10/4/21, 1:51 PM Evaluation of pH of Bathing Soaps and Shampoos for Skin and Hair Care

Indian J Dermatol. 2014 Sep-Oct; 59(5): 442–444. PMCID: PMC4171909

doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.139861: 10.4103/0019-5154.139861 PMID: 25284846

Evaluation of pH of Bathing Soaps and Shampoos for Skin and Hair

Care
Jose Tarun, Jose Susan, Jacob Suria, Veronica John Susan, and Sebastian Criton

From the Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Amalanagar, Thrissur,
Kerala, India
Address for correspondence: Dr. Jose Tarun, Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Amalanagar, Thrissur - 680
555, Kerala, India. E-mail: tarunjose@gmail.com

Received 2013 Feb; Accepted 2013 Jul.

Copyright : © Indian Journal of Dermatology

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-
Share Alike 3.0 Unported, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided
the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Background:
Normal healthy skin has potential of hydrogen (pH) range of 5.4-5.9 and a normal bacterial flora. Use of
soap with high pH causes an increase in skin pH, which in turn causes an increase in dehydrative effect,
irritability and alteration in bacterial flora. The majority of soaps and shampoos available in the market do
not disclose their pH.

Aims and Objectives:

The aim of this study was to assess the pH of different brands of bathing soaps and shampoos available in
the market.

Materials and Methods:

The samples of soaps and shampoos were collected from shops in the locality. The samples of different
brands are coded before the analysis of the pH. Solution of each sample was made and pH was measured
using pH meter.

Results:
Majority of the soaps have a pH within the range of 9-10. Majority of the shampoos have a pH within the
range of 6-7.

Conclusions:
The soaps and shampoos commonly used by the population at large have a pH outside the range of normal
skin and hair pH values. Therefore, it is hoped that before recommending soap to patient especially those
who have sensitive and acne prone skin, due consideration is given to the pH factor and also that
manufacturers will give a thought to pH of soaps and shampoos manufactured by them, so that their
products will be more skin and hair friendly.

Keywords: Acne vulgaris, propionibacterium, shampoo, skin potential of hydrogen, soap

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10/4/21, 1:51 PM Evaluation of pH of Bathing Soaps and Shampoos for Skin and Hair Care

What was known?

Many researches have been conducted on the measurement of potential of hydrogen (pH) of skin and
effects of soaps on skin pH. However, there are not many studies on the pH of soaps and shampoos that
are commonly available in the market and those used by the majority of the population.

Introduction
The surface of the skin is slightly acidic, giving rise to the concept of the acid mantle.[1] Studies have
shown that potential of hydrogen (pH) of skin increases in proportion to the pH of cleanser used. Increase
in pH causes an increase in dehydrative effect, irritability and propionibacterial count.[2,3,4] Changes in
the pH are reported to play a role in the pathogenesis of some skin diseases. Therefore, the use of skin
cleansing agents with a pH of about 5.5 may be of relevance in the prevention and treatment of those skin
diseases.[5,6]

Unfortunately, pH is not mentioned in the labels of many products.

Objective
The objective of this study was to assess the pH of different brands of bathing soaps and shampoos
available in the market.

Materials and Methods

Sample collection
Samples of branded soaps and shampoos were collected from shops in the locality. They included bathing
soaps, Anti-acne soaps, ayurvedic soaps and those promoted for dermatological conditions. A sample of
homemade soap was also collected. We also collected a sample of imported soap to compare with the same
brand in the Indian market.

Determination of pH
Readings of pH were taken using ELICO L1613 pH meter after calibrating with the standard solution
supplied by NICE Chemicals Pvt. Ltd., Kochi, Kerala (pH = 7). The samples were coded before the
analysis of the pH. Procedure was divided so that one person was involved in measuring the sample,
another in coding, then another in mixing and the last person in the measurement of pH, so that the person
involved in measurement of pH does not know the identity of the sample being tested. The pH of distilled
water used ranged from 6.24 to 6.88.

Procedure used for soap

Soap sample weighing 150 mg was mixed in 15 ml distilled water without producing much lather. It was
kept undisturbed for 24 h for maximum dissolution of soap. Then the pH of each sample was measured.

Procedure used for shampoo

Sample of shampoo of 1.5 ml is taken in a glass beaker and water is added to the sample to make its
volume to 15 ml. Mixing is done well without producing lather. The solution is kept undisturbed for 30
min. Then the pH of each sample was measured.

Results
Of the 64 samples of soaps tested, 53 had a pH within the range of 9.01 to 10. Only two samples were in
the range of skin pH [Table 1].

Five of the 64 samples analyzed were promoted as anti-acne soaps. Of these, three were within the range
of 9.01 to 10 and two in the range of 10.01 to 11 [Table 2].

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Nine of the 64 samples, which were marked as ayurvedic soaps had a pH in the range of 9.01 to 10 [
Table 2].

Three of the 64 samples were promoted for dermatological purpose. Two out of three had a pH in the range
of 9.01 to 10 [Table 2].

