Skin Barrier Repair: How to Recognize and Heal Damaged Skin

Skin Barrier Repair: How to Recognize and Heal Damaged Skin

Understanding Your Skin Barrier

Skin Barrier Repair: How to Recognize and Heal Damaged Skin

The skin barrier, scientifically called the stratum corneum, is the outermost layer of your skin, protecting it from outside exposure. Locking in moisture, the skin barrier protects the rest of the skin from exposure to skin irritants, environmental factors, and bacteria. Think of it as a shield, maintaining good moisture within while preventing the bad irritants and toxins from causing irritation and harm. 

When the skin barrier is compromised, it can cause physical reactions seen on the surface including inflammation, redness, and itchiness. A strong skin barrier serves as a self-repair mechanism after external exposures. A weakened skin barrier, with causes include rosacea and eczema, may be more prone to hypersensitivity around environmental and lifestyle factors. 

Signs of Damage to the Skin Barrier

You often notice signs of a damaged skin barrier on the surface:

  • Stubborn dry skin
  • Increased sensitivity
  • Redness and irritation
  • Stinging or burning during normal skincare routines
  • Sudden breakouts or rashes
  • Dry or flaky skin

Changes to the way your skin looks or feels are the easiest indicators that your skin barrier may be damaged. The reasons for damaged skin barriers can vary depending on recent environmental exposures, lifestyle changes, or changes in skincare products. 

Causes of Damaged Skin

It’s easier to recognize the signs of damage to the skin barrier than it is to understand the cause of damaged skin. A poor skin barrier could be the result of an underlying condition, including rosacea, eczema (atopic dermatitis), psoriasis, and ichthyosis. On the other hand, damaged skin could be caused by external irritants. 

To identify the cause of damaged skin, you will need to assess any changes around the time you recognized the signs. Consider any environmental exposure, such as UV ray exposure, exposure to known allergens, smoke, or air pollution. Also take into consideration any changes to skincare routines. Have you used any new products in your skincare routine? Or changes to the frequency of your skincare routine? Lastly, lifestyle changes could also be a culprit. Changes to diet, trying new foods or drinks, higher intensity workouts, or increased stress to the body and mind could impact your skin. 

Harsh Cleanser Effects on the Skin Barrier

You have most likely already heard that you should avoid using products with fragrance on your skin. But, that is not the only harsh ingredient that can impact your skin barrier. It’s just as common to find sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, parfum, sodium palmate, sodium cocoate, and sodium tallowate in your cleanser. These products are also guilty of damaging the skin barrier, especially on sensitive and reactive skin. 

Cleansers with harsh chemicals or ingredients can cause worsening irritation over time. This may be recognized first through dry, itchy, or flaky skin. 

How to Repair the Skin Barrier

If your skin is exposed to harsh ingredients, avoid irritating it further through physical contact, such as scratching or rubbing. Allow your skin time to health and immediately stop use of harsh products. Once your skin has had time to heal and relax, switch out harsh products for gentler ones formulated with healthier, more natural ingredients. 

Your skin needs time to repair after it has been damaged. This does not mean immediately switching to a new skincare product. Your skin barrier itself is also a repair mechanism, protecting your skin from further harm. Even in a weakened state, it still serves to shield the inner layers of your skin. Patience when repairing skin damage is key to once again feeling beautiful, soft, and refreshed skin. 

 Ingredients to Look Out For

Harsh ingredients are not just in cleansers. They can be found in any poorly-formulated skincare products. There is an age-old saying when shopping for new skincare products: if you can’t pronounce it, don’t put it on your skin. You may notice harsh skincare products often contain a laundry list of chemical ingredients that you don’t recognize. Cleaner, plant-based skincare products are the opposite. 

Take the following example of skincare product ingredients to avoid:

  • Formaldehyde Releasers (Imidazolidinyl urea, for example)
  • Parabens
  • Phenoxyethanol
  • Parfum
  • Cocamidopropyl Betaine
  • Alpha Hydroxy Acids

Now, compare the list to skincare ingredients that benefit the skin:

These are only some of the ingredients found in Cosmette’s botanically-formulated, plant-based skincare line. It’s important to recognize the active ingredients in your skincare products to help determine how your skin will respond to them even before trying them for the first time. 

 

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