Potassium hydroxide (KOH) is primarily used in creams to control and adjust the product's pH level, ensuring it aligns with the skin's natural acidity.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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pH Adjustment: The skin's surface has a slightly acidic pH, often referred to as the acid mantle. This acidity helps protect the skin from harmful bacteria and other environmental factors. Potassium hydroxide helps maintain this delicate balance by neutralizing overly acidic ingredients or adjusting the cream's pH to be more skin-friendly.
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Saponification: In some creams, particularly those with cleansing properties, KOH can react with fats and oils through a process called saponification. This creates soaps or surfactants that help emulsify and remove dirt and oil from the skin.
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Exfoliation (in high concentrations): While not a primary function in most creams, very high concentrations of KOH are sometimes used in professional chemical peels or exfoliants to remove dead skin cells. However, this is a highly specialized and potentially dangerous application and should only be performed by trained professionals.
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Regulation of Emulsions: KOH can also contribute to the stability of emulsions (mixtures of oil and water) in creams by influencing the electrical charge of the ingredients and preventing separation.
In summary, potassium hydroxide plays a vital role in cream formulations by maintaining pH balance, aiding in cleansing, and contributing to emulsion stability. This ensures the cream is effective, safe, and compatible with the skin.
