Dearest People,
Hope you all are well! I wanted to do a deep dive into the Skin Barrier: what it means, what it does, why one must not overdo exfoliation, and more. But first, an illustrative meme!
While barrier repair serums and creams are a definite go-to when the skin barrier is damaged, I would definitely recommend embracing skin barrier serums & moisturizers WITHOUT destroying your barrier in the first place.
What is the skin barrier?
The skin is broadly divided into three layers: the epidermis (the outermost layer), the dermis, & the subcutaneous tissue. The epidermis itself consists of many sub layers. The keratinocytes in the lower layers get differentiated & move upward to become the corneocytes, which are the dead cells filled with keratin protein.The corneocytes embedded in a lipid matrix, form the stratum corneum. The stratum corneum is the uppermost layer of the epidermis & is responsible for the skin barrier function.
The corneocytes, while called ‘dead cells’, are unlike what the name might imply—extremely important for barrier function. Before the 1960s, it was believed that the stratum corneum was a biologically ‘inactive’ layer that was protective like saran wrap. It was only in the 1960s that it came to be accepted that a lot of physiological functions occur in the stratum corneum.
The corneocytes actually contain keratin filaments as well as the protein filaggrin. In between the corneocytes, is the lipid matrix which contains Ceramides, Cholesterol & Fatty acids. The Stratum corneum composed of both corneocytes & the lipid matrix is involved in many functions including regulating Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL), moisture retention & regulating permeability, and more!
Why is Your Skin Barrier Important?
The skin barrier is the brick wall that protects all the other layers from various harmful toxins and pathogens that can cause damage to your skin. It also retains the water inside you from being evaporated and ensures that your body doesn’t get completely dehydrated, to avoid premature ageing and skin conditions such as acne and contact dermatitis, all which are fuelled by a disrupted skin routine and barrier. The maintenance of the acidic nature of the skin barrier is quite imperative as it helps in various natural healing processes.
Signs of a Damaged Skin Barrier
There are some noteworthy tells to find out if your skin barrier is compromised. You know it’s time for getting a fix if:
– your skin is bumpy and irritated
– you may experience stinging or burning sensation
– your skin feels itchy
– there is inflammation and redness
– there is discolored and rough patches
– you are diagnosed with fungal, bacterial, or viral skin infections
How to repair your skin barrier?
Judicious exfoliation can help improve the appearance of skin by helping to remove the build-up of dead cells that can happen as we age. However, although it can be tempting, over-exfoliation is an absolute no-no as we want those protein-rich corneocytes with the filaggrin & we don’t want to damage the skin barrier!
What are the best products to repair your skin barrier?
From serums to moisturizers to balms, indulge yourself in a range of organic and cruelty-free products to replenish your skin barrier!
Explore the following products on our website:
African Botanics Intense Skin Repair Balm
Twelve Beauty Nutritive Repair Emulsion
Cipher Beam Me Up
Lovinah Dragon’s Blood Soothing Balm
Votary Super Seed Nutrient Cream
Votary Super Seed Facial Oil – Fragrance Free
Live Botanical Skin Repair Balm
Live Botanical Sanctuary Barrier Balm
Are there any personal hacks that have worked for you? I would love to learn about them in the comments!