6 Tips to Maintain a Healthy Skin Barrier
The skin barrier acts as a protective layer that helps shield our skin from the environment and external stressors such as dust, pollution, UV radiation, and pathogens, all while retaining moisture levels and regulating essential skin functions.
When the skin barrier is compromised, it can lead to dryness, irritation, redness, inflammation, and itching. It may also increase the risk of infections and make the skin more sensitive.
A healthy skin barrier means a hydrated, bright, and glowing complexion. In this article, we’ll share six proven skincare tips to maintain a healthy skin barrier:
1. Keep Your Routine Simple
Think about how many steps are in your current skincare routine. When it comes to skin barrier health, less is more. An overcomplicated routine with too many products can irritate the skin.
Using a simple skincare routine with a few high-quality products minimizes the risk of skin barrier damage. It also reduces exposure to potentially harmful ingredients such as fragrances, preservatives, and dyes, which can irritate sensitive skin.
2. Avoid Over-Exfoliation
While exfoliating can result in glowing skin, over-exfoliation can harm the skin barrier. Both manual scrubbing and chemical exfoliation, if done too often, strip away vital oils and moisture, leaving the skin dry and dehydrated.
Experts recommend limiting manual exfoliation to once a week and using gentle products for chemical exfoliation, especially for everyday use.
3. Ditch Potentially Harmful Ingredients
When choosing skincare products, always check the labels. Avoid products with harsh ingredients, such as alcohol or witch hazel, which can dry out the skin and strip it of natural oils.
Instead, opt for products with antioxidants, omega-6 fatty acids like linoleic acid, and niacinamide, which enhance lipid barrier function by increasing ceramide production.
4. Pump Up the Moisture
Keeping your skin moisturized is essential for maintaining a healthy skin barrier. Dehydrated skin becomes prone to redness, sensitivity, and irritation.
Use a moisturizer suited to your skin type both in the morning and at night. Look for ingredients like glycerin, ceramides, and lipophilic substances that help lock in moisture and prevent water loss.
5. Choose pH-Balanced Products
Your skin’s acid mantle, with a pH level of around 5.5, plays a critical role in protecting the skin barrier. Using pH-balanced products ensures you don’t disrupt this protective layer.
Check product labels for mentions of “pH balanced” to ensure your skincare choices maintain the skin’s natural pH levels.
6. Apply Sunscreen Daily
Daily sunscreen use not only prevents premature aging and sun damage but also protects the skin barrier. UV radiation can cause DNA damage, oxidative stress, and dehydration, which compromise the skin barrier.
Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, containing physical blockers like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. These ingredients sit on the skin’s surface and reflect UV rays, minimizing irritation.
Schedule Your Skin Care Appointment in Toronto Today
To learn about the non-surgical cosmetic skin treatments we offer in Toronto or to schedule your appointment, call Skin6 at 416-362-6266 or contact us here.