Skin Barrier Repair: Why It's the Key to Healthy Skin

Your natural skin barrier is, as the name suggests, an essential outer layer that’s the only thing between the outside world and the more sensitive elements beneath. However… There are many things that cause damage to it, including the weather, pollution, harsh chemicals, physical irritation, and more.

But, fear not, because there are some strategic steps you can easily integrate into your daily routine for effective skin barrier repair, as well as dermatology-based options to further support this or to address and reverse a more severely damaged skin barrier.

Why Everyone’s Skin Barrier Needs Regular TLC

Your skin barrier is made up of skin cells, fatty acids, cholesterol, ceramides, and various other essential lipids. These bind together to create a solid wall that, essentially, keeps the bad stuff out and the good stuff in.

When it gets damaged, perhaps through over exfoliating, from harsh wind, too much sun, using the wrong cosmetics, etc., then water (AKA moisture) escapes and allergens get through. The first signs of skin barrier damage can show up in many ways, including:

• Dry spots.
• Flaky skin.
• Itchiness.
• Redness and inflammation.
• Outbreaks.
• Sensitivity.
• Roughness.
• More pronounced fine lines.
• Skin that generally looks dull and lifeless.

None of us wants these issues, either on our face or anywhere else on the body. Regular daily care is the key to healthy skin, plus more intense actions weekly or monthly to ensure the skin barrier remains healthy and up to its vitally important task.

Dermatology Tips for Skin Barrier Repair

Without fail, everyone needs to carry out the following quick and easy daily tasks:

• Cleanse: Using gentle products that don’t contain any harsh ingredients. These should hydrate without stripping any of the skin’s essential oils. We all tend to take a lot of notice of the cleansers we use on our face, but this also applies to the soaps, shower gels, and other cosmetics that you use when showering. You should also take care not to use water that’s too hot, as this can also play a role in damaging the skin barrier.
• Moisturize: This should encompass your entire body, using carefully selected facial options for your visage and body moisturizer elsewhere. Considering the face has some of the most sensitive skin on the body, it has to put up with a lot. It’s virtually always on show, taking sun, wind, rain, and every other weather element on the chin, as well as various exfoliating, cleaning, and rough handling that we’re all guilty of doing.
• Protect: With a high SPF sun cream. Every… Single… Day… No matter whether it’s rain or shine.

When selecting products to use on your skin, they need to contain elements that are as close to those that naturally occur in the body as possible. Examples include ingredients like vitamin B5, phytoceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide.  Exactly which products are right for your skin is something to be discussed with your dermatologist, who can advise on the right personalized options to support your skin’s needs.

A quick word on stronger products, such as retinoids, vitamin C, and AHAs… When applied correctly, they can be advantageous. But how suitable they are for you will depend on your skin type, the current quality of the skin barrier, the strength of the active ingredients, and more. Over-enthusiastic use of these elements can have the opposite effect to what you’re intending and can actively cause skin barrier damage, so introduce and use with care.

Using the right moisturizer for skin barrier repair and support is one of the most important things you can do. This will help prevent the earliest sign of damage, which is usually your skin feeling a little drier than usual. This occurs when the molecules within the skin cells that attract and hold onto water become compromised. So, if you notice even the slightest hint of skin dryness, prompt moisturizing action is exactly what’s needed to prevent further deterioration.

There are many professional treatments that will support skin barrier health and help to reverse damage. Happily, skin cells renew every 28 days or so (depending on your age and health), so even quite severe damage can often be improved reasonably quickly.

At Bayou City Dermatology, we have a wealth of the most technologically advanced and proven methods on offer. As a doctor-led clinic, you can be sure of the right specialty treatment that’s exactly matched to your skin needs.

Head to Services | Bayou City Dermatology for more information and call to book a consultation.