How To Tell if Your Skin Barrier Is Damaged and What To Do About It?
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. And while the term itself sounds a little foreboding, it’s actually pretty straightforward.
“Your skin barrier is basically your outer layer of the skin,” Dr. Piliang explains. “It’s dead, not alive, and 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. Think of it like armor, protecting all the delicate skin just beneath the surface. “It works to keep water in and to keep chemicals and infectious bacteria out,” she adds. “So it’s very important for our skin health.”
Your skin barrier is part of your stratum corneum, your top layer of skin.
Corneocytes are the tough skin cells that make up the “bricks” of your skin barrier.
Lipids are natural fats in your skin, and in this analogy, they’re the “mortar” that fills in the gaps between corneocytes. These same lipids — like ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids — are important ingredients in skin care products.
What can damage your skin barrier?
Let’s go back to that armor analogy. Imagine your once-sturdy armor has taken some hits, and it’s not in the same shape it used to be. Maybe it’s thinner than before or the material has warped. Maybe it even has some kind of visible damage, like a hole or a tear. It once kept you fully protected, but now it leaves you vulnerable to harm. 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,” Dr. Piliang notes, like:
Using harsh chemicals or soaps.
Over-exfoliating or scrubbing your skin.
Not using a moisturizer.
Signs your skin barrier is damaged
In short, 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
To get (and keep) your skin barrier intact, tread lightly. “You want to be very gentle when you care for your skin,” Dr. Piliang cautions. She shares tips for how to give your skin barrier the TLC it needs.
1. Wash with warm (but not scalding) water
2. Use a soap-free cleanser
3. Exfoliate gently
4. Don’t over-cleanse
5. Keep skin moisturized
6. Wear sunscreen!
7. Treat pimples with care
8. Keep your skin’s pH balanced
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