Ways to Strengthen Your Skin Barrier
The skin barrier, also known as the stratum corneum, is the outermost layer of your skin. Its main function is to protect your skin against chemicals, microbes, free radicals, and allergens. The good news is that there are numerous ways to strengthen your skin barrier. These tips are helpful if you have dry, rough, itchy, or sensitive skin. Remember, these skin conditions may indicate that the outermost layer of your skin is unable to function properly. So, how do you strengthen your skin barrier?
Simplify Your Beauty Routine
Many women have intricate skincare routines. Unfortunately, this common practice may inadvertently weaken your skin barrier. For this reason, experts recommend removing beauty products with alcohol and strong astringents. You can also consult your dermatologist if you’re not sure which products to remove.
Aside from a complicated beauty, you should also exfoliate properly. Remember, some exfoliating cloths, brushes, and scrubs may damage your skin barrier. As such, you can opt for a gentler chemical exfoliant.
Opt for Formulations with Ceramides
One of the best ways to strengthen your skin barrier is to use moisturizers rich in ceramides. As you know, these waxy lipids act as a glue that keeps your skin cells together, resulting in a healthy and intact skin barrier. Additionally, one study shows that beauty products with pseudo-ceramides can help skin problems such as itchiness, dryness, and scaling.
Try Using Plant Oils
Aside from ceramides, you can also try using moisturizing creams or lotions with plant oils. According to one study, some plant oils can repair your skin barrier and prevent moisture loss. Plus, these oils also have other healing properties, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-aging. As such, you’re getting a lot of benefits from these skin care products. Some of the recommended plant oils are coconut oil, rosehip oil, primrose oil, jojoba oil, and argan oil.
Support Your Skin’s Microbiome
Most of you are probably familiar with the benefits of good bacteria for your gut’s health. However, your skin also has a microbiome layer that helps protect the skin. In fact, one of the best ways to strengthen your skin barrier is to support its microbiome. You can achieve this by using fermented skincare products that contain good microorganisms.
The Bottom Line
Keep in mind that your skin barrier plays a vital role in your overall health. After all, this layer protects your body from foreign invaders. As such, you must make sure that it is functioning properly. Fortunately, there are several ways to strengthen your skin barrier and have a healthy complexion.
Katarina Van Derham
With a background in the entertainment industry, Katarina has gained experience in many aspects of media and showbusiness. As a former model and beauty expert, she has worked with dozens of Hollywood celebrities both in front of and behind the camera. She is often a judge of model searches and beauty pageants around the world. As a model and actress, Katarina has appeared on the cover of over 60 magazines worldwide and has been profiled on hundreds of major media outlets including CNN, FOX, and NBC. As an entrepreneur, she’s been profiled on FORBES, SHE MEDIA and BUSINESS ROCKSTARS, to name a few. She has appeared in 17 national and international TV commercials such as Pepsi, Nike, Dodge Ram, and Coors Light, as well as in music videos for international stars such as Dorothy, Tito Jackson and Andy Madadian, amongst others. Most recently, she played in the movie Unbelievable!!!!! which had a world premiere during the recent pandemic and the 7x award winning movie Crypto Heads, directed by Dan Gillin.