Skin Barrier 101
The skin is our largest organ, and it serves many purposes. Our skin's barrier, or stratum corneum, is the outermost layer of our epidermis and is comprised of dead skin cells. Our barrier exists to protect us from the outside world, keeping out external environmental aggressors, bacteria, and irritants, and keeping in the water necessary for properly hydrating us.
The integrity of our skin’s barrier is essential for healthy skin function and appearance. Healthy skin has a smooth texture, and a healthy glow, and does not look or feel irritated or inflamed. While there are many factors that can contribute to compromised barrier function, common causes include:
1) Exposure to harsh soaps or chemicals that strip away natural oils
2) Frequent use of hot showers or baths that dry out your body’s natural oils
3) Wearing makeup on your face all day long (especially mattifying products)
4) Using too many products at one time in an effort to achieve flawless-looking skin
As we age, this barrier becomes less effective at keeping out these harmful elements—and therefore our skin becomes more prone to damage. It also becomes more difficult for our bodies to maintain hydration levels within their optimal range due to a decline in oil production. Therefore, it's important that we take care of our skin as we age by using products that help restore this protective layer or provide some form of occlusion to mimic its effect.
So how do we keep our skin healthy?
First, we need to understand what causes damage to our skin's barrier. There are two main culprits: external factors like pollution and harsh weather conditions, and internal factors like stress and poor diet. External factors can damage our skin by stripping away the lipids that make up the stratum corneum—these lipids are responsible for holding moisture in the body. Environmental irritants such as UV rays from sunlight or chlorine from swimming pools can also harm our skin's ability to hold onto moisture by breaking down these lipids even further.
Great products to assist you in rebuilding a compromised skin barrier:
The products above will help protect your skin’s barrier by replenishing essential lipids that help retain moisture within your skin cells. This helps retain the hydration levels in your skin so you can look younger and more radiant than ever before!
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