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.
“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.
Repairing a damaged skin barrier typically involves gentle skincare practices. To help restore your skin barrier, consider using a gentle cleanser, avoiding hot water, moisturizing regularly with products containing ceramides or hyaluronic acid, and protecting your skin from harsh environmental factors.
Restore and Repair
Look for ceramide-rich moisturizers and incorporate hyaluronic acid into your routine to soothe and hydrate the skin, says Dr. Sommerlad. “I recommend Vichy Mineral 89 as a good serum, followed by a comforting moisturizer,” she says.
Normally Vit C is associated with collagen synthesis, which can aid in repair. If your moisture barrier is physically damaged, as in with scratches or micro wounds, they would be useful.
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.
Avoid exfoliating until your skin is less inflamed. Grainy and chemical exfoliants strip your skin of its natural oils and can compromise your moisture barrier. Don't exfoliate for the first two weeks of repair, and then slowly reintroduce it to your routine.
Niacinamide has been shown to support skin components such as ceramides and fatty acids that are integral to the outermost layer of our skin. The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% hydrates the skin, and reinforces the skin barrier in as little as 7 days.
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.
Helps strengthen the skin barrier
Studies have shown that glycerin can boost the skin's barrier function. Since glycerin boosts this essential function, it can also help prevent the skin from drying.
Best Overall: Dr. Jart+ Ceramidin Skin Barrier Moisturizing Cream, $49. Best for Sensitive Skin: Deinde Barrier-Building Moisture Cream, $64. Best for Dry Skin: Rhode Barrier Restore Cream, $32.
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.
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.
Harsh soaps or cleansers. Over exfoliation or aggressive exfoliation scrubs, loofahs, or brushes. These products can strip away protective lipids and cause barrier damage. Chlorine causes dryness and irritation, leading to an increase in susceptibility to infection.
You should also complete your routine with a barrier-repairing cream that is rich in ceramides and lipids. CeraVe's formulas, for instance, contain 3 essential ceramides identical to those found naturally in the skin. Our formulas help protect the skin barrier function, therefore replenishing the lost lipids.
If you're noticing your skin has been sensitive and you are experiencing redness or unusual texture, bestie, STOP. Continuing to apply retinol while you have a damaged skin barrier would be like having a hot shower with a sunburn, OUCH.
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].
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.
That being said, you are going to have to be patient while the skin heals itself for about two weeks. Depending on the type of damage, it could take longer. Your skin's barrier may also be predisposed and more at risk of breaking down due to contributing factors such as genetics, age, and stress.
A simple routine will constitute 'gentle cleansing, toning and moisturising' with the addition of skin ingredients such as ceramides, niacinamide, glycerin, vitamins and squalane which help nourish and support the skin barrier. Avoiding harsh or irritating ingredients will also speed up repair.