How to Repair Damaged Skin Barrier
The skin is remarkably strong, serving as a resilient barrier that protects the body from external threats and infections. However, it remains vulnerable to damage from factors like UV radiation, harsh chemicals, and physical injuries, highlighting the delicate balance it maintains.
One of the shields it has to protect itself is your “skin barrier.” As its name implies, this is the outermost layer, the stratum corneum, that consists of tough skin cells strongly bonded together.
Although mighty, this skin layer is also thin, making it difficult to protect you from harmful environmental chemicals, toxins, and pathogens when damaged. Without your skin barrier, the natural moisture inside your skin would evaporate, leaving you completely dehydrated.
Recognizing the signs of a weakened skin barrier is the first step in restoring your skin to ideal health. Accumulated damage can manifest itself in numerous symptoms, from dry, cracked skin to sensitivity and allergic reactions. Skin can feel tight, appear dull, experience redness, or even itch. Other indications of compromised barriers include sensitivity to skincare products and the well-known issue of acne.
The good news is that there are steps you can take to repair your damaged skin barrier.
The Importance of a Healthy Skin Barrier
Between daily interactions with skincare products, makeup, the sun, environmental factors, and more, the skin barrier of your face and body is constantly put to the test. It is no surprise that skin barrier damage is a common occurrence. The skin barrier is an essential component protecting your organs and overall health from outside factors and keeping water inside your body for nourishment.
Keep in mind that although many things can damage your skin's barrier, how you take care of your skin—or don't—also plays a part in its health and ability to ward off intruding substances.
Common Sources of Damage to Your Skin Barrier
Your skin is under daily attack by outside influences, along with some internal factors that can impact its barrier. External factors such as dry or humid weather, allergens, irritants, and pollutants are common factors that can be detrimental to your skin's barrier. Additionally, sun exposure, smoke, harsh soaps or detergents, and poor skin care can also be contributors.
Underlying skin conditions are another source of skin barrier damage. For example, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, and acne are all skin issues that ultimately damage the skin. Genetics can also affect these issues, making some people more prone to skin barrier issues.
On top of these common reasons, it's important to note that damage to the skin barrier is also a normal part of aging and experiencing hormonal changes. The skin barrier naturally weakens as we age, making it even more important to do everything possible to counteract damage.
Signs of a damaged skin barrier
When your skin barrier is damaged and not functioning correctly, you may be more prone to developing skin issues like dryness, scaling, roughness, or discolored patches.
Damaged skin is often sensitive or inflamed and can present as conditions like acne or psoriasis. On a more serious note, a damaged skin barrier can also result in bacterial, viral, or fungal skin infections.
Steps to Repair Damaged Skin Barrier
Reassess your skincare
One of the first steps in repairing the skin barrier post-damage is reassessing your skincare routine and ensuring you are using gentle, clean products that nourish and restore your skin.
Many skin-barrier-loving ingredients help repair and protect skin as you work to address the damage. Overall, opting for simple formulas with clean, botanical ingredients is your safest bet. Let’s take a look at some of the key players.
Hyaluronic Acid - Hyaluronic acid is a win for thirsty skin. Known for its hydrating properties, hyaluronic acid attracts water into the skin and binds it to cells, increasing and retaining moisture levels. This process makes the skin barrier more resilient, protecting and healing it at the same time.
CBD - CBD is a wonderful ingredient to incorporate into your skincare routine if you are concerned about fixing your damaged skin barrier. This plant extract restores and protects the skin barrier by combating inflammation and improving the outer layer. Studies show that CBD positively affects skin homeostasis by influencing mechanisms in the skin that cause it to repair and defend itself against environmental factors like free radicals.
Peptides - Peptides are amino acids that play a key role in collagen production and skin repair. Your skin uses peptides as building blocks for proteins that are essential in maintaining a healthy skin barrier. Incorporating this ingredient into your skincare routine can help promote overall skin health, build collagen, and increase elasticity, all of which are important steps to repairing your damaged skin barrier.
Vitamin B3 - Vitamin B3, also known as niacinamide, helps protect and nourish the skin by maintaining moisture levels while building up proteins to protect the outside barrier. This powerful vitamin is packed with fatty acids that can improve the overall texture of the skin and reduce inflammation.
Squalane - As a common ingredient in natural skin care products, squalane helps reduce moisture loss without clogging pores. Squalane is an emollient that works very much like the skin's own oil, keeping the skin hydrated and, therefore, the skin barrier more protected.
Removing harsh ingredients and fragrances
Using skincare products with overly powerful or harsh ingredients can directly cause skin barrier damage. Products containing fragrance, alcohol, and strong acids such as glycolic and salicylic acid are common offenders of the skin’s sensitive barrier.
Removing products with these ingredients and replacing them with gentle products containing hyaluronic acid, squalane, CBD, natural botanicals, or glycerin are examples of natural ingredients that draw in moisture, deal with, and support the skin barrier function.
Be overall gentler with your skin
The skin is your largest organ and must be treated with constant care. To keep your skin barrier strong and safe, avoid hot showers, over-cleansing, and excessive exfoliation. Using gentle cleansers, not exfoliating too harshly or often, and keeping your skin moist will also help your skin heal.
Take appropriate measures to shield your skin from the sun
Sunscreen is an essential skincare step in protecting the skin barrier from damage, but the type of sunscreen you choose is important. Chemical sunscreens (aka most options) are just a screen that filters the sun’s rays, causing less of the rays to be absorbed.
Mineral sunscreen, on the other hand, actually blocks the sun’s harmful rays by creating a physical barrier that reflects them. Both chemical and mineral sunscreens protect the skin before harmful radiation can be absorbed by our cells' DNA, but mineral sunscreen is more effective.
When it comes to fixing a damaged skin barrier, one of the essential vitamins you need to utilize is Vitamin D. This vitamin can enhance skin barrier integrity and healing, promoting regeneration of damaged skin. A product containing vitamin D (and CBD) after a sunburn is a great way to decrease inflammation and offer soothing relief.
Consult with a dermatologist
If your skin barrier is damaged due to an underlying skin condition like eczema or excessive acne, talking to a dermatologist is the optimal next step. If you have tried everything with no improvement, an underlying condition may be contributing to your damaged skin barrier.
Restore Your Skin’s Barrier with the Help of Botanika Life
Vitamin C & CBD Skin Elixir
With high levels of Vitamin C to protect and restore your skin’s barrier, combined with potent full-spectrum CBD, the Vitamin C & CBD Skin Elixir is your skin’s best friend. Free from chemicals and fragrance, this serum penetrates the skin, hydrating from the inside out while also offering protection from environmental harm. A healthy skin barrier needs high concentrations of Vitamin C to promote cell growth and healing, making this skin elixir an easy choice.
Plant Stem Cell Skin Elixir
Your skin will thank you for this Plant Stem Cell Skin Elixir, which is rich in protective antioxidants, CBD, and omega vitamins. Marula and grapeseed oil are added to this powerful mix of ingredients, all of which combat free radical damage and UV rays while also nourishing and restoring the skin.
Elite Elixir
Pure and simple, the Elite Elixir enriches the skin's barrier with antioxidants, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties to protect and nourish. With powerful CBD oil added to this mix, this skin serum locks in moisture, reduces skin discoloration, and increases collagen production.
With a host of natural choices, Botanika Life offers everything your face and body need to replenish lost moisture, reduce skin damage, fight aging, and much more. From toners and cleansers to skin-renewing charcoal masks, there is an option for everyone.
By Emily Wegener
With a unique background as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Masters Degree in Teaching and experience in Psychology, Emily spends much of her time researching and trying out new holistic healing modalities.
