You might have heard a lot about barrier repair online over the past year. So why is everyone talking about it? Your skin barrier is essential for the health of your complexion and can easily become damaged. So, what is it exactly? Your skin is made up of layers, each of which performs important functions in protecting your body. The outermost layer, called the stratum corneum, is often described as a brick wall. It consists of tough skin cells called corneocytes that are bound together by mortar-like lipids. This is your skin barrier.
Inside the skin cells, or ‘bricks’, you’ll find keratin and natural moisturisers. The lipid layer contains cholesterol, fatty acids, and ceramides. This fantastically thin brick wall is literally keeping you alive. Without your skin barrier, the water inside your body would escape and evaporate, leaving you completely dehydrated. Your skin barrier is essential for good health and needs to be protected to function properly.
The acid mantle
Your skin’s acid mantle is a thin film on the skin’s surface. The acid mantle is made up of lipids from the oil glands mixed with amino acids from sweat. Along with your microbiome, it’s part of a delicate matrix that compromises a healthy skin barrier. Your skin barrier is slightly acidic, and this acidity helps to reduce the growth of harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi that could lead to damage, infections, and other skin irritations. This slight acidity preserves the skin’s microbiome and maintains its structural integrity. Essentially it is your skin’s first line of defence against invaders.
How can you tell if your barrier is damaged?
There are a few symptoms that point to a damaged skin barrier, some of the most common being:
- Dry, scaly skin
- Itching
- Rough or discoloured patches
- Acne
- Sensitive or inflamed areas
Another key indicator of a damaged barrier is stinging or burning when applying products that aren’t active such as cleansers.
What causes a damaged barrier?
Your skin barrier’s top job is to keep water in your skin. Water is the key to healthy skin and a strong barrier helps to prevent transepidermal water loss (which can lead to a variety of skin conditions). Several factors can damage the skin barrier and lead to water loss and irritation, including:
- Harsh cleansers and soaps. If a cleanser is too harsh, it can increase the pH of the skin, damaging the acid mantle.
- Using the wrong products. If you are using skin care products that are wrong for your skin or have too many exfoliating or active ingredients, they can damage your barrier and create more problems than they can fix.
- Your age. As you age, the pH of your skin changes. Throughout life, the skin changes from a neutral pH at birth and gradually becomes more alkaline as we age which can lead to dryer skin and a compromised barrier.
- Skin conditions. Inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea and acne are associated with a disrupted acid mantle.
- An environment that’s either too humid or too dry. An environment that is too humid or too dry can impact your barrier leading to dryness.
What you can do?
If you are showing signs of an impaired skin barrier, consult with our DMK skin specialist for help. Getting a professional skin analysis will ensure you are using the right products for your skin to get you on the road to healing. A damaged skin barrier and acid mantle can heal themselves quickly when treated with the correct products. Our top tips for repairing the skin barrier include:
- Cut down on using actives. As great as actives can be, if your barrier is compromised, you will need to be as gentle as possible with your skin. Avoid products containing alcohol, harsh surfactants, chemical exfoliants such as glycolic and salicylic acid (once a week is usually enough) and treat the skin with care – so no physical exfoliating scrubs that are grainy. Remember – always pat dry the skin after showering, don’t rub with your towel.
- Use a gentle, hydrating cleanser. Ensure you are using a cleanser that is gentle and isn’t stripping your skin. We recommend DMK’s Milk Cleanser. Milk Cleanser is specially formulated for sensitive skin and contains a blend of soothing botanicals that will not cause dryness. It also offers herbal lipids for delicate or damaged skin.
- Add a serum. If your barrier is damaged, your skin will be crying out for moisture. DMK’s Beta Gel is a must. This signature formulation features beta-glucan and is a hydration superstar that will help fill the skin up with water and soothe any irritations. Beta-glucan is extracted from the cell wall of certain yeasts that have immune-boosting abilities.
- Replenish your skin’s natural oils. DMK’s Herb & Mineral Mist, Seba-E and Herbal Pigment Oil are great for barrier repair. When used with Herb & Mineral Mist, Seba-E and Herbal Pigment Oil imitate the skin’s natural oils and keep the skin nourished and hydrated. Herb & Mineral Mist also aids the delivery of the active ingredients in your other products into the skin for maximum benefit.
Other barrier repair essentials
- EFA+ enable the skin to stay healthy, strong and look great, the actual skin cell must function optimally. EFA+ hydrates and nourishes the skin from the inside out and improves barrier function. It features ingredients such as evening primrose oil; one of the most concentrated sources of gamma-linoleic acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid of the omega-6 family. For healthy skin, we need omega 3 in our diet; however, we also need omega 6, and this is where the EFA message to the public has become distorted. When you consume only one of these essential fatty acids you will become deficient in the other one. Therefore, EFA+ contains a powerful blend of EFAs 3, 6, 7 and 9, sourced from plant-based ingredients, to encourage a bouncy, hydrated complexion.