Through use of a single glass electrode, the surface of normal skin was measured for pH value, and statistical observations were made. The results are as follows.
1) The pH value of normal skin was 4.87 inmales and 5.05 in females showing an increase at high-teenage in females and after age 50 in males. As to the difference in value by the region, the upper arm showed higher value than the forearm, and the exterior portion than the interior portion. Many female cases showed high value in the forehead. The value was high in winter and low in summer showing a big variation between spring-summer period and fall-winter period.
2) In neonates, the pH value was high immediately after birth but remarkably decreased around the 4th day. The inguinal region maintained high value with little variation due to lapse of days. The pH value in neonates seemed to be affected by the absorption and decomposition of vernix caseosa and amniotic fluid, and, in the inguinal region, by the contaminationby urine.
3) The value in the 4th interdigital region of foot was much higher than that in the 1st interdigital region. Moreover, high value was more frequent in the cases with the past history of trichophytosis. Hence, it was presumed that the interdigital pH value is related to the onset of interdigital trichophytosis.
4) The scrotum indicated higher pH value exceeding 7.0 in some cases and wider range of variation as compared to the inguinal region. This is considered to be due to the peculiar anatomical condition of the scrotum.
5) In females, the pH value decreased during the period of menstruation and the period of variation was stable.
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