Is Your Skin Traumatized? Understanding and Healing a Damaged Skin Barrier.
Your skin is an essential protective shield that shields you from the environment’s harsh effects, bacteria, pollution, and UV rays. It has a natural barrier consisting of a thin layer of lipids and sweat from your glands that helps to retain moisture while also safeguarding your skin. However, it is often susceptible to damage, which can lead to a traumatized skin barrier.
What is a skin barrier?
The skin barrier is a vital protective layer that helps your skin retain moisture and protects it from environmental stressors. It comprises a thin layer of lipids and sweat from your glands and plays a significant role in protecting the skin from harmful bacteria, pollution, and UV rays. When the skin barrier is out of balance, your skin becomes more vulnerable to damage.
What are the signs of a damaged skin barrier?
- A damaged skin barrier can manifest itself in several ways, including
- redness
- tingly skin
- sudden irritation
- sore skin
- sudden sensitivity to products
- chronic dryness that cannot be resolved by moisturizer.
What are the causes of skin barrier damage?
- Several factors can cause skin barrier damage, including
- over-exfoliation
- using products that do not suit your skin
- allergies to certain ingredients
- overwhelming the skin with actives
- using harsh hair removal techniques
- exposure to the sun
- using hot water
- using rough beauty tools and towels
- using products with pH way above 5.5 and using too acidic products with pH way below 5.5
- using poorly formulated products that are too harsh.
How to take care of your skin's barrier?
It’s crucial to take care of your skin barrier by using skincare products with a balanced pH. The skin itself has a certain pH balance, and altering this balance can be harmful to the skin’s barrier. Products with a pH of 5.5 are considered ideal for a healthy maintenance of the skin.
How to rehabilitate your traumatized skin?
- If you have a damaged skin barrier,
- it’s essential to simplify your skincare routine and remove all potential irritants like fragrance, vitamin C, exfoliants, or retinol.
- Instead, focus on using ingredients that help rebuild your barrier, such as ceramides, fatty acids, or probiotics.
- Use ingredients that stimulate your lipid production, like hyaluronic acid, panthenol, and niacinamide.
- You can also use calming ingredients like cica, oats, or madecassoside.
- For a simple routine, use a gentle cleanser, followed by a moisturizer containing ceramides, cholesterols, and fatty acids, and finish with your favorite facial oil if necessary.
- And don’t forget to use sunscreen religiously to protect your skin from UV rays.