We have been hearing for some time now that a particular cream improves the skin barrier function or that certain situations weaken the barrier function, but… what does that really mean? Nowadays, there is a lot of claims with these two words, and we are going to see what we mean when we talk about BARRIER FUNCTION.
WHY THE BARRIER FUNCTION IS SO IMPORTANT
The skin is the organ that covers and protects us, it acts as a barrier and that is precisely where its name comes from.
The skin is impermeable and has many functions such as preventing viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms from entering our body, protecting us from external agents such as the sun’s rays, preventing us from becoming dehydrated… and it is precisely if the skin’s permeability is altered that we alter the famous barrier function and destabilise the balance.
HOW I CAN STRENGTHEN THE SKIN BARRIER FUNCTION
This barrier function of the skin is found in the outermost layer of the skin which is the epidermis, and we can help improve this barrier on a daily basis, how? Let us take a look.
- Plenty of hydration: we must use products that maintain the hydration of our cells. One of my favourite ingredients in this case are ceramides. The skin is naturally composed among other things of ceramides, which are lipids that are responsible for maintaining the barrier function as well as possible. If we have too few ceramides, the skin becomes more brittle, dry, and tight. The brand Cerave has this philosophy, and all their products are rich in ceramides. Without a doubt, my favourite product is the cream cleanser for face and body. I use it every day, it does not dry out at all and leaves the skin very moisturised. And while we are on the subject of cleansers, let us move on to the next point.
- Use gentle cleansers: There are many cleansers and gels, especially those for oily skin, that remove all the oil from the outermost layer of the skin, unbalancing it and disrupting the barrier function. That is why it is important to use gentle gels or even cream-textured cleansers like the one I mentioned above.
- Do not use products containing alcohol: in some cases, for example in cosmetics with vitamin C or retinol, it will help the active ingredients to penetrate better. But if you have sensitive skin or rosacea, you should avoid this ingredient because it will destroy the substances that keep your skin healthy.
- Do not use products “willy-nilly”: Often less is more. Using a lot of products does not make your skin look better, in fact, most of the time it does just the opposite. Keep in mind that the more products you use, the more likely it is that there will be incompatibilities between ingredients and even skin reactions and irritation. This will greatly weaken the barrier function and lead to altered skin.
It is especially important to always go to a specialist to help us with our routine, if you want me to give you a hand, you can contact me on my Instagram @maripazvaldes and I will be happy to chat with you to help you get the best version of your skin. ????
