Stomach acid doesnt eat through the lining of our stomach because the cells in the stomach secrete mucus and a base, bicarbonate. This mucus coat containing the base is able to neutralize the acid secreted by another group of cells. The stomach contents is acidic, but the acid is neutralized by the mucus if the acid tries to come in contact with the cells of the stomach. It was long thought that stomach ulcers were caused by extra acid from stress, but some very smart scientists (they won a nobel prize for it) proved it was actually more likely to be from a bacterial infection with Heliobacter pylori. In fact, one of those scientist (they are aussies) just saved a man who had been in prison for a long time because they thought he had caused so much stress in a man that he had gotten an ulcer and died. Science now tell us that was now impossible, and the scientist said so to the court, and now the innocent man is free
As for if you took some acid from your stomach and dropped it on your skin, would it eat through it? i don’t know if anyone has ever tested it, but we do know stomach acid is almost as acidic as you can get, ranging in pH from 1.3 to about 3.5 (lower is more acidic) so we know that would be bad for the skin which likes to only slightly acidic at a pH of about 5 (7 is neutral and above is basic) It is likely that should you drop stomach acid on your hand it would at least be irritated. if you left it on there long enough, many minutes would most likely be needed or longer, then it might start to break down the skin cells or “eat” them
To simply explain, cells in your stomach continuously secrete mucus (like mucus in your nostrils) which forms a very thick lining inside your stomach. This thick layer made of mucus protects your stomach from digesting itself.
Any discontinuity of mucus secretion will cause your stomach acid start penetrating your stomach cells which is extremely painful. This medical condition is known as peptic ulcer.
Just to add to Yagiz answer, its also really painful when you get reflux. This is when the sphincter which normally blocks your stomach acid going up into your throat allows some to get through. It gives you a burning feeling inside your chest. As Miranda said I don’t think anyone has tested it on skin, but if stomach acid can hurt our throat and stomach lining when its not secreting mucus I think there is a good chance it would hurt our skin too!
Stomach acid doesnt eat through the lining of our stomach because the cells in the stomach secrete mucus and a base, bicarbonate. This mucus coat containing the base is able to neutralize the acid secreted by another group of cells. The stomach contents is acidic, but the acid is neutralized by the mucus if the acid tries to come in contact with the cells of the stomach. It was long thought that stomach ulcers were caused by extra acid from stress, but some very smart scientists (they won a nobel prize for it) proved it was actually more likely to be from a bacterial infection with Heliobacter pylori. In fact, one of those scientist (they are aussies) just saved a man who had been in prison for a long time because they thought he had caused so much stress in a man that he had gotten an ulcer and died. Science now tell us that was now impossible, and the scientist said so to the court, and now the innocent man is free
As for if you took some acid from your stomach and dropped it on your skin, would it eat through it? i don’t know if anyone has ever tested it, but we do know stomach acid is almost as acidic as you can get, ranging in pH from 1.3 to about 3.5 (lower is more acidic) so we know that would be bad for the skin which likes to only slightly acidic at a pH of about 5 (7 is neutral and above is basic) It is likely that should you drop stomach acid on your hand it would at least be irritated. if you left it on there long enough, many minutes would most likely be needed or longer, then it might start to break down the skin cells or “eat” them
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To simply explain, cells in your stomach continuously secrete mucus (like mucus in your nostrils) which forms a very thick lining inside your stomach. This thick layer made of mucus protects your stomach from digesting itself.
Any discontinuity of mucus secretion will cause your stomach acid start penetrating your stomach cells which is extremely painful. This medical condition is known as peptic ulcer.
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Just to add to Yagiz answer, its also really painful when you get reflux. This is when the sphincter which normally blocks your stomach acid going up into your throat allows some to get through. It gives you a burning feeling inside your chest. As Miranda said I don’t think anyone has tested it on skin, but if stomach acid can hurt our throat and stomach lining when its not secreting mucus I think there is a good chance it would hurt our skin too!
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