Ultimate guide to repairing your skin barrier

Are you looking for a way to achieve healthy, glowing skin? If so, repairing your skin barrier should be at the top of your list!

The state of your skin barrier is largely responsible for how clear and nourished your complexion looks and feels. If you are struggling with skin issues, like dryness, sensitivity or even breakouts, the culprit may be a disrupted skin barrier – often called the “gatekeeper” of your complexion. It’s damaged or weakened due to environmental factors, lack of hydration, or other irritants, and more.

That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you understand what exactly the skin barrier is and how you can restore its balance with smart skincare products and practices. Read on to learn all about repair strategies that’ll have even sensitive complexions looking and feeling good all day.

What is the skin barrier?

Your skin has multiple layers, and the outermost layer where you can touch and feel is your epidermis. Right at the very top of your epidermis is a thin layer called the stratum corneum, also known as the skin barrier. This thin layer may not seem like much, but it actually plays a crucial role in protecting your skin from the outside world!

The skin barrier is essential in defending the body from damaging external pollutants and bacteria. Composed of two vital components – keratin, which grants strength to your outermost layer of skin; and lipids that act as a sealant for moisture – this protective shield ensures proper hydration while maintaining top-level defence against harmful particles.

The skin barrier is essential in defending the body from damaging external pollutants and bacteria. Composed of two vital components – keratin, which grants strength to your outermost layer of skin; and lipids that act as a sealant for moisture – this protective shield ensures proper hydration while maintaining top-level defence against harmful particles.

Some other important functions of the skin barrier:

What will a healthy skin barrier be like?

Glowing, radiant skin is the result of healthy barrier function. Your skin will look plump and feel soft and smooth. You feel the true effect of using proper skincare and not applying them without seeing any improvements even after a period of time.

What are the tell-tale signs of a damaged skin barrier?

Breakdowns in your skin’s protective barrier can manifest as a variety of visible signs, such as redness and bumpiness or blotchiness and uneven texture. Additionally, if over-exfoliation is the culprit, it may make the surface appear unnaturally smooth with an exaggerated tight shiny look. Other symptoms associated with this issue include dryness, itchiness, wrinkles or lines on the face plus increased sensitivity which could lead to irritation.

What causes damaged skin barrier?

Skincare:

Over-exfoliation and strong chemical peeling can weaken the lipid barrier of your skin, which in turn reduces its natural ability to retain moisture. As a consequence, it becomes more vulnerable to environmental damage from extreme temperatures or sun exposure and can become dry and prone to peeling. Some DIY facials can cause skin irritation or even damage your skin barrier because not all household ingredients work as effectively from one individual to another. Sanitary is also a common factor that may lead to such irritation. Simply following a tutorial online just because a DIY method works for others does not mean it will work.

Damaged skin barrier may be also caused by a variety of everyday lifestyle factors and skincare practices. Poor sleep quality, chronic stress levels, an unbalanced diet or even extended stay in the sun can all contribute to tired-looking skin that lacks lustre.

Hot showers are another potential culprit for damaging your natural lipid barrier as well as using overzealous ingredients such as facial peels and DIY treatments unsuited to one’s individual profile – both of which could leave you vulnerable to irritation or dehydration.

Certain pre-existing conditions like Atopic Dermatitis and Psoriasis may also put someone at greater risk when trying out new topical products or regimens without expert advice first, if you have persisting symptoms, it is always good to check with a dermatologist for professional advice to manage your condition.

What can you do to restore your skin barrier?

Skincare:

Simplifying your skincare routine, get laser focus on fixing your skin barrier.

1. Cleansing

Sensitive skin needs extra love and care. To avoid any further irritation, consider a cleanser that not only helps cleanse but also deeply moisturises – so your complexion remains healthy and hydrated. If things are feeling particularly delicate for a few days then opt to simply use water until you find the perfect gentle solution!

We recommend our Skin Refresh Cleansing Wash fortified with Edelweiss Flower, Witch Hazel and Faex Extract to rebalance and boost skin health. Edelweiss is a powerhouse of natural ingredients, like lignans and leontopodic acid. These constituents have restorative properties that benefit the skin in multiple ways – they calm it down while also strengthening its barrier to better shield against sensitivity.

2. Stop exfoliating

Give your skin a few weeks of rest and then slowly reintroduce gentle acids such as AHA or PHA back into your routine, starting out slowly at 1-2 nights per week before gradually increasing frequency to gain maximum benefit without causing irritation.

3. Gentle and soothing products ONLY

To keep your skin feeling its best, treat it to a deep and restorative hydration. Opt for something that provides gentle nourishment while giving you all the moisture you need!

Here are a list of ingredients perfect for building up the skin barrier:
*No special order*

The good heroes to the rescue are our Skin Restore Calming Serum and Skin Repair Moisturizer. Initially invented to help post facial laser treatment patients recover speedily, they are perfect for daily use for all skin types especially on those with sensitive skin. Both specially formulated with complex of ceramide, bisabolol, and Phytosterols that deliver remarkable results on skin

4. Slugging

Skin slugging can be a frustrating and tiresome experience, but it is important to take steps to ensure your skin’s health. Hydration and moisturising are key components to locking in the moisture you just added in. While it may not be suited for people with acne prone skin, if your skin is dry and sensitive, it might be a good option for you. 

While your skin barrier may be damaged, it is always reversible with the right steps and products.

V Medi Aesthetics Skincare offers a range of products that not only provides specialised intensive care to boost skin recovery but also with its potent ingredients with calming and reparative properties.

Lifestyle:

1. Drink enough water

Hydration is vital for skin health and overall wellbeing. Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, or adjust according to your individual needs based on age, gender, race – whichever applies! Keep yourself hydrated; it’s not only beneficial for the body but also important in maintaining healthy looking skin and protecting its barrier function.

2. Avoid hot shower

Hot showers and steamy spas may feel like a luxurious indulgence, but too much heat can strip the skin of its essential natural oils. To keep your complexion looking healthy – limit long hot baths to short ones with lukewarm water or engage in lavish spa experiences at more moderate temperatures.

3. Nourish your skin from within with omega-3s

These beneficial fatty acids can be found in fish, nuts and seeds – which all help provide collagen to replenish the moisture barrier of your skin. Boosting these natural elements will go a long way towards restoring vitality to dry or damaged complexions.

4. Opt for a humidifier

Uneven climates and fluctuating temperatures can oftentimes leave our skin feeling parched. Combat the uncomfortable effects of dryness by using a humidifier to help maintain optimal moisture in your home’s atmosphere, restoring balance to both air quality and hydration levels for healthier-looking skin.

5. Reduce stress level

Stress is a natural part of life, but it can have serious consequences for our skin. When we are stressed out, our bodies release hormones such as cortisol and epinephrine which have been found to negatively affect the epidermal barrier. These hormones decrease epidermal lipids and structural proteins, decrease stratum corneum hydration, and increase transepidermal water loss.

Practising mindfulness, moving your body from time to time or even having a creative outlet to release stress properly can do wonders not just for your skin but also your body.

Treatment: Profhilo

For those seeking an improved skin barrier and enhanced complexion, Profhilo is a powerful treatment that can help make your skincare goals come to life.

Profhilo is labelled as an “Injectable Moisturiser”. It has the highest concentration of Hyaluronic Acid in the current market (64 mg / 2ml), which boosts skin hydration intensely with up to 5 times more hyaluronic acid content than your regular skinbooster.

The Profhilo treatment boasts a unique dual molecular weight Hyaluronic