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The life cycle of skin

The skin - Our protective armor

We tend to take healthy skin for granted and underestimate its importance to our overall well-being. We usually only give it the attention that it should always get from us when something visibly changes – be it a small blemish, signs of aging, a skin condition or a disease.

Our skin is a pure natural wonder and very important for our body. The skin's defense function protects us from infections and UV radiation, regulates our body temperature, is our largest excretory organ, and helps us touch and feel the outside world. It forms an endogenous protective armor, which accompanies us through thick and thin, cold and warm and through happiness and grief.

It also helps us to understand each other. Whether it's the blush of shame, the pallor of fear or the colorlessness of a sick person... It tells us more than we really realize.

The renewal cycle of our skin

The human skin consists of three layers: the epidermis, the dermis and the subcutaneous tissue (subcutaneous tissue, subcutis).

Our skin completely renews itself approximately every 28 days. During this time, the superficial skin cells are replaced by new ones. This change happens very quickly in children and slows down over the course of our lives.

 

 

How this cycle looks like:

Phase 1:

A skin cell is born as a keratinocyte in the lower layer of the epidermis. This is an alkaline environment with a pH between 7.5 and 8.5. As the skin cell ages, it will be pushed further and further towards the skin surface.

Phase 2:

After a few days in the lower layer of the epidermis, the keratinocyte migrates to a new layer: stratum spinosum. In this thick layer, the keratinocyte grows into an adult skin cell. Again, the pH of the environment is between 7.5 and 8.5. That's a good thing: because the skin cell dies in an acidic environment.

Phase 3:

At this stage, the skin cell begins to die. It becomes thinner and loses moisture. The pH in this environment is much lower: between 7.1 and 7.3. During death, the skin cell produces uric acid. This is an additional acidification factor for the skin.

Phase 4:

The skin cell dies at this last stage. In the course of its life, it has become flatter and flatter, leaving only a flat cell wall. Together with thousands of other deceased skin cells, it now forms the layer.

The layer is important for our body: it protects against the penetration of germs. The layer has a pH between 5.4 and 5.9.

 

The skin flora

Our skin surface forms a habitat for billions of living skin-friendly microorganisms, the skin flora. The little helpers have many useful functions, for example, they protect the organism from pathogens. At a pH between 5.4 and 5.9, they can survive optimally on our skin.

Exposure to exhaust fumes, smoke, cleaning fluids, detergents and the daily pollution of modern life can severely affect the skin and lead to the formation of acidic waste materials in our body.

The skin is our largest excretory organ. That's why we call the skin our third kidney. For example, our body excretes (excess) acid waste via the kidneys, intestines, lungs, liver and skin.

Due to the release of acidic waste materials from the inside, the layer can become more acidic than normal. The lower pH then affects the skin-friendly microorganisms (skin flora), while it forms a breeding ground for harmful microorganisms that can cause skin discomfort and other problems.

At the same time, the high acidity negatively affects the skin renewal process, as a result of which the skin cycle is too fast (psoriasis) or too slow (dry skin, eczema).

An alkaline skin care

It's inevitable that over time, our skin will change, get signs of aging, and feel rougher and drier. But there are a few factors that we can control ourselves: not smoking, not drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, regular exercise, a healthy diet and alkaline skin care can slow down our skin's biological clock and keep it healthy.

The changing pH values of the different skin layers make our skin one of the most sensitive organs of our body. Our skin cells need an alkaline environment so that cell growth can proceed optimally (not too slowly or not too quickly) and the layer is not over-acidified at the end of the cycle. Research has shown that the optimal pH for the formation of new skin cells is between 7.5 and 8.5.

An alkaline skin care supports our skin with the perfect pH value, which ensures that our skin can renew itself and does not dry out. The high pH of alkaline products prevents the acidification of the top layer and supports the alkaline lower layers, where the new skin cells are formed and grow.

With the help of alkaline skin care, you offer your skin the best support to remain healthy and radiant, while ensuring that your skin is supplied with sufficient moisture and nourishing minerals and vitamins.

Alka® Bath

Alka® Bath is a uniquely formulated alkaline bath salt that helps the body to remove acid waste. Enjoy alkalizing full baths, hand baths and footbaths with Alka® Bath.

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Alka® Crème

With an alkaline pH-value of 8.2 Alka® Crème supports the healthy pH-value of the skin by neutralising the acid waste.

Available in a 50 ml or 150 ml tube.

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Alka® Deo

Alka® Deo combines the skin care of Alka® Cream with a natural, alkaline deodorant and is therefore different from current deodorants and antiperspirants.

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