A visible sign of a compromised skin barrier is flakiness. This occurs when the skin loses its ability to self-exfoliate and shed dead skin cells effectively, resulting in a buildup that appears as flaky patches. It's a sign that your skin needs gentle exfoliation and deep hydration to restore its smooth texture.
Use a rich moisturizer: Opt for a thick, ceramide-rich moisturizer like Cetaphil's Moisturising Cream, which helps restore the skin barrier and keep it moisturized. Apply it twice daily for best results. Incorporate a niacinamide serum: Niacinamide is a powerful ingredient that repairs skin barriers.
How long does it take for skin barrier to heal? The good news is: a broken skin barrier can be repaired, but it does take a little time and effort. Depending on the extent of the damage, it can take anywhere from a couple of weeks up to 6 months to get it back to its protective best.
It's constantly being repaired,” Dr. Gmyrek says. “There are a variety of self-repair mechanisms at play, including an increase in production of lipids such as ceramides and an increase in natural moisturizing factors, which help maintain moisture and reduce water loss,” she explains.
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.
To help repair a compromised skin barrier, try incorporating these products: Step One: Gentle Cleanser - We love Gentle Cleansing Lotion. Step Two: Vitamin C - If your skin is super sensitive/irritated, stick with a vitamin C derivative like C+ Correcting Complex 30% (the main ingredient is THD ascorbate).
Restore your skin with antioxidants
Help replace depleted skin lipids by incorporating antioxidant-rich ingredients into your daily skincare regimen. Ceramides and niacinamide are helpful for replenishing the skin barrier, while hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and panthenol will help your skin retain water.
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.
Eucerin's Aquaphor range is designed to provide intensive care for damaged skin, particularly for conditions such as cracked skin, which can result due to a compromised skin barrier.
It is well known that adequate water intake and moisturizer application improves skin barrier function.
Avoiding harsh or irritating ingredients will also speed up repair. “Alcohol, fragrances and strong acids such as glycolic acid and salicylic acid can disrupt the skin barrier and cause further damage,” continues Dr Ifeoma.
Another study showed that coconut oil extract could improve the barrier function of the skin and reduce inflammation due to UVB rays. Research on coconut oil has also suggested that the oil may have antibacterial properties, even when people use it on the skin.
To understand the skin barrier structure, you can imagine it as a brick wall: Starting at the top, an organized layer of skin cells will create a protective layer against moisture loss. These are the bricks. Next we have skin lipids- things like ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol.
Petrolatum isn't just an occlusive moisturiser, it is also an emollient. It moves into the spaces around skin cells within the stratum corneum to take the place of lost lipids in dry and/or damaged skin, immediately improving the skin's barrier function1, as well as the skin's smoothness and softness.
However, if the damage is extreme, healing your skin barrier could take up to six months. Just make sure you remain consistent with your reparative routine, and don't be tempted to stray from nourishing cleansers and face creams.
Can You Permanently Damage Your Skin Barrier? The good news is that nothing is permanent when it comes to your skin barrier. 'It is very difficult to permanently damage your skin barrier unless you have a cause or prone to a type of cause that can damage your skin barrier.
Benefits of Snail Mucin for Skin
Moisturizes the skin: According to Dr. Lain, snail mucin contains moisturizing agents that work to repair the barrier function of the skin, both locking out irritants from the environment while also simultaneously locking in moisture.
You must stop all exfoliating products immediately until your skin barrier heals. This includes retinoids, AHAs, and BHAs. As over-exfoliation is usually the culprit when it comes to a damaged barrier, further use will only cause further irritation. Strip back and simplify your routine until further notice.
For now, take out all retinols, acids and active ingredients from your routine. Go back to basics. Revert back to a simple, nourishing cleanser, serum, oil and/or moisturiser. Up the hydration and skin barrier-loving ingredients.