The skin barrier is a component of critical importance for our body, skin health, and general health condition. It functions as a protective shield for our skin against environmental threats, solar radiation, pathogens, and UV rays. In addition, if the skin barrier, which also prevents water loss from the skin, is damaged, our skin becomes vulnerable to skin problems like dryness, irritation, and infection. Therefore, protecting the skin barrier is of great importance. Dr. Lida Çiteli, a medical aesthetic specialist serving her patients in Istanbul, explained what you need to know about repairing a damaged skin barrier.
What is the Skin Barrier?
The skin barrier covers the epidermis, which is the outermost layer of our skin. It performs a protective function for our skin against external environmental factors. The skin barrier is structurally composed of keratinocytes and the lipids responsible for holding these keratinocytes together. A healthy skin barrier ensures that moisture is retained within the skin. It prevents irritating factors, allergenic substances, and some harmful microorganisms from affecting our skin.
The protective function of the skin barrier ensures the maintenance of the skin's pH balance and the production of antimicrobial peptides. The skin barrier regulates our hydration levels and acts as a protective buffer for our skin against external threats.
All these functions of the skin barrier are essential for us to have healthy and youthful skin. Therefore, we must protect our skin barrier and repair our damaged barrier.
The Importance of a Healthy Skin Barrier
A healthy skin barrier means that our skin's first line of defense against external factors is strong. A healthy skin barrier prevents the skin from drying and flaking. It gives the skin softness and elasticity. A healthy skin barrier not only ensures the protection of the natural oils within the skin but also provides significant resistance against harmful substances that come into contact with the skin.
The integrity of the skin barrier positively affects not only the appearance of our skin but also our general health condition. If this barrier is damaged, problems such as inflammation, sensitivity, irritation, or dryness may occur in our skin. If our skin barrier is healthy, the signs of aging are delayed, and the process of fine lines and deep wrinkles forming on the skin slows down.
What are the Factors That Cause the Skin Barrier to Deteriorate?
Factors that lead to skin barrier damage include excessive skin cleansing, using the wrong skincare and cosmetic products, environmental factors, unhealthy diet, and sleep disorders.
Cleansing the skin excessively leads to damage to our skin's natural moisture and oil balance. The use of alcohol-based toners and peels that cause abrasion on the skin surface also causes damage to the skin's lipid layer. As a result of all this, the skin's protective barrier is damaged.
Environmental factors that damage the skin barrier include cold, polluted, and dry air, wind, and the sun's UV rays. The skin barrier, exposed to all these factors, gets damaged over time. The skin becomes sensitive and reactive.
What are the Consequences of Skin Barrier Deterioration?
The deterioration of the skin barrier for any reason negatively affects both the person's skin health and appearance. A skin barrier that cannot perform its function causes the skin to lose moisture and dry out. Skin dryness brings complaints such as irritation, redness, and itching.
After the skin barrier weakens, viruses, bacteria, and other external factors begin to affect the skin much more easily. The skin becomes vulnerable to the danger of infection. In addition, allergens start to penetrate the skin more easily. Allergic reactions and skin inflammation may occur.
How is a Damaged Skin Barrier Repaired?
To repair the skin barrier, the factors damaging the skin barrier must first be identified one by one and eliminated. In this process, we can help our skin renew itself by using skincare products containing moisturizing and repairing ingredients.
To repair a damaged skin barrier, it is essential to use moisturizing products regularly. Hyaluronic acid and fatty acids help the skin regain its moisture and repair the skin barrier. It is beneficial to choose products that do not contain alcohol, fragrance, or abrasive ingredients for sensitive skin.
In addition, every product we use in our skincare routine must be used gently and without excess. Therefore, it is right to choose cleansers and toners that protect the skin's pH balance.
What are the Care Tips for Protecting and Repairing the Skin Barrier?
To protect and repair the skin barrier, we need to follow a skincare routine consisting of skin cleansing, toner application, moisturizing, and sunscreen steps.
During cleansing, products that will not irritate the skin or harm its moisture should be preferred. The toners used should be chosen from products that protect the skin's pH balance and strengthen the skin barrier. Preventing moisture loss from the skin and repairing the lipid layer should be among our primary goals. To protect against the harmful effects of the sun's UV rays, it is necessary to use high-protection, broad-spectrum sunscreens suitable for your skin type.
What are the Professional Treatments Applied for Skin Barrier Repair?
Some professional treatments may be required to repair a severely damaged skin barrier. Medical Aesthetic doctors and dermatologists can apply treatments that will accelerate the skin's self-renewal and repair process and re-strengthen the skin barrier.
With light chemical peeling procedures, dead cells accumulated on the skin's surface can be removed. This procedure, which allows the healthier lower layers of the skin to emerge, stimulates our skin's natural repair mechanism and restores its barrier function.
In addition, laser treatments and light therapies can also be beneficial in repairing a damaged skin barrier.
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