Protecting our skin involves many different things, some of which aren’t as deep as you may think.
When we say ‘not as deep’ we mean literally. Today we’re exploring our skin barrier, which is our outermost layer of skin and therefore, our body’s first line of defence.
It takes care and effort to properly protect our skin, and understanding it is the first step towards that!
Let’s find out more about your skin’s barrier.
What Is Your Skin Barrier?
The skin barrier is made up of multiple layers, all of which have their own important functions to protect your body.
Your skin’s physical, chemical, and biochemical barrier is known as the Epidermal Barrier, whilst the Stratum Corneum is the outermost layer of skin and the primary part of the epidermal barrier.
The epidermal barrier represents many specific functions, the majority of which happen in the stratum corneum and include:
- Maintaining the water balance in your skin
- Protecting the skin against bacteria and antigens
- Reducing the effects of oxidative stress on the skin
With so many different functions, your skin barrier is like a brick wall whose goal is to protect your skin at all costs.
We don’t even want to imagine a world without skin barriers but just to give you an idea, without a skin barrier harmful environmental toxins and pathogens could get into the skin, causing harmful effects inside of the body.
Plus, your skin would also lose all of its moisturise without the skin barrier’s ability to help retain and maintain water.
It may sound dramatic but your skin barrier is literally working to keep you alive, so it’s only polite that we show it some care and love back.
The acid mantel
The skin barrier has a lot of tricks up its sleeve, and being slightly acidic is another great one.
The acidity in your skin, known as the Acid Mantel, helps to create a buffer against the growth of harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi which could damage the skin and lead to infections or other skin conditions.
Health conditions like diabetes or incontinence can also change your skin’s acidity, weakening this buffer and your skin barrier with it.
Experts recommend that people who deal with these conditions use more acidic skin care products to help balance the acidity of their skin level.
What Causes Damage To The Skin Barrier?
Every single day without fail, your skin protects you from multiple threats, both internal and external.
External threats
- An environment that is too dry or too humid
- Allergens, irritants, and pollutants
- Too much sun exposure
- Detergents and soaps
- Exposure to harsh chemicals
- Over-exfoliation or over-washing
- Steroids
Internal threats
- Psychological stress
- Some genetic factors can make you more prone to certain skin conditions like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis
How To Spot a Damaged Skin Barrier
When your skin barrier stops performing properly it can become a lot more prone to developing skin symptoms and conditions, including:
- Dry, scaly skin
- Itchiness
- Discolouration
- Acne
- Sensitive skin
- Bacterial, viral, and fungal skin infections
How To Protect Your Skin Barrier
Once you’ve spotted the symptoms of a damaged skin barrier, it’s time to get to work fixing it!
Keep your skincare routine simple
Using a huge list of different skincare products could negatively affect your skin barrier, and this makes it harder to notice when a certain product isn’t working well for you.
Instead, opt for a simple, easy-to-follow skincare routine, and consider talking to a dermatologist if you’re concerned or want more advice on your own skin.
When it comes to exfoliating, some people with sensitive skin could benefit from staying away from harsher exfoliants, instead opting for a gentle one like our Witch Hazel Face Toner.
Incorporate ceramides
Ceramides are waxy lipids found in the stratum corneum which play a crucial role in helping your skin barrier function properly.
Ceramide-rich products could help strengthen the integrity of the skin barrier and are also beneficial for those with acne-prone skin as acne treatments can leave the skin dry and red.
A perfect example of a product that uses ceramides is our Hyaluronic Acid Deep Hydration Cleanser, which works to remove impurities, dirt, and excess oil, leaving your skin fresh and giving it some extra hydration.
Make friends with hyaluronic acid & glycerin
To combat dry skin caused by a weakened skin barrier, think about using moisturisers with Hyaluronic Acid or Glycerin.
Moisturisers featuring these ingredients aid the skin barrier by reducing the amount of water loss from the skin, and, being humectants, they also help to improve barrier function by drawing and retaining moisture in the skin.
Our Anti-Ageing Day Cream is infused with skin-loving ingredients, including Glycerin. Its lightweight formula leaves a thin layer on your skin, helping it to retain the water in it and give your skin lots of lovely hydration.
To conclude this deep dive into the skin barrier, here are a few key takeaways:
- The skin barrier is here to protect your skin from internal and external dangers, whilst retaining your body’s water balance
- Look for dryness, itching, and inflammation as signs of a weakened skin barrier
- Your skin barrier is your body’s first defence, so make sure to take extra good care of it!