What is your skin barrier?

Before you can determine the state of your skin barrier and how to go about fixing it, you first need to know what your skin barrier is.

“Your skin barrier is basically your outer layer of the skin,  it’s made up of dead cells, lipids, proteins and fats that help protect your skin from the environment.” "The rest of your skin is a living organism. But your skin barrier’s role is to keep that living organism well-protected from things that could harm it. “It works to keep water in and to keep chemicals and infectious bacteria out.” 

Your skin barrier is part of your stratum corneum, your top layer of skin. Lipids are natural fats in your skin, and in this analogy, they fill in the gaps between corneocytes. These same lipids — like ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids — are important ingredients in skin care products.

If your skin barrier is damaged due to an underlying skin condition, you should work with a dermatologist to make sure you’re doing what’s right for your specific needs.

 Medical conditions associated with having a poor skin barrier include: - Adult acne.Atopic dermatitis (eczema).Ichthyosis.Rosacea.Psoriasis. Consult your dermatologist to get the adequate treatment for your concerns.

But sometimes, the damage comes from things you do (or don’t do) to your skin. “There are many things that can break down your skin barrier and make it not work,” 

For example: 

Using harsh chemicals or soaps.

Over-exfoliating or scrubbing your skin.

Not using a moisturizer.

Signs your skin barrier is damaged

If you’re experiencing some sort of issue with your skin, it’s likely that your skin barrier has sustained some damage. That damage may be evident just based on the way your skin looks and feels, including:Acne.Dry, scaly and/or flaky skin.Infection.Inflammation and irritation.Itchiness.Rough patches.Stinging, especially when you apply skin care products.Tenderness or sensitivity.

How to prevent and heal damage to your skin barrier?

 “You want to be very gentle when you care for your skin,” 

1. Wash with room temperature or warm water (but not hot) water- While your skin barrier acts like armor for the delicate skin underneath, it’s also like a layer of fat on your skin. Hot water washes away all those healthy natural oils.

2. Use a soap-free cleanser - Soap can strip your skin of its natural oils and wash away good bacteria, which damages your skin barrier. Soap can’t tell the difference between the natural oils or the unwanted deposits, so it just gets rid of it all. Hence, using a mild, soap-free cleanser (with warm water) helps. “Look for soap-free cleansers that are formulated for sensitive skin and fragrance-free.”

3. Exfoliate gently - There was a time when exfoliants with “microbeads” were all the hype — little particles of plastic that rubbed against your skin and left you feeling freshly scrubbed. But they’re actually problematic, as they create tiny tears in your skin barrier."A chemical exfoliant with a mild, alpha hydroxy acid is your go to gentle exfoliant. It slowly exfoliates the skin and releases your glow underneath.”  

4. Don’t over-cleanse - “The ideal way to cleanse is to massage on your cleanser and then rinse it off,” she says. “There’s no benefit to massaging it in longer, and in fact, you may do damage because the fatty layer of your skin barrier can begin to break down.”

5. Keep skin moisturized - Moisturizers nourish your skin and help replace your skin barrier and keep it healthy. “Look for products that include ceramides, fatty acids and lipids, which naturally make up a large percentage of the skin barrier.

6. Wear sunscreen- Wearing sunscreen is one of the absolute best and most important ways to protect your skin. The best sunscreen you can get is the one you’ll actually put on your skin,” 

7. Treat pimples with care- The universal rule to follow is: Don’t pick! Picking at and popping pimples causes trauma to your skin and can lead to inflammation and scars.But if you already have broken skin around a zit, don’t load up the area with a bunch of products to try to clean things up. “Back down on your acne treatments for a bit so you can focus on gentle skin care and let it heal,” 

It can be frustrating, but wait it out, as it typically takes few months to start seeing the benefits of your efforts.“ You have to be patient and give your products and habits time to work.” Consult your Dermatologist today to help recover your skin and know what is right to keep your skin safe.