To avoid stripping your skin of those essential lipids and NMFs, gentle cleansing is key. When using products that exfoliate or encourage skin renewal, such as direct acids or retinoids, you should gradually add them into your skincare routine to avoid over-exfoliation and damage to the skin barrier.
Yes, there is such a thing as too much skincare. Overloading your skin with products can lead to several issues, including: Irritation: Using too many active ingredients or harsh products can irritate the skin, causing redness, peeling, or breakouts.
This outside layer is faced with the task of protecting your body from a constant barrage of UV rays, pollutants, topical products containing harsh ingredients, and stress, all of which can weaken the skin barrier and alter the visible appearance and tone of the skin.
When your barrier is weak because you don't have enough lipids in your skin, Vaseline acts as a substitute for these lipids. Remember the brick-and-mortar analogy? Vaseline fills in the cracks in your skin's “mortar” so that your barrier starts to act in a healthy way again.
Yes. A real concern is the retinol damaged skin barrier, where retinol disrupts the skin's protective layer, leading to increased sensitivity and vulnerability to UV light and pollutants. The skin barrier is essential for retaining moisture and protecting against irritants and pathogens.
Benefits and uses of Aquaphor
Hydrating skin and restoring the skin barrier in people with eczema, a chronic condition that weakens the skin's barrier function and causes dry, itchy, and inflamed skin. Improving skin conditions in infants.
Antioxidants, such as vitamin C, support the skin's barrier function by enhancing the production of barrier lipids (remember, a damaged skin barrier happens when too many lipids are broken down). Antioxidants also have natural healing properties to reduce inflammation and protect against water loss.
A consistent skincare routine helps support this balance by providing necessary nutrients, hydration and protection. Stopping your routine disrupts this equilibrium, potentially leading to imbalances such as increased oiliness or dryness.
Dryness, flaking, or peeling are well-known side effects of some skin care ingredients, such as retinoids. But some people also anecdotally report an increase in acne. Some say this “purging” is the skin eliminating toxins or impurities.
Product overuse can result in dryness, redness, breakouts, blotches and dermatitis. And it can cause flare-ups of underlying skin conditions like acne, rosacea, eczema and psoriasis.
You should be on the mend within two weeks after sticking to a bland routine. But if you've spent months accidentally breaking down your skin barrier through harsh products, stress, or environmental factors, you might need to change routine for one to two months to get your skin back to normal.
“Eliminating all products can potentially wreak havoc on your skin, so this is something that I don't recommend,” Dr. Zubritsky tells us. “For example, if you stop washing your face with a cleanser, dirt, debris, makeup, and oil can build up, resulting in more breakouts.”
Marisa Garshick's, top do's and don'ts when it comes to repairing a damaged skin barrier. “It is important to avoid any ingredients that can worsen irritation or further compromise the skin barrier such as harsh soaps, abrasive scrubs, benzoyl peroxide, retinoids or salicylic acid.
Hydration is key to repairing a damaged skin barrier. Look for a hydrating serum or essence that contains certain moisturizing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or ceramides. All these ingredients greatly help attract and retain moisture, hydrating the skin from within.
In terms of feel, Vaseline is a bit heavier and greasier, whereas Aquaphor is a bit lighter and easier to spread. Dermatologists say deciding which one to use often comes down to personal preference. One thing to keep in mind is that you'll want to use caution with these products if your skin is prone to breakouts.
Signs of a Damaged Skin Barrier
General skin sensitivity when exposed to certain products or environmental allergens, irritants, and aggressors. Frequent inflammation or swelling of skin. Skin redness and discoloration that occurs frequently. Dry, itchy, or generally irritated skin.
Going overboard on the potent ingredient (known to cause irritation and dryness at high concentrations) can dry out your skin and make your wrinkles look more noticeable, says Rebecca Kazin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery in Washington, D.C. Avoid this side ...
AHAs: AHAs are exfoliating acids that can be too harsh for a damaged skin barrier, leading to further irritation and sensitivity. BHAs: While effective for treating acne, BHAs like salicylic acid can dry and may strip the skin of its natural oils, further compromising the skin barrier.