FULL SUPPLEMENT: Clinical Insights About the Role of Skin pH in Inflammatory Dermatological Conditions

Several aspects of the stratum corneum must be optimized for healthy skin function: stratum corneum pH, filaggrin, pH-dependent lipid processing, serine proteases, and the skin microbiome. These factors are interrelated, and a deficit in one can have deleterious effects on the others.^1-3 For example, in acne, disrupted barrier function leads to alterations in functional and ultrastructural properties of the skin. Coupled with inflammation and treatments such as topical retinoids, this imbalance may contribute to the risk of dry, irritated skin.⁴