Dry skin, acne, and inflammation are all skin problems we attribute to sources such as bacteria, the weather, and our diet. But, in reality, they might all have to do with a compromised or damaged skin barrier. Yes, skin barrier is the latest buzzword in the beauty world. And even if you’ve heard it before, it might be related to what you think.

What Is Your Skin Barrier?

One way to look at your skin’s barrier is by understanding your skin’s top layer, the epidermis. This thick layer contains harder skin cells that are held together by skin lipids, the cells that make up your skin barrier to protect it from the environment. Some scientists also point out that your skin’s natural microflora are also part of your skin’s barrier that protects it from harmful germs.

In a nutshell, your skin barrier is a protective layer that guards your skin against environmental agents such as sun, wind, weather, bacteria, chemicals, and water. This protective layer keeps your skin’s essential fluids in a while ensuring harmful germs and bacteria remain out.

What Can Damage Your Skin’s Barrier?

Your skin barrier doesn’t damage overnight. It occurs over a period of time, during which your skin has been exposed to irritation, damaging agents, and other factors can destroy the skin barrier and lead to overly sensitive skin. A combination of any of the following can damage your skin’s barrier including:

*Over cleansing or over exfoliation
*Using moisturizers with irritants
*Overuse of retinol
*UV damage
*Aggressive skin care treatments
*Overuse of AHA’s and other skincare acids
*Using skin care products that unbalance your skin’s pH
*Long-term emotional stress
*Eating a low-fat diet

Why Your Skin Barrier Is So Important?

Having a healthy and strong skin barrier equals a smoother, even-toned, and balanced complexion. Beyond the aesthetic benefits of caring for your skin barrier, having a healthy skin barrier also protects your skin from harmful bacteria. Your skin barrier is also responsible for sustaining your skin’s immunity, regulates inflammation, and guards your skin against environmental agents that can permanently damage your skin.

How to Care For Your Skin Barrier

If your skin is acting up, whether it’s redness, itching, breakouts, or dryness, these might all be signs of a damaged skin barrier. To restore balance to your skin barrier, you have to make sure your pF levels are balanced. Use products that are close to the skin’s pH, which is often around pH 5-6. While most skincare products fall within that category, those with alpha hydroxy acids, which are meant to accelerate cell turnover, have very low pH levels, and on the other hand, certain soaps have high pH, which can also disrupt your skin’s balanced levels.

Skincare Changes to Restore Your Skin Barrier

To restore your skin’s balance, you first have to make sure the skincare routine you’re following is set to replenish, repair, and care for your skin barrier. Some of these changes include:

*Avoid cleansing or showering with hot water. Use lukewarm water instead.
*Start using skin care treatments with ceramides to help sustain moisture. Ceramides are lipids and oils found naturally in your skin.
*Exfoliate once or twice per week, using only gentle exfoliating products.
*Always protect your skin using a broad-spectrum sunscreen, even when it’s rainy or cloudy outside.
*Lifestyle Changes to Restore Your Skin Barrier

Restoring your skin's barrier also comes from within. Specific lifestyle changes can help your skin retain its essential oils, and build up a thick and strong skin barrier. Some lifestyle changes include:

*Avoid alcohol and smoking. If possible, eliminate them.
*Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated at all times.
*Incorporate healthy fatty foods such as salmon, flax seeds, green juices, and avocados.
*Avoid eating sugary treats, baked goods, and limit your consumption of refined sugars.

You’ll be surprised to see how much easier it is to maintain a healthy, younger-looking complexion when you properly care for your skin barrier.

Remember that your skin barrier is intimately connected to your skin’s pH levels and whenever your skin manifests through breakouts, dryness, or redness, there may be an imbalance at your skins barrier level.