Everything You Need To Know About Caring for Your Skin Barrier

The term “skin barrier” seems to be thrown around a lot these days, but few actually understand what it does or how it functions. Simply put, your skin barrier (also referred to as a moisture barrier) is your body's first line of defense against environmental stressors, such as air pollution and extreme temperatures. A healthy skin barrier also plays a pivotal role in the overall look and feel of your skin. However, certain things—some obvious and others not so obvious—can damage this protective layer and leave you vulnerable to an array of skin concerns. Ahead, we’re outlining what causes a compromised skin barrier, common signs of a damaged skin barrier, and ways to nurture and repair your skin so that it can give you the protection you deserve.

What Is the Skin Barrier?

The skin barrier, also known as the stratum corneum, is the topmost protective layer of your skin. It’s made up of dead skin cells, lipids, proteins, and fats, all arranged in a pattern similar to a brick wall. This invisible shield of armor protects against harmful, skin-damaging aggressors and helps lock in moisture so your skin appears smooth, supple, and healthy.

What Can Cause a Damaged Skin Barrier?

Many factors can contribute to a damaged skin barrier. Some of these causes are external (like your environment), while others are internal (such as certain health conditions). Sometimes, it may even be a combination of the two compounding each other. A compromised skin barrier can leave you vulnerable to dryness, redness, sensitivity, and even acne. Here are a few common internal and external stressors that can affect your skin barrier:

Internal:

• Genetics: Your genetics can influence how much oil your skin produces, which can, in turn, affect your skin barrier’s ability to retain moisture.
• Age: The skin’s moisture barrier naturally weakens with age, resulting in less hydration, more prominent fine lines and wrinkles, and loss of firmness.
• Underlying conditions: Certain skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis, rosacea, and psoriasis, are associated with a compromised skin barrier. Having one of these conditions can increase the rate at which water evaporates from your skin, a measurement known as transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

External:

• Ambient climate: Changes in temperature and humidity (both indoor and outdoor) can disrupt your skin barrier and leave you vulnerable to concerns such as dryness, itching, or irritation.
• Skincare practices: Over-exfoliating, applying potent active ingredients, and failing to use moisturizer can result in barrier weakness.
• Exposure to irritants: Frequent contact with environmental irritants can exacerbate TEWL and affect the integrity of your skin barrier.

How Do You Know if Your Skin Barrier Is Damaged?

Frequently experiencing the following concerns can be an indication that your skin barrier could use a little TLC:

• Sensitivity: Skin barrier disruption and sensitivity often go hand in hand, studies confirm. While this sensitivity can manifest differently in everyone, redness, irritation, itching, and stinging are common indicators.
• Dryness, flaking, and rough patches: These symptoms can all suggest that your skin barrier is not effectively retaining moisture and is likely losing more water than it’s taking in.
• Breakouts: If you’re noticing more breakouts (such as clogging pores or acne) than usual, a damaged skin barrier could be to blame.

How To Repair a Damaged Skin Barrier

The best way to repair a damaged skin barrier is to adopt a gentle, nourishing skincare routine, but you’ll have to be patient as your skin adjusts. Skin barrier damage doesn’t happen overnight, and nor does its repair. Per the Cleveland Clinic, it may take up to four months to see the fruits of your labor, so hang tight. In the meantime, here are a few things you can do to help strengthen your skin barrier and make it more resilient against future stressors.

Avoid harsh cleansers

When washing your face, you’ll want to be as gentle as possible to reduce further harm to your skin. Cleanse no more than twice a day, and use a nourishing facial wash when you lather up. We love the creamy L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Radiant Smoothing Cream Cleanser to remove all traces of impurities and makeup and help skin appear more radiant.

If your skin is ultra-sensitive, you may want to look for fragrance- and alcohol-free cleansers to avoid triggering irritation. It’s also a good idea to limit chemical and physical exfoliation to allow your skin to bounce back from damage.

