What the heck is your SKIN BARRIER and why does it matter?
There’s a lot of buzz these days about your skin barrier and skin barrier health. A compromised skin barrier is one of the most common conditions I encounter with new clients at Ensō Skincare and Wellness so I thought it might be helpful to write a blog post about it for you.
But first, WHAT IS YOUR SKIN BARRIER? #nerdalert
Your skin barrier is the outermost layer of your epidermis.
The epidermis itself has 5 layers and is only .05mm thick. The five layers comprise of the stratum corneum (your skin barrier) which consists of 10 to 30 micro meters of dead keratinocytes that are constantly being shed, the stratum lucidum, the stratum granulosum, the stratum spinosum, and the stratum basale. The role of your epidermis is to defend your body against a constant onslaught of environmental threats, UV radiation and pathogens, while at the same time, protecting your body’s critical water balance and cell production. Keeping it in good health is essential to your wellness and youthfulness.
layers of the epidermis
How do you know if your skin barrier is damaged or compromised? If you notice any signs of redness, inflammation, dehydration, itchiness, flakiness, rashes, roughness, acne flare-ups or if your skin easily reacts to products and you feel a stinging or burning sensation during application, it’s likely your skin barrier is compromised.
The good news is you can heal your skin barrier. However, it’s impossible to determine exactly how long it will take to repair. Some skins will heal as quickly as two weeks. Other skins can take 8 weeks or more to heal. Your skin is unique to you and dependent on your personal situation.
What causes a damaged skin barrier? The main causes of a damaged skin barrier are
too much sun exposure
over exfoliating
environmental pollutants
cosmetics
detergents/soaps
genetic conditions
hormonal changes
How do you repair your skin barrier? Every skin is unique. Healing can happen in as quickly as two weeks but can also take 8 weeks or more depending on the severity and underlying conditions. The following recommendations are guidelines. Any product recommendations are from lines that I personally use and work with in my studio and have been fully vetted.
minimize stress. 10 minutes of diaphragmatic breathing and or meditation are clinically proven to reduce stress and anxiety. You might also consider incorporating Osmosis Emotional Wellbeing Elixir into your daily routine. This revolutionary supplement utilizes brain-replenishing plant minerals and cutting-edge frequency technology to harmonize negative thinking patterns and their effect on the body.
make “skin healthy” lifestyle choices. Minimize excess alcohol, caffeine and red meat. Don’t smoke. Avoid long term use of prescription drugs and medications. Stay hydrated, exercise for good circulation, and eat nutritious foods rich in healthy oils, minerals and antioxidants. Supplementing with DMK Essential Fatty Acids (3/6/7/9 + vit E) and Osmosis Recovery support your skin barrier from the inside out.
eliminate all exfoliating cleansers, toners, scrubs masks and tools from your regimen. Most people are over exfoliating. I’ve seen people using 2, 3 sometimes even 4 products that have exfoliating acids in them! Contrary to what tik tok and influencers are telling you, you actually don’t need to be exfoliating daily or even 3x a week. Frankly, If you’re consistent with professional treatments it’s very likely you don’t need to be exfoliating at home at all unless you’re extremely acne prone.
use a gentle ph balanced cleanser. DMK Milky Clean & Pure or Osmosis Cleanse are formulated to soothe and protect your skin barrier.
rebalance your acid mantle. A damaged or compromised barrier lacks the correct balance of your natural oils and water. To rebalance your acid mantle DMK Seba E & Herb and mineral spray. These products are specifically formulated to mimic your body’s sebaceous (oil) and sudoriferous (sweat) glands. Another great product is Osmosis Rescue Epidermal Repair serum. This serum is clinically proven to neutralize toxins, calm inflammation and activate epidermal wound and DNA repair.
utilize a nourishing and restorative cream or facial oil. DMK Betagen is designed to soothe reactive, irritated, or inflamed skin and Osmosis Immerse Restorative Facial Oil has anti inflammatory and conditioning properties to promote skin healing.
always wear sunscreen and reapply often. DMK and Osmosis both have sunscreen options I use and love but my best recommendation….find one that YOU’LL ACTUALLY USE every single day. Indoors or outdoors. Rain or shine! (If you live in the Phoenix AZ area we average 296 sunny days a year!) Take aging out of the picture…. UVA and UVB rays pose a serious threat to your overall skin health. When your skin barrier is compromised your health is compromised.
Work with a professional. These are general guidelines for healing but it can be tricky to find the right balance that your skin needs. Book a consultation to assess your skin for barrier damage as well as underlying skin ailments. Remember your skin reflects what’s going on INSIDE. It’s my job to make sure you’re on the right path to happy, healthy skin that looks more youthful, hydrated and glowing.
Healthy skin is beautiful skin! I’m here to help you! Products mentioned can be purchased in studio or send me an email. Drop me a line and let me know what you’re struggling with or what questions you have related to skin, body, mind!