Good evening residents, I hope you are well 💫
When it comes to skin, a topic that is talked about a lot is the skin barrier, and rightly so! But what is it?
The skin has layers, the outer layer is called the Stratum Corneum, otherwise known as the skin barrier. It works as the protective layer from things like infections and pollution. Without a skin barrier, harmful allergens and chemicals could enter the body, this is why it’s so important!
How does the skin barrier become damaged?
Although our skin barrier is a defence for us, it can become damaged from both internal or external factors, this includes:
- sun exposure
- sun damage
- products that strip the skin of its natural oils
- Ageing
- Skin conditions such as dermatitis
- Allergens
- Pollutants
- Products that affect your skins PH
- Stress
- Overuse of exfoliants
- Harsh products
- Using very hot water
How do I know if my skin barrier is damaged?
These are the kind of things your skin ,any experience if you have a damaged skin barrier:
- dryness
- Flaking
- Rough texture
- Inflammation
- Redness
- Itchiness
- Breakouts
- Sensitive
- Irritation
- burning sensation when applying even gentle products
How do I repair my skin barrier if it’s damaged?
The best thing to do is to strip your routine right back, and go back to a basic routine whilst your skin is healing. This could include:
- no fragranced products
- No exfoliation
- Using a gentle cleanser
- Using a gentle hydrating moisturiser
- Including humectants like hyaluronic acid
- Products that contain ceramides
How do I protect my skin barrier and avoid damaging it?
To keep our skin barrier healthy, we can make sure we protect it from external aggressors, and by keeping our skin hydrated. Other tips include:
💫 Using a gentle cleanser
💫 Using moisturisers with humectants and ceramides
💫 Using Vitamin C, this protects your skin from free radicals as it’s an antioxidant!
💫 Using SPF 50 daily and reapplying every 2-3 hours
💫 Not using harsh exfoliants on your skin, this could be physical or chemical depending on your skins tolerance
💫 Central heating and air conditioning can also dry your skin out, try to keep this to a minimum
💫 Using warm not hot water to cleanse and shower
I hope you found this helpful residents, here’s to a happy and healthy skin barrier! 💫
Speak soon,
Love Amna x