Choose the right moisturizer

Moisture is essential in mending a broken skin barrier, but a compromised barrier can’t retain moisture as well as it should. That’s where choosing the right facial cream or lotion comes into play. Many dermatologists recommend using occlusive moisturizers or ones made with humectants (like hyaluronic acid) and emollients (like ceramides) to aid in skin barrier repair. These types of skincare products form a protective barrier over the skin to keep moisture from escaping, creating an optimal environment for healing.

If you’re looking to add a new moisturizer to your routine, consider the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Micro Hyaluronic Acid + Ceramides Line-Plumping Water Cream. This lightweight water cream with micro hyaluronic acid and ceramides absorbs quickly into the skin, helping to attract and lock in moisture while strengthening the skin barrier. Use it twice a day, or switch to a dedicated P.M. option like the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Midnight Cream at night. The antioxidant and vitamin E-infused formula helps repair the skin barrier at night when it’s most receptive to recovery. In fact, using this rich cream can help repair a damaged skin barrier up to 1.5x faster.

Consult a dermatologist

When in doubt, we always recommend visiting a board-certified dermatologist for a more in-depth look at your skin concerns. From there, they can give your skin a more thorough examination and suggest customized solutions for how to restore your skin barrier based on your needs.

How To Protect Your Skin Barrier

Strengthening your skin barrier can help make your skin more resilient when exposed to future potential stressors. Below, discover three easy things you can implement in your skincare routine now.

Wash with cooler water

Continuous exposure to hot water is known to strip essential oils and lipids from the skin, disrupting its balance. When washing your face, be sure to do so using cool or lukewarm water to avoid disturbing your skin’s natural moisture levels.

Use barrier-friendly products

Topical application of niacinamide—aka vitamin B3—has been shown to increase ceramide production (a moisturizing skin lipid) and decrease water loss from the skin, per the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). These are two key components in supporting a healthy skin barrier and keeping future damage at bay. Try it in a serum, like the L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal 12% [Niacinamide + Amino Sulfonic + Ferulic Acid] Dark Spot Serum. The lightweight, non-greasy formula is suitable for all skin types (including sensitive) and works to visibly even skin tone in as little as two weeks. At night, complete your routine with the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Pressed Night Moisturizer with Retinol + Niacinamide. It boasts niacinamide and retinol and helps deeply moisturize the skin while making it appear brighter and smoother.

Products containing vitamin C can also be a worthwhile addition to your barrier-care routine. We love the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift 12% Pure Vitamin C + E + Salicylic Acid Serum. Using it consistently for eight weeks can help visibly correct three key signs of early aging: uneven skin tone, enlarged pores, and fine lines.

Protect skin from the sun

Spending time in the sun sans proper protection is a surefire way to damage your skin barrier, research shows. Not to mention, harmful UV rays are also responsible for contributing to dark spots, sagging, fine lines, and wrinkles. As such, be sure to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen—that means it protects against both UVA and UVB rays—with an SPF of 30 or higher and apply it as directed, making sure to reapply every two hours.

Reach for the L’Oréal Paris Bright Reveal Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Daily UV Lotion for all your sun protection needs. The lightweight fluid safeguards against harmful UV rays, contains niacinamide and vitamin C, and helps protect against free radical damage that can accelerate signs of aging. If you’re in a time crunch and want to pare down the number of steps in your skincare routine, you can opt for a moisturizer with SPF, like the L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Triple Power Day Lotion SPF 30. This moisturizer with SPF is also formulated with hyaluronic acid, pro-retinol, and vitamin C—all gold standards in anti-aging skincare.

There are other sun protection measures you should take, too. Limit your amount of time in the sun (especially between 10 A.M. and 2 P.M., which are the sun’s peak hours), seek shade when you’re outside, and cover up exposed areas in long sleeves, pants, a broad-brimmed hat, and UV-blocking sunglasses.

Next Up: What’s the Best Skincare Routine Order?

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris