Similar to avoiding damage to the skin's barrier, the first step in repairing the barrier post-damage is using a gentle cleanser. "A lot of people use exfoliating cleansers that have glycolic acid or salicylic acid. You'd want to use a cleanser that has glycerin or hyaluronic acids or ceramides," Jaliman says.
Avoid harsh actives and acids when your barrier is compromised, and instead look to gentle cleansers and comforting moisturisers to soothe your skin back to its healthiest.
Using too many products or harsh ingredients can damage the skin barrier and lead to dryness, irritation, and inflammation. Stick to a simple routine that includes a gentle cleanser, a hydrating moisturizer, and sunscreen. If you have a skin condition, follow your treatment plan as directed by your doctor.
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.
The time it takes to repair the skin barrier can vary depending on the severity of the damage, the underlying cause, and an individual's skin type. In general, minor skin barrier damage may take a few days to a week to heal, while a more severely compromised barrier may take several weeks to months to fully recover.
A classic sign of a broken skin barrier is an inability to hold on to moisture. Skin that's dry and flaky despite your best efforts is one example of how this might manifest. Your skin might also peel away or look patchy.
Our favorite dermatologist-recommended affordable cleansers are: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser, Derma Made Hydrating Cleanser, or CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser for dry and sensitive 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, Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream is good for the face, too. It is a non-greasy, rich cream and is clinically proven to be gentle on sensitive skin, so it can be used daily to keep your skin soft and smooth, and has shown significant skin barrier improvement after just three days of use.
In addition, secreted sweat mixed with sebum on the skin surface forms a moisturizing lipid layer (Shelmire, 1956). We hypothesized that sweat may play an important part in mediating skin barrier function.
“You will be able to tell when your barrier is healed/repaired when your skin is feeling less irritated/sensitive. It's not reactive/dehydrated or even dry. If your inflammation has decreased you're on the right path,” Yadira explains.
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.
As important as exfoliation is, put your exfoliators aside for a while. Your skin barrier needs some time to heal. Continuing to exfoliate won't allow that to happen. After a few weeks, consider gradually incorporating exfoliation back into your skincare routine.
The best sunscreens for a damaged skin barrier contain ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid. Look for mineral sunscreens like CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen for gentle protection and repair.
A well-formulated toner also helps balance your skin's pH level after cleansing. The key here is to avoid toners with alcohol in them, as they will dry out and damage your skin barrier.
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.
Here are a few signals that can point to a compromised barrier: Skin looks and feels irritated — it's red, tight, dry, flaky, and itchy.
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser was designed to cleanse and refresh the skin without over-stripping it or leaving it feeling tight and dry. Featuring hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin and 3 essential ceramides that work together to lock in skins moisture and help restore your skin's protective barrier.
Harsh cleansers can strip away the essential moisturising and nourishing substances that keep your skin barrier healthy. Do not use abrasive scrubs as they can cause micro-tears to the skin's surface. Instead, use a gentle, leave-on exfoliant. Use fragrance-free skincare products.
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.
Natural oils such as sunflower, sesame, or safflower seed oil have been suggested as good options for their use in promoting skin barrier homeostasis [119].