 5.5 adjusted to the acid mantle
• Minimized skin irritation potential
• Maximum support for the physiological protective functions of the skin
• Mmaximum skin care efficacy
• High quality and high purity ingredients
• Development in cooperation with dermatologists and university clinics
• Dermatological testing of tolerance and efficacy
• Benefits in problem skin proven in clinical observation tests

Scientific Advisory Board

(from the left): Prof. Dr. rer. nat. R. Daniels; Prof. Dr.med. H.C. Korting; Prof. Dr. med. M. Kerscher; Prof. Dr. med. V. Schumpelick; Prof. Dr.med.Dr.h.c.mult. O. Braun-Falco Prof. Dr.med. W. Gehring; Prof. Dr. med. T. Ruzicka

Research & Development Laboratories

Comparison of syndets and soap

sebamed: Reduced risk for allergies!

Comparison of sebamed with competitor brands

Comparison of sebamed with competitor brands

Excellent ingredients + dermatological testing

A few other brands (J&J pH 5, ...) have the "right" pH 5.5, but use low cost ingredients with inferior benefit-to-risk ratio. Only standard testing on normal skin is done instead of high standard clinical testing in sensitive and problem skin.The beneficial effects of pH 5.5 is diminished by the inferior ingredients.

Suitability for sensitive and problem skin is not proven.