![]() Skin is composed of a vast, complex network of various cells, proteins, ceramides, and lipids-but arguably, the most vital component of all is the skin barrier, sometimes referred to as the skin’s natural moisture barrier. It’s what separates your delicate insides from the harsh outside world, making it one of the most important organs in your body. “If your skin is too dry, or appears irritated or itchy, take a moment to identify what in your skin routine may be the culprit.Here’s a fun fact: Your skin is your largest organ, making up around one-seventh-or nearly 15%-of your total body weight. And of course, be thoughtful when it comes to your routine. Unless you have extremely acne-prone skin, one to three times a week should be plenty. And she warns that you’re probably exfoliating much more than you should be. Similarly, Gohara recommends using gentle, nonsoap cleansers and incorporating barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides, glycerine, and centella into your daily routine. “Slow and steady wins the race and saves your skin barrier in the process,” says Idriss. If you’re adding new products to your routine, introduce them one at a time, and go easy on the actives. I strongly encourage you to take the time to understand your skin issues in order to address them one by one and not all simultaneously.” “So many people are overdoing it with their skin-care routines and harming themselves in the process. The number one secret to keeping your barrier strong and healthy? “Stop playing chemist,” says Idriss. In addition to repairing your barrier, you’re going to want to protect and strengthen it so it’s less susceptible to future damage. $28 at Krave How to protect your skin barrier The thought of this is terrifying to my patients dealing with damaged skin barriers, but the short-term disturbance of quitting it all is worth the long-term gain of clear and smooth skin.” “This also includes avoiding all makeup as well. “Allow your skin to renew itself-skin care as simple as Vaseline or Aquaphor is all you need to get there,” says Idriss (see our guide to “slugging” for more info on that technique). While your first instinct may be to up your skin-care game, all three experts say less is way more here. In fact, reversing the damage is actually a pretty straightforward process, and you’ll get your barrier back in good shape. If the above paragraph had you scared that one too many exfoliating products would leave you red and scaly forever, that’s not the case. An out-of-whack barrier may also lead to acne, which will only be exacerbated by more harsh treatments. Gohara says you can even experience rashes, while Garrette says a telltale sign of a damaged barrier is that you experience stinging and burning when applying nonactive products like cleansers or hydrating serums. Your skin will look and feel irritated overall-think redness, scaly texture, itching, and inflammation. One of the few plus sides of a compromised barrier? It’s pretty easy to tell that that’s what you’re dealing with. What are the signs of skin-barrier damage? ![]() This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from. She says internal factors like stress and hormones can also lead to an impaired barrier. Idriss warns that over-utilizing the same ingredients in different steps of your routine-for example, a salicylic acid face wash and toner-can also contribute to dehydration. ![]() Scrubbing too hard, waxing, and using DIY ingredients like lemon and baking soda, and on some skin types, alcohol and fragrance are also common culprits for damage. Most of the barrier damage comes from stripping your skin of its natural oils with harsh cleansers, acne medication, and acids. This leads to the water loss mentioned above, and your skin can become dehydrated and irritated. Your skin barrier can very easily become damaged, and those bricks become unglued. Keeping your barrier strong slows down transcutaneous evaporative water loss (TEWL), which can lead to skin conditions like atopic dermatitis and eczema. Keeping water in your skin is your barrier’s number one job, and is key for not only dewy, bouncy skin, but overall healthy skin.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |