You must have heard pretty often lately; whether on social media, from influencers, through brands, etc.; about the term “skin barrier”. Everyone’s been talking about what it does, how to protect it, how to repair it, and this budding conversation is for good reason – our skin is our largest organ after all. So protecting it should be one of our top priorities. So if you too want to know everything about your skin barrier and all the ways to properly care for it, you’re in the right place.
What is Your Skin Barrier and What Does it Do?
As the name suggests, it’s a barrier over your skin that protects the skin from environmental damage. Maybe you remember the word “epidermis” from biology, the outermost layer of your skin made up of dead skin cells – this is essentially your skin barrier. It’s the first surface of your skin to come into contact with the outside world – including free radicals that roam the air, pollutants, harsh weathers – basically anything that touches your face (whether you can see it or not). And since it’s the first contact, its primary role is to protect your skin and face from all these elements and prevent any harm or damage to your skin.
Skin Barrier Function basically just refers to the protective function of your skin in preventing any free radical damage. The skin barrier acts as a protective shield, stopping harmful substances like pollutants, toxins, and germs from entering your body while retaining essential moisture to keep you hydrated.
A healthy skin barrier:
• Blocks out irritants, allergens, and pathogens.
• Regulates water loss and keeps your skin hydrated.
• Guards against UV rays and environmental stress.
• Supports overall skin health and resilience.
What Damages The Barrier
Your skin barrier function can be compromised by some external as well as internal factors, like:
1. Environmental factors like harsh weather (such as low humidity or extreme heat), pollution, and especially ultraviolet (UV) light can damage your skin’s outer layer. UV exposure can cause oxidative stress and inflammation, which results in barrier dysfunction and increased trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) (1). And dehydrated skin means a weak or damaged skin barrier.
2. Certain harsh skin products like exfoliants, soaps, and alcohol-based toners, or even incorrect and unsuitable skincare routines can strip away your skin’s natural proteins, affecting the composition of the barrier which can compromise its protective function.
3. Excessive washing or physical friction from scrubbing or rough towels can weaken and disrupt the skin’s barrier, making it more permeable and prone to damage. That’s why you’ll always hear in the skincare zone “pat your skin, don’t rub!”
4. Genetic conditions or skin diseases like atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and ichthyosis, as well as genetic deficiencies in key skin proteins like filaggrin or ceramides, inherently weaken the skin barrier. Filaggrin mutations are strongly linked to increased barrier permeability and skin disorders (2).
5. Aging and lifestyle changes can also impact your skin barrier function. Aging skin naturally produces fewer ceramides and natural moisturising factors, leading to barrier weakness. Stress, poor sleep, unwholesome diet, and an unhealthy lifestyle also lead to damaged skin. So learning how to restore skin barrier should include making some lifestyle changes too.
What a Damaged Skin Barrier Looks Like
It’s important to learn what a damaged skin barrier looks and feels like so you know when you need to invest in some skin barrier repair practices. These are the signs of damaged skin barrier:
• Acne breakouts
• Dry or flaky skin
• Rough patches
• Itchiness
• Inflammation and irritation
• Stinging sensation (especially when applying anything on the skin)
• Skin infections
Restore & Repair Your Skin Barrier
Learning how to restore skin barrier focuses on both protecting what is left and replenishing what has been lost. Effective skin barrier repair strategies are:
1. Use Gentle Skincare: Your skincare routine should include mild fragrance-free cleansers and avoid harsh exfoliants. Gentle skincare will help you minimise further skin irritation and give your skin a chance to heal.
2. Moisturise with Barrier Repair Ingredients: It’s incredibly important to keep hydrating and moisturising your skin because you need moisture to maintain the strength of the barrier. Use moisturisers that contain ceramides, fatty acids, and hyaluronic acid. Ceramide-based creams can help restore and repair barrier function, especially for people with skin conditions like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis.
3. Protect from Environmental Damage: Always apply broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or above) even if you think you aren’t going to be under direct sunlight for the day. Try to limit exposure to UV light because it’s one of the major triggers for inflammation and further barrier breakdown.
4. Avoid Over-washing and Mechanical Stress: Gently cleanse and pat your skin dry instead of rubbing it aggressively. Avoid washing your face with hot water, instead use lukewarm water. And use micro-fibre towels instead of regular rough towels. You’ll feel the difference made by softly caring for your skin rather than harshly rubbing it.
5. Treat Underlying Inflammation: Figuring out how to restore skin barrier in cases of prevalent conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or allergic reactions that lead to inflammation requires an understanding of these conditions first. Use targeted treatment with anti-inflammatory agents or emollients to break the itch-scratch cycle and promote skin barrier repair.
Apart from directly seeking skin barrier repair strategies, maybe all you need to do is improve your lifestyle. Factors like stress, diet, sleep, etc. have an effect on your skin health. So eat a balanced diet rich in antioxidants, keep yourself adequately hydrated, and get sufficient rest. You might see some improvements in your skin health too.
Ending with Extra Care Tips
To wrap up, we’ve got some general daily tips that will help you better protect and repair your skin:
• Cleanse your skin gently and less often
• Moisturise constantly
• Apply sunscreen daily
• Cut back on exfoliation (once or twice a week is enough)
• Simplify your skincare routine and avoid harsh/irritating products
• Change your pillowcases regularly
These daily habits will help strengthen, repair, and protect your skin barrier, so that your skin stays healthy, comfortable, and glowing. All you need to do is support and protect your skin’s shield so it can do its best to shield your skin.
FAQs
Q1. How to improve skin barrier function?
Use gentle and pH-balanced cleansers, moisturise with ceramide-rich or plant oil-based creams, and avoid harsh skincare products or over-exfoliation. This is how you can improve your skin barrier function.
Q2. What is skin barrier damage?
Skin barrier damage means the outer layer of skin loses its ability to protect your skin against irritants and water loss, resulting in dryness, irritation, and increased sensitivity.
Q3. How to know if your skin barrier is damaged?
Signs your skin barrier is damaged include dryness, redness, itchiness, increased sensitivity, and a tendency to react to products or environmental factors.
Q4. How to repair skin barrier naturally?
To repair the skin barrier naturally, simplify your routine, use moisturisers with ceramides or plant oils (like sunflower, jojoba, or almond oil), maintain hydration, and protect skin from the sun and harsh elements.