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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR SKIN BARRIER

Eunice Rabino
Sep 21, 2017
2 min read

Understanding the importance of your skin barrier is essential for you to have a healthy skin.

WHAT IS SKIN BARRIER?

The skin barrier, also known as permeability barrier; moisture barrier; or lipid barrier, is the outermost layer of our skin's surface that consists of cells and lipids (fats). Skin Barrier is responsible to make sure that the moisture does not evaporate from our skin. It also serves as a protective shield against pollution, harmful microorganism, or any other damaging substances by producing antimicrobial peptides and proteins.

When we take care of our Skin Barrier, our complexion appears smooth, clear, even-toned and balanced. Hence, your Skin Barrier might probably (or already is) damaged if you are experiencing redness, irritation, breakouts, rashes, or any other skin reaction issues.

To further understand, let us see the famous Brick Wall Analogy by Dr. Peter Elias of the University of California. Barrier Function refers to the stratum corneum layer of skin (outermost layer of epidermis) which is analogous to a brick wall. The bricks are the corneocytes (non-living skin cells that are ready to shed). The mortar (cement holding the bricks together) is the intercellular matrix which is composed of lipid bilayers that surround the corneocytes.

While our skin barrier does work to protect against external assaults, it's more important task by far is to protect us from the terrible threat coming from the outside.

This barrier accomplishes a whole set of critical defensive functions that extend beyond holding body water in and keeping microbes and foreign molecules out. For example, the stratum corneum also blocks the penetration of ultraviolet light, filtering much of it out before it even reaches deeper into the skin, where most of the pigment or ‘melanin granules’ reside. Melanin is in fact only the second line of defense against the penetration of ultraviolet rays.

SOME CAUSES WHY OUR SKIN BARRIER GETS DAMAGED:

🗸Aging. Our skin barriers naturally weaken as we age.🗸Emotional Stress.🗸Physical Stress. Fatigue, dehydration, malnourishment, etc.

🗸Environmetal Stress. Sun damage, pollution, climate changes, etc.

🗸Smoking

🗸Over-exfoliation.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN BARRIER: 1. Use mild cleansers. Do not use body soap as your face wash as you have a different skin type and texture on your face. 2. Use right moisturizer regularly. Even if you have an oily skin, finding the right moisturizer for your skin type is the key. 3. Apply sunscreen. 4. Drink plenty of water. 5. Do not over exfoliate your skin. Twice a week should be the maximum.