Does a man's skin -- and scalp -- have a higher pH than a woman's?

In general, the pH of a man's skin is lower (more acidic) than that of a woman's. 


?Skin pH is a chemist's term meaning "Potential of Hydrogen" and is
used to measure the degree of acidity or alkalinity in the outer
layers of the skin. It is measured on a scale ranging from 0 to 14
where the center of the scale, at 7, is neutrality (neither acid nor
alkaline). A reading below 7 indicates that the substance being
measured is acidic and above 7 is alkaline.?

?The acid mantle, the combination of sebum (oil) and perspiration, on
the skin's surface protects the skin and renders the skin less
vulnerable to damage and attack by environmental factors such as sun
and wind and less prone to dehydration. Normal skin pH is somewhat
acid and in the range of 4.2. to 5.6. It varies from one part of the
body to another and, in general, the pH of a man's skin is lower (more
acidic) than that of a woman's.?

Skin Biology 
http://www.skinbiology.com/skinhealth&aging.html


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According to the Centers for Disease Control, women have a higher pH than men.

?Physiologically women tend to have drier skin and slightly higher pH
than men which may result in a somewhat heightened susceptibility to
skin irritants.?

CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ocderm19.html


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The pH of the male scalp is lower in men than in women.


Excerpt from the Indian Journal of Dermatology:

?The pH values at axilla, umbilicus, palm, fingerfolds, foot, sole and
cheek were found to be consistently higher than those at scalp,
forehead, retroauricular and popliteal fossae, anterior arm, anterior
forearm, posterior neck, back, dorsum of hand, anterior leg and
anterior thigh. In each site, the mean pH of male skin appeared to be
lower than that of female. The highest pH recorded was in axilla (5.98
for male, 6.00 for female), irespective of sex. The lowest value
however was in anterior neck (4.59) for male and in antecubital fossa
(4.83) for female.?

?While the origin of the skin pH is yet to be definitely known, it was
observed that a high density both sweat gland and bacteria flora leads
to a high pH and a high concentration of sebaceous gland and of
bacterial flora to a lower pH.?

Indian Journal of Dermatology
http://www.e-ijd.org/apr_june_95_abstracts.html


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Search terms used:
Male OR female Skin pH 
Skin pH + scalp


I hope this helps!

Best regards,
Bobbie7