If you check out pharmacies and drug stores, you will surely see plenty of products to keep one’s healthy skin barrier and repair damaged ones. It becomes more common during winter because cold can negatively impact a person’s appearance and the tone and texture of the facial surface. That’s why we believe this topic should be discussed in more detail, as the variety of treatment options can be quite overwhelming, especially for a newcomer in this sphere.
Today’s article will discuss plenty of topics, including the most common reasons for skin’s barrier damage, the best methods and ingredients to fix it, as well as whether dermal fillers are suitable for this type of treatment. PDcosmetics believes it’s crucial to at least be aware of the basics of such topics, as it makes it much easier to create an effective skincare routine, select the correct products, and get glowing, youthful skin without any unpleasant challenges. So, without further ado, let’s start!
Our skin consists of layers, each of which has functions and tasks to protect the body adequately. The one that plays the role of a skin barrier is called stratum corneum, and it’s made of tough skin cells (corneocytes) combined together with mortar-like lipids. Inside every skin cell, such components as cholesterol, fatty acids, ceramides, natural moisturizer, etc., can be found. They are crucial for our survival because, without the barrier, the insides of the human body would be affected by harmful environmental toxins from the outside, not to mention that the water would just evaporate and leave us completely dehydrated. Overall, we can say that maintaining a healthy skin barrier is vital to keep people safe, protected, and, of course, good-looking.
As we have already mentioned, keeping the skin barrier healthy is crucial for one’s well-being and appearance; it protects us and ensures all essential body functions are performed. When it’s damaged, it means the arrangement between skin cells is lost, and external irritants can affect the facial surface easier, as well as cause dehydration of the outermost layer. If people experience this problem, they will likely notice a high level of discomfort, irritation, redness, dryness, and other unfortunate issues that may be annoying. However, there is always silver lightning – this condition can be treated with the help of specially picked skincare products and certain procedures that can be discussed with a medical professional.
Typically, a compromised skin barrier can be fixed with the help of correctly selected products; as this issue is rarely chronic, it possible to pick the proper routine and get the looks you’ve been dreaming of. However, it can still be permanently damaged, and it’s usually caused by certain medical conditions; this phenomenon is pretty rare and still can be regulated with a few simple steps and specially designed products. A prescription therapy is also an option, like a hydrocortisone cream application. If you are unsure, it is always better to see the doctor instead of experimenting on your own.
When the skin barrier is damaged, it may be caused by numerous reasons, and each one demands different methods to find the solution to a problem. Below, we will discuss the most common causes of trouble in the skin barrier function; often, it’s much easier than you think.
Genetic conditions that increase the chances of inflammation may damage the skin barrier significantly; we are talking about such issues as eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis. The thing is, any disease that causes inflammation affects the lipid barrier greatly, and so people experience all the unfortunate symptoms of a broken skin barrier.
When picking the right cleanser for your routine, make sure to check out the composition carefully. Such ingredients as sodium lauryl sulfate, detergent, or soap of any kind remove natural oils from the facial surface entirely, which may lead to unwanted irritations.
This product is helpful in one’s skincare routine, but if used too often or in incorrect concentration, it may be quite harmful to an individual. Make sure the particles in the exfoliator are not too big or hard, so they don’t hurt a person’s sensitive skin.
Every time you use hot water on your face, natural lipids such as fatty acids, cholesterol, triglycerides, ceramides, and others get dissolved under the skin, which is terrible for a lipid barrier. Use warm water instead and avoid extreme temperature changes while washing the face; you’ll see the difference in no time.
Low air humidity, too much sun exposure, and other natural factors can be damaging to one’s skin barrier. Winter temperature contrasts and unprotected exposure to harmful UV rays during summer are among the harshest.
It’s quite simple to say whether a person has healthy and compromised skin or whether it’s damaged and affected by certain health issues. Overall, the most common signs of a damaged skin barrier include the following visual indicators:
This problem would look differently for each individual based on their skin type, age, and other crucial factors. Thus, it’s better to discuss everything that worries you with a doctor before adding any alterations to your skincare routine or trying any untraditional skin treatment methods.
