Overview

Damage to the skin barrier occurs in the form of tiny cracks through which moisture easily escapes and irritants penetrate more easily. Sensitized skin is a direct result of barrier damage. If you're starting to notice that your skin has a flaky texture but you always need to keep absorbent pads on hand to soak up the oil, your barrier may not be at its best but the good news is that you can repair your skin barrier.

What’s a skin barrier?

The skin barrier, or moisture barrier, is mainly composed of three lipids: ceramides, cholesterol, and free fatty acids. These lipids work together to prevent water loss and to protect your skin from the environment. Damage to the skin barrier occurs in the form of miniscule cracks through which moisture can easily escape and irritants can enter more easily.

What can damage your skin barrier? 

While stress, pollution, and UV exposure contribute to damage, much of the damage results from over-exfoliation and stripping the skin of its natural oils with overuse of substances such as acids, peels, harsh cleansers, and retinoids.

Environmental conditions like low air humidity or too much sun exposure can also damage the skin's barrier, according to Jaliman.

Aside from regular seasonal environmental changes, winter can be especially rough on the skin. "There’s less moisture in the air, the wind and everything that’s coming with that, and then not being sensitive to that with how you treat your skin [and] what you treat it with," Hirsch said.

Overexposure to water and a harsh cleanser could cause a damaged skin barrier. It can strip away the natural lipid barrier on our skin. Instead of protecting your skin from dirt and impurities, it could damage the skin's first protective layer, which provides most of the protection.

Using facial cleansers, facial scrubs, and/or overusing exfoliating acids can also damage the barrier, as they can irritate the skin and alter its natural pH. Aggressive products can also deprive the skin of essential lipids, leading to so-called trans epidermal water loss, which is basically a fictional scientific term for dehydration, redness, and sensitivity associated with barrier damage. Inherited skin conditions that increase inflammation, such as eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis, can also damage the skin barrier, Jaliman and Lupo said. When the skin is inflamed, hydration and lipids...both are affected by the inflammation.

You may find that some of these factors are within your control—you can always wash and exfoliate more gently, for example—but others are partially or entirely out of your control. It can also be a combination of factors, so it's important to pay attention to your skin, as well as your skin care regimen and lifestyle, to pinpoint the culprits.

How to protect and restore your skin barrier?

When your skin feels a little sensitive, skip the exfoliating active and use a soothing or moisturizing serum instead. Look for serums that contain hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, or ceramides, as these ingredients not only nourish the skin but also protect it from further damage.

When laying a moisture barrier, anything that can cause burning or a feeling of dryness, tightness or irritation of the skin should be avoided. Also, if your skin burns and burns when you apply inactive products, this is a good sign that your skin is compromised.

You should strive to hydrate and replenish your skin with moisturizing ingredients. Even if your skin looks oily, if your barrier is compromised, it's extremely important to replenish lost moisture and stay hydrated.

Takeaway

A weak or damaged skin barrier is mostly dry or dehydrated so it cannot retain moisture, making it easier for irritants and bacteria to enter the skin.

Your skin barrier is pretty self-sufficient and does a good job regenerating as needed. However, you do want to prioritize the protection of your skin barrier because it is your immune system’s first line of defense.

DISCLAIMER              

Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice.