WHAT IS A SKIN BARRIER

Your skin is made up of layers, each of which performs important functions in protecting your body. The outermost layer, called the stratum corneum is often described as a brick wall. It consists of tough skin cells called corneocytes that are bound together by mortar-like lipids. The skin barrier is important to human life. Physically, it protects from external threats such as infectious agents, chemicals, systemic toxicity, and allergens. Internally, the skin helps to maintain homeostasis and protects from enhanced loss of water from the body. This is your skin barrier.

WHAT DOES THE SKIN BARRIER DO?

The skin barrier has two general roles: Keep the good stuff in and the bad stuff out. The skin barrier protects the internal body from physical toxins (such as pollution and harmful chemicals) and ultraviolet radiation from sun exposure. The skin barrier also helps the body to hold onto natural moisture by preventing trans-epidermal water loss.

SYMPTOMS OF DAMAGED SKIN BARRIER​

When your skin barrier is healthy, your skin generally looks plump and smooth and feels soft to the touch. If you have oily skin that’s also dehydrated, that’s a common sign that you may have a damaged skin barrier. If your skin barrier is damaged, it could lead to skin problems like

• Lack of skin elasticity​
• Itchy, dry skin​
• Wrinkles​
• Discoloration, hyperpigmentation​
• Water loss (called trans-epidermal water loss)​
• Thinning of the epidermal layer​
• Visible bacterial or viral infections​

HOW TO PROTECT & SUPPORT YOUR SKIN BARRIER

You can help repair your skin's barrier by simplifying your skincare regime, using products with a suitable pH, and using a moisturizer that contains ceramides or a humectant like hyaluronic acid. Use​

• Hyaluronic acid​
• Peptides​
• Collagen 
• Vitamin B5
• Ceramides​
• SPF to protect against damaging UV rays​
• Botanical oils high in EFA’s (essential ​
• Fatty acids) like algae or kiwi seed oil

Avoid using the following

• Daily use of acidic ingredients like ascorbic acid ​
• Overly drying harsh cleansing products​
• Essential oils​
• Harsh topical prescription acne medications (like benzoyl peroxide)​
• Products with alcohol​

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