Homemade soap had a pH range in 9.01 to 10.00. The sample of imported soap had a pH in the range of
9.01 to 10, which is same as that of the same brand in Indian market. Different varieties of the same brand
were also tested. The difference in the pH between varieties of the same brand was within 0.35. The pH of
various varieties of Brand coded A was within 9.62 ± 0.08, Brand B was within 7.445 ± 0.125, Brand C
was within 9.79 ± 0.16 and Brand D was within 9.88 ± 0.10.

Of the 38 samples of shampoos tested, 24 had a pH within the range of 6.01 to 7. Seven of the 38 samples
had pH in the range of 7.01 to 8, six in the range of 5.01 to 6 and only one in the range of 4.01 to 5 [
Table 3].

Discussion
The results of our study revealed that only 3.125% of the soap samples tested had a pH corresponding to
that of skin pH and another 3.125% had a neutral pH. Upon reviewing these products, it was found that
these products have mentioned their pH and the findings of our study were consistent in the pH claimed by
them. The rest of the products with alkaline pH have not mentioned anything regarding their product's pH
value. Even those products, which were promoted as anti-acne soaps had a pH above nine. Since studies
have proved that propionibacterium is implicated as one of the factors of pathogenesis of acne and that
their count increases on the use of alkaline soap, it is very important that at least these products have a pH
consistent with that of skin pH. Even, the products prescribed for dermatological purposes had an alkaline
pH. Ayurvedic soaps, which claimed to be better than other soaps were not skin friendly in the aspect of
their pH.

In a study done by Tyebkhan G, in which pH paper was used for measuring the pH of soaps/cleansers, it
was found that the soaps commonly used by the population at large have a pH ranging between 7 and 9.
Also, only 3 samples of those tested had a pH in keeping with the normal skin.[7] But in our study, we
have found that majority of the samples had a pH ranging between 9.01 and 11. Also, only 2 samples of
those tested had a pH corresponding to that of the skin pH. The difference may be due to greater accuracy
of the pH meter used in our study when compared to the pH paper.

Acid balanced shampoos are recommended generally by experts and in our study we found that 81.58% of
shampoos had an acidic pH. When compared to soaps, shampoos are better in respect to their pH.

The soaps and shampoos commonly used by the population at large have a pH outside the range of normal
skin and hair pH values. Therefore, it is hoped that before recommending soap to patient especially those
who have sensitive and acne prone skin, due consideration is given to the pH factor and also that
manufacturers will give a thought to pH of soaps and shampoos manufactured by them, so that their
products will be more skin and hair friendly.

What is new?

This is the first study in India, which used a pH meter to measure the pH of commonly used soaps and
shampoos instead of pH paper. Hence, it is more accurate.

Footnotes
Source of Support: Amala Institute of Medical Sciences, Thrissur, Kerala

Conflict of Interest: Nil.

References

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10/4/21, 1:51 PM Evaluation of pH of Bathing Soaps and Shampoos for Skin and Hair Care

1. Braun-Falco O, Korting HC. Normal pH value of human skin. Hautarzt. 1986;37:126–9. [PubMed:
3700100]

2. Gehring W, Gehsen M, Zimmerman V, Gloor M. Effects of pH changes in a specific detergent

multicomponent emulsion on the water content of stratum corneum. J Soc Cosmet Chem. 1991;42:327–33.

3. Baranda L, González-Amaro R, Torres-Alvarez B, Alvarez C, Ramírez V. Correlation between pH and

irritant effect of cleansers marketed for dry skin. Int J Dermatol. 2002;41:494–9. [PubMed: 12207765]

4. Korting HC, Kober M, Mueller M, Braun-Falco O. Influence of repeated washings with soap and
synthetic detergents on pH and resident flora of the skin of forehead and forearm. Results of a cross-over
trial in health probationers. Acta Derm Venereol. 1987;67:41–7. [PubMed: 2436413]

5. Schmid-Wendtner MH, Korting HC. The pH of the skin surface and its impact on the barrier function.
Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2006;19:296–302. [PubMed: 16864974]

6. Mukhopadhyay P. Cleansers and their role in various dermatological disorders. Indian J Dermatol.
2011;56:2–6. [PMCID: PMC3088928] [PubMed: 21572782]

7. Tyebkhan G. A study on the pH of commonly used soaps/cleansers available in the Indian market.
Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2001;67:290–1. [PubMed: 17664779]

Figures and Tables

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10/4/21, 1:51 PM Evaluation of pH of Bathing Soaps and Shampoos for Skin and Hair Care

Table 1
Total number of soap samples in the various pH range

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10/4/21, 1:51 PM Evaluation of pH of Bathing Soaps and Shampoos for Skin and Hair Care

Table 2
Various types of soap samples in the various pH range

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10/4/21, 1:51 PM Evaluation of pH of Bathing Soaps and Shampoos for Skin and Hair Care

Table 3
All the shampoo samples in the various pH range

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