The present disclosure is directed to topical dermatological formulations, dermatological cleansing compositions, and bathwater conditioners designed to acidify the skin, and their use for restoring epidermal acidity, restoring a the epidermal barrier, inhibiting inflammation, establishing an environment appropriate for maintaining a balanced symbiotic microbiome, and inhibiting the growth of pathogenic microorganisms in the epidermis—the outer layer of mammalian skin.