Hey guys!
Today’s post is about your skin barrier, and how to tell if it’s been compromised. Your skin is the body’s largest organ, and helps protect against pollution, UV rays, smoke, physical and emotional stress, and even a lack of sleep. Some people don’t even realize they have a damaged skin barrier, often mistaking the symptoms for sensitive skin. However, even if your skin is healthy, it doesn’t hurt to still use replenishing products to maintain that healthy glow!
First, let’s talk about how to tell if your skin barrier is damaged.
Probably the biggest symptom of a damaged skin barrier is inflammation. This can be in the form of redness, flakiness, dryness, and even sensations of stinging or burning. A damaged skin barrier can even be the cause for acne, leading to more flare ups.
Those with eczema and rosacea are more prone to skin barrier issues because these are already sensitive skin conditions, and a weakened barrier makes it more difficult for the natural oil barrier to repair these conditions. In this case, the eczema and rosacea will typically look more aggravated.
Your skin tone also plays an important role in how effective your skin barrier will function. Darker skin tones are more susceptible to skin barrier damage. For instance, you may notice your skin has a flaky texture in one part, yet you have to keep blotting up excess oil in another. This overcompensation is the body’s way of trying to protect itself against environmental stressors.
It’s also important to consider the types of products you use. Over-exfoliating with harsh scrubs or using a spin brush too often can really weaken your skin’s barrier. In addition, using products that contain highly active ingredients, such as glycolic acid or salicylic acid, can further strip the skin. And, beware of foaming cleansers, which can steal moisture from your skin.
Now, let’s talk about how to repair a damaged skin barrier.
The first place to start is to avoid any cleansers that further strip the skin. It’s best to use gentle or hydrating cleansers because this is the first product in your routine that your skin comes in contact with. For toning, you can use a hydrating or pH balancing toner. It’s important not to skip this step because hydration is the name of the game. As far as serums go, hyaluronic acid will be your best friend in repairing your skin barrier. This will give your skin that added bout of moisture it so needs, and a healthy barrier is a hydrated one.
When moisturizing, use lotions or creams that contain ceramides or hyaluronic acid. This is key to repairing your skin barrier, or just maintaining healthy skin. One of my favorite moisturizers is CeraVe’s PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion, for lightweight moisturization. This lotion also has niacinamide, which is great at repairing skin. Although, sometimes I get dry skin around my mouth, and for that I will use the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, which has a thicker consistency. Both of these products contain 3 different ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
However, the most important thing to remember is: don’t forget to wear sunscreen! Sunscreen acts as a physical barrier to protect the skin from environmental factors, which can break down the skin’s natural barriers. Forgoing sunscreen can also lead to the formation of hyperpigmentation and dark spots, which oftentimes, is the cause of a damaged skin barrier in the first place. People will use and abuse harsh products to fix these skin concerns, all the while damaging their skin barrier and causing more harm than good.
Remember, harsh cleansers, potent products, extreme temperatures (such as very hot or cold water), and certain medications can disrupt the pH balance of your skin, causing natural oils to be stripped from the skin. While repairing the skin barrier, it’s best to stay away from any products with active ingredients, such as acids or retinol, as they may cause further irritation. In this process, there is no discrimination, meaning oily skin or dry skin, stay moisturized!
*Some of these links are affiliate. However, all opinions are my own.
~Sabrina
Brown Girl Beauti 