How Can I Rebuild My Skin Barrier?

Are you worried about your dull skin? 

Looking for ways to recover your skin and get a glow that adds to your beauty? 

If yes, then this blog has the right skin solutions for you. 

Our skin is the largest organ in the body, and it is composed of three layers:

• The epidermis is the skin’s thin outer layer.
• The dermis is known as the thick middle layer.
• The fatty layer under the skin

The epidermis, particularly its upper layer, known as the stratum corneum, serves as a skin barrier and our body’s first line of defence.

How Does the Skin Barrier Function?

When examined under a microscope, the stratum corneum resembles brick and mortar. It is made up of brick-like cells called corneocytes. These bricks are held together tightly by mortar-like fats such as ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids. This layer also contains filaggrin, a protein that aids in producing natural moisturizing factors (NMF) for the skin.

Our skin barrier serves several purposes. It safeguards us against:

• Pollution
• UV (ultraviolet) rays
• Inflammation, irritation, and infection
• Dehydration\Toxins

It controls water loss from within, retains moisture, and keeps us hydrated. The skin barrier also prevents most topical drugs from entering the body. If our skin barrier is compromised, we may experience dry, itchy, or flaky skin.

Skin Barrier Damage Causes:

Various factors can have an impact on the quality of our skin barrier. These are some examples:

• A dry or humid climate
• Weather, hot or cold
• Pollutants, allergens, and irritants
• Smoking
• Excessive sun exposure
• Baths or showers that are hot
• Abrasive soaps or detergents
• Inadequate skincare
• Injuries or cuts
• Consuming a lot of unhealthy foods
• Excessive washing or exfoliation
• Certain medications, such as steroids,
• Sleep deprivation as a result of mental or physical stress
• A family history of skin problems
• Aging
• Being of a particular ethnicity

Skin Barrier Damage Symptoms:

Skin barrier damage can alter the appearance of the skin’s outer layer. Among the symptoms are:

• Skin elasticity is lacking.
• Itchy, flaky skin
• Wrinkles
• Discolouration
• Water evaporation (called trans-epidermal water loss)
• The epidermal layer is thinning.
• Bacterial or viral infections that are visible

How to Maintain Our Skin Barrier?

The first step is to look after our skin. Good skin care keeps our skin soft, strong, and healthy and aids in preventing skin problems as we age. Follow these guidelines:

• Avoid excessive sun exposure. UV rays can damage our skin barrier and accelerate aging. It can also cause dark skin spots and wrinkles and increase our chances of developing skin cancer.
• To protect ourselves from the sun, we should do the following:

1. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day. Use at least SPF 15 sunscreen.
2. Avoid going in the sun from 10 am to 4 pm. 
3. Wear clothes to protect our skin, especially during hot and humid months. Wear long sleeves, pants, and wide-brimmed hats to protect our skin from UV rays.

• Moisturize, every day. Moisturizers retain water in the skin barrier. Most are water-based, with ingredients like glycerin and lactic acid that draw water into the skin, keeping it smooth and elastic. Apply moisturizer while our skin is still damp for best absorption. If we are unsure which creams or lotions to use, consult our dermatologist.
• Be kind to ourselves. Tugging and pulling on our skin can harm the skin’s barrier. We must also:

1. Avoid long, hot baths or showers.
2. Pat our skin dry with a towel.
3. Make use of gentle soaps and cleansers.
4. Shave with care (cuts or scratches can lead to infection or irritation).
5. Don’t scuff too hard.

• Consume nutritious foods. According to research, a good, healthy diet rich in whole foods and healthy fats can help our skin look its best. Fish oil-rich diets, antioxidants, and fish oil supplements can improve skin elasticity and keep it looking younger. Keep our skin hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

1. Carrots, apricots, and other yellow and orange fruits and vegetables are good for our skin.
2. Spinach and kale are examples of green leafy vegetables.
3. Tomatoes
4. Berries
5. Lentils, beans, and peas
6. Fish such as salmon, mackerel, and other fatty fish
7. Nuts

• We should not smoke. Smoking can cause wrinkles and age our skin. It constricts blood flow by constricting blood vessels on the skin. This reduces oxygen supply and dries the skin. Smoking also has an impact on our skin’s collagen and elastin levels. These protein cells give skin elasticity. Furthermore, smoking increases our chances of developing skin cancer. Consult our doctor if we are unsure how to quit smoking.
• Control our stress. It can disrupt our hormones and cause skin problems such as acne flare-ups.

How to Restore and Protect Our Skin Barrier? 

Looking for ways to keep your skin barrier and acid mantle healthy, given their importance? Have a look at five possible solutions:

Simplify our skincare regimen:

We may inadvertently weaken our skin barrier if we have a complicated daily skin regimen that includes a slew of products. Consider consulting a dermatologist or skin care expert to determine the necessary and practical effects.

When exfoliating, please pay attention to how our skin reacts to our method—according to the American Academy of Dermatology, using a soft cloth and a mild chemical exfoliant on people with sensitive skin and darker skin tones. Some scrubs and brushes may cause temporary damage to our skin’s barrier.

Take note of the pH: 

The pH of our skin’s delicate acid mantle is around 5.7. However, the pH of some skin care products can range from 3.7 to 8.2. Researchers advise using a cleanser close to our skin’s natural pH.

Maintaining a healthy pH level in our skin may help protect us from skin conditions such as dermatitis, ichthyosis, acne, and Candida albicans infections. Some products, but not all, list their pH.

To replenish our skin’s barrier, try plant oil: 

According to a 2018 Trusted Source research, certain plant oils may help repair the skin barrier while preventing moisture loss. Many of the oils are also antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant.

We can use creams and lotions containing one or more essential oils. Alternatively, take some oil into your palm and gently massage it into your skin until it is absorbed.