Skin barrier. You may have picked up on the phrase at the dermatologist's office or from a skininfluencer’s IG page. If not, we are here to help. Skin barrier (a.k.a the acid mantle) is your body's first wall of defence against pollutants, external aggressors and harmful bacteria. It also helps hold moisture molecules in the skin for its soft, taut appearance. So, imagine the consequences if the integrity of this barrier is compromised. In this blog, we walk you through the functions of a skin barrier and how its maintenance is crucial to tackling potential concerns. We also help you read the signs of an impaired skin barrier and teach you ways to care for it. Scroll ahead to read.
What is the skin barrier?
To maintain or repair the skin barrier, it's important to be well-versed in the basics. So, what is the skin barrier?
The largest organ of the human body or skin is made of three components – epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, each of which has its unique function. The outermost layer of this epidermis resembles a masonry wall, where corneocytes act as the bricks and lipids serve as the mortar. A combination of fatty acids, cholesterol, and ceramides, these lipids also dubbed the skin barrier ensure your skin’s structural integrity.
What is the main function of the skin barrier?
As touched upon earlier, the skin barrier has the following functions.
1. Moisture Retention: Moisture Retention: The skin barrier or acid mantle prevents TEWL, playing a pivotal role in the soft, limber appearance of the skin. It improves your skin's hydration and averts the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.
2. Wards Off Aggressors: Your skin bears the brunt of environmental aggressors UV rays, and menacing pollutants on the reg. However, a sound skin barrier wards off these aggregators, ensuring healthy, happy skin!
3. Reduces Skin Sensitivities: If you have sensitive skin, flaring up at the minutest inconvenience, it is time to examine your skin barrier. That’s right. A healthy skin barrier or acid mantle ensures an elastic feel and radiant look to the skin. On the other hand, a damaged skin barrier gives rise to different signs of sensitivity – out-of-the-blue zits, inflammation, irritation, itchiness, and more.
How to determine a damaged skin barrier?
Wish to determine if you have a damaged or weakened skin barrier, consider the follow factors
1. Dry, flaky skin
2. Dull-looking skin
3. Inexplicable acne outbreaks
4. Pigmentation, dark spots and patches
5. Recurring skin infections
6. Inflamed or irritated skin
What factors can lead to a damaged skin barrier?
From your genetic makeup to an erratic lifestyle, there are a myriad of reasons for a damaged or compromised skin barrier.
1. Harsh skincare or exfoliants: Using harsh chemicals or exfoliants can strip your skin off, taking a toll on your skin barrier.
2. Alkaline Products: The acid mantle or the skin barrier boasts a slightly acidic pH (of nearly 4). This is why we recommend steering clear of alkaline products that may disrupt the barrier’s natural pH.
3. Temperature Extremities: Too hot or dry an environment can zap water molecules from the skin, hampering the barrier's health.
4. Continued Sun Exposure: Constant sun exposure can marr the barrier, leading to the early formation of fine lines, wrinkles, crows feet and more.
5. Genetics: Conditions like psoriasis and rosacea may occur due to genetic-related issues, often degrading the health of your skin barrier.
How To Repair Or Maintain Your Skin Barrier?
Now that you’ve successfully identified if your skin barrier is damaged or weakened, here are some steps you can follow.
1. A Simplified Skincare Routine: To help uphold the health of your skin barrier, we recommend sticking to a simple, goal-oriented skincare routine. Using a slew of arbitrary products is often counterproductive, causing rashes, breakouts and inflammation of the skin.
2. pH Balancing Formulas:. As discussed earlier, the skin barrier is acidic, boasting a pH of 4.8. To ensure healthy and happy skin, look for gentle formulas that don’t disrupt this natural pH of your stratum corneum.
Foxtale Recommends: Hydrating Face Wash
3. Moisturize Like Clockwork: To ensure your skin barrier's optimal functionality, moisturize on the reg. A blend of occlusives, humectants and emollients – a potent moisturizer prevents water loss from your skin. To double down on efforts for a sturdy barrier, we recommend a ceramide-infused cream. Ceramide is responsible for your skin’s structure and integrity. Moreover, this fatty acid fends off pollutants, pesky pathogens, and other aggressors.
Foxtale Recommends: Hydrating Moisturizer with Ceramide
4. Use A Skin Barrier Repair Cream: If your skin has been dry, flaky or inflamed (signs of a compromised barrier), might we recommend adding Foxtale’s unique cream to your rotation? This innovative brew uses ERS technology to uphold a healthy barrier. Scroll ahead to learn more reasons to love our Barrier Repair Cream.
Why Should You Try Foxtale’s Barrier Repair Cream?
1. Three Moisturizing Technologies: Our barrier repair cream uses ERS (Enhance-Replenish-Seal) Technology to help maximize your skin’s hydration.
E: The innovative cream uses barrier-supporting humectants to enhance your skin’s water-holding capacity.
R: The repair cream replenishes moisture content from the deepest layers of the skin to the outermost surface. It further results in your skin’s youthful and radiant appearance.
S: Boasting a harmonious blend of emollients – this cream forms a protective barrier that seals moisture into the skin.
2. Devoid of SLS: Foxtale’s Barrier Repair Cream is free of parabens and sulfates, making it the perfect fit for people with sensitive skin.
3. Skin Health Boosters: The Barrier Repair Cream contains skin health boosters like Niacinamide. For those who are unaware, Niacinamide helps bolster ceramide production for taut, elastic skin.
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