You should also read our article How Much Is Body Sculpting & How Does It Work. It will help to form a holistic understanding of this issue and make the right choice for yourself.
Even though sometimes it’s impossible to prevent skin barrier damage completely, still, it’s possible to reduce the chance of its occurrence or make it not too harsh on a person. Specialists recommend these tricks to protect one’s facial surface:
As we have already mentioned, even despite a damaged barrier, it’s still possible to fix it by using a proper skin care routine and other recommendations from qualified professionals. Below, all the most helpful methods are gathered for your convenience; everything is possible if you truly want it!
The first step in treating skin with a damaged barrier is to reevaluate all the products used in one’s morning and evening routine. Items with harsh ingredients with striking effects should be replaced with something gentler, as the skin healing process will be slower because of them. Also, consider cutting down the number of products in your routine and leaving only the most helpful, essential positions.
Even though it’s believed that exfoliation works well for the infected dermis, it’s not recommended to use it because such products only irritate already sensitive facial surfaces. It is also better to avoid brushes or scrubbers for face massage for some time; instead, choose a gentle cleanser with amino acids and ceramides in the composition to calm dawn red and irritated skin.
Hydration is key when it comes to healing one’s skin and body. When choosing a new moisturizer, pay attention to the ingredients; pick one with a high concentration of hyaluronic acid and other beneficial components. Also, don’t forget about drinking plenty of water; that’s also crucial to keep your appearance youthful and flourishing.
This one is the easiest to protect the barrier, especially if performed daily without skipping. This product perfectly covers the outer layer of one’s face, so harmful UV rays cannot cause too many problems. There are two things everyone should remember: pick sunscreen according to one’s skin type, and remember to reapply the product every few hours. There are plenty of kinds of sunscreens (sticks, creams, sprays, etc.), so everyone can find the most suitable one for themselves. Usually, specialists recommend buying at least SPF 30+, but for a sensitive dermis with a damaged protective barrier, SPF 50+ would work much better.
Injectable dermal fillers are mainly known for their excellent ability to remove wrinkles, restore volume, and make aged skin firm and glowing again; some kinds of gels are even effective for facial contouring and lip augmentation. This procedure is trendy nowadays, as people finally become less afraid to experiment with all available skin rejuvenation methods to achieve the flourishing appearance they have always dreamt of.
But can dermal fillers fix a skin barrier problem? Well, yes and no. This product works well to reduce signs of damaged skin barrier like redness or flaky skin, but it cannot get to the condition’s root. A special composition of most injectable gels is based on hyaluronic acid, which is a vital hydrating element. It helps transport fluids between skin cells and blood vessels and stimulates natural collagen production in the body at the same time. This way, the dermis stays hydrated and firmer and gains a better barrier that can shield the face from all external irritants. So, even though such dermal fillers as Juvederm, Stylage, Restylane, etc., cannot deal with the problem of a damaged skin barrier completely, they can still be a great helper that will definitely lead to the desired improvement in no time.
The best thing when choosing skin barrier repair products is that there is no need to buy a million creams and gels for them to do the job; sticking to a simple routine and selecting products that suit well to one’s individual needs is all that’s required. Look for these ingredients in the composition when choosing products for a newly-planned skincare routine:
Skin barrier protects the body from numerous external irritants, and that’s why it’s so important for every person out there. That’s why it’s so important to take care of it and try to fix it as soon as you notice something odd which can be damaged. There are numerous methods available, and the right ones should be picked based on the problem’s seriousness, a person’s skin type, age, and some other essential factors. Overall, we recommend discussing the most beneficial ways of skin barrier repair with a specialist, as they can look closely at one’s individual case and create the most effective treatment that would include the best components for a person. That’s it for today; thank you for reading, and stay safe!
