How To Repair Moisture Barrier Skin

What is it? How do I know if I've damaged it? How do I treat a damaged moisture barrier? All questions that have slid into my DM'south in the last few weeks since I couldn't close upwards most destroying mine with the Drunkard Elephant's Infant Facial.

What is the "moisture barrier"?

When I talk most the moisture barrier, I'chiliad really just referring to the stratum corneum – PAUSE, does anyone here know Latin? No? Ok, well stratum corneum is Latin for Horny Layer sooo yeah, let'southward phone call it that.

The horny layer is the outer most layer of the pare, the i effected by exfoliation, and is made upwards of a lipid matrix. Think of information technology as a flattened grid of dead skin cells, natural lipids, cholesterol, and fatty acids making upwardly a barrier.

The horny layer is SUPER of import because information technology'south office is to keep bacteria out and wet in. Nosotros want moisture.

Nonetheless, sometimes the buildup of oil and dead skin cells is too much and causes closed comedones or breakouts. That'southward when people typically attain for the face scrub or acid exfoliants. The affair here though, is that the exfoliation needs to substantially be done pretty perfectly… too little and you're still going to suffer from dull/lackluster skin, airtight comedones, breakouts, etc. But likewise much and you're going to destroy the horny layer and your ability to retain moisture! And that's what we're going to talk about.

Then I think I destroyed my moisture barrier… but how do I know?

Many years ago before I began my skincare journey, I had every kind of salicylic acid production ever made on planet earth. I used Neutrogena'due south Pink Grapefruit Wash, a spot treatment, and even my moisturizer has salicylic acid in it…. let us take a moment of silence for my 2008 wet bulwark. RIP.

My pare was tight AF. And not in a adept way. Information technology literally felt so tight and and so stretched out after washing that I swear it could take ripped if I smiled too hard. It was besides absurdly oily and ALSO flakey. WTF. I was also constantly breaking out. And then, what'd I practice? Utilise more than acid.

These are all signs of a compromised moisture barrier:

• tight feeling skin after cleansing- your skin should ever feel clean and bouncy afterwards washing, if information technology's tight whatsoever, your cleanser is too harsh and likely too acidic
• sensitive to products that you normally wouldn't be sensitive to
• unusual redness
• more than normal breakouts
• an increase in oiliness – the lipids in the horny layer are diverting from their normal structure, and your body is trying to overcompensate for the loss. This is a tiptop reason why yous're probably breaking out more than usual.
• constant dry/dehydrated/tight feeling- a compromised moisture bulwark increases Trans Epidermal Water Loss
• flaking pare

Destroying your wet bulwark can happen through either chemic or physical exfoliation. Over the years I accept learned that my skin is so sensitive almost all concrete exfoliation will destroy me, so I typically stick to merely gentle chemic exfoliants.

Ok, I definitely destroyed my barrier. How do I fix it?

wrecked horny layer

This is almost sadder than destroying the barrier itself… There are three things you must practise in social club to repair the barrier.

1. The first footstep is to ditch all and everything exfoliating. Put down the acids. Skip the face scrub. In social club to repair the horny layer, yous must give it the things it needs to thrive: natural lipids and dead skin cells. You can't look information technology to repair itself if you are withal taking away the things it needs.I know it's hard to just skip parts of a routine, but it'southward necessary.
2. The next stride is to also ditch products that are causing irritation to your skin. If you find that, for instance, a toner you are using is causing a little sting to your face up afterward washing. Ditch that besides. Yous want to give your pare the most gentlest routine. I always highly recommend and oil cleanser, simply now it's more important than ever. If you aren't using an oil cleanser that's totally ok, just make sure it's gentle, pH balanced, and does not include any sort of actives or irritants (harsh fragrance, scrubbing chaplet, essential oils, etc.)
3. Lastly, you should attempt to add as much moisture back in as you tin can. Trans Epidermal H2o Loss is no joke. Here are some things that can aid:

• Drink adequate water, no drinking h2o lonely will non fix all of your issues, but it volition certainly help dehydration
• Add in a humectant:
  • Hyaluronic acid- can concord upwards to 1000 times its weight in water
  • Glycerin- sticky as shit, simply works swell adding a few drops into your favorite moisturizer
  • Squalane- derived from olives or sharks has barrier replensighing backdrop
  • Niacinamide- has bulwark replenishing backdrop
• A humidifier- is Amazing and extremely helpful for sleeping
• A nightly occlusive- wrap up the stop of your PM routine with something that is going to assistance keep moisture in, a facial oil, a sleeping mask, Vaseline, etc.

Ane last affair… If you are suffering from a compromised moisture bulwark, now it is more important than ever to wear sunscreen! You should ever article of clothing sunscreen, simply yous are at greater risk for damage now.

your skin should always feel bouncy, never tight

There tin can be many culprits to destroying the moisture barrier, virtually commonly, and obviously, overuse of acids or physical exfoliates. Less obviously, an un (pH) balanced facial launder, or just generally too harsh of a facial wash, and heat! If you stand in blazing hot showers for long periods of time (me! Try applying facial oil before your shower and wait until the very terminate before you get out to launder your confront, and make sure to turn the water way downwards to a luke warm temp!

Whatever more recommendations? Drop them below! Happy hump-twenty-four hours skincare lovers!

Source: https://theskincarediary.com/the-moisture-barrier/

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