What is skin barrier?
Your skin barrier is the outermost layer of your skin, also known as dead skin layer or Stratum corneum. It’s structure mimics brick wall, where skin cells called Corneocytes act like bricks and lipids like ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids works like mortar.
Your skin barrier is essential for
- Water retention to maintain skin hydration.
- To protect skin from harmful agents like bacteria, pollution and irritants.
- Reduce irritation and sensitivity
- Maintain pH balance
- Support healthy skin microbiome.
Without your skin barrier your skin will lose water and will look dull, dry, dehydrated. When skin barrier is healthy, skin looks plump, calm, hydrated and smooth.
How your skin barrier can get affected?
Your skin defends against a barrage of threats each day: many come from ouSome of the external and internal factors that can affect your skin barrier include:
- Too humid or too dry an environment
- Allergens, irritants, and pollutants
- Too much sun exposure
- Alkaline detergents and soaps or harsh cleansers
- Exposure to harsh chemicals
- Overexfoliation or overwashing
- Using too many actives at a time
- Using wrong skin care products
- Steroids abuse
- Psychological distress
- Genetic factors that may make you more prone to certain skin conditions, such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis
- Hot water
- Pollution & UV radiation
- Hormonal imbalance
What are the signs of damage skin barrier?
When skin barrier gets compromised, you might notice following changes in your skin
- Tightness or dryness
- Flakiness or peeling
- Redness or inflammation
- Stinging after application of skin products
- Burning sensation or increased sensitivity
- Breakouts or acne
- Eczema-like patches
How to repair or strengthen the skin barrier?
Follow these simple steps to boost skin barrier health
- Keep your skin routine simple yet adequate.
- Use skin barrier friendly products with ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, Centella asiatica, colloidal oatmeal, urea etc.
- Choose cleanser with skin friendly pH
- Use of moisturizer frequently to keep skin hydrated.
- Pause strong actives like AHA, BHA, retinoids, vitamin C etc.
- Use sunscreen on daily basis every 2-3 hourly.
- Visit board-certified dermatologist to fix your damage skin barrier. A
In nutshell, skin barrier, defends your body against environmental threats while simultaneously protecting your body’s critical water balance. Your skin barrier is your body’s frontline defence against everything the environment throws at you. Keeping it healthy is much more than a cosmetic concern. Speak with a dermatologist for more advice on ways to repair and protect your skin barrier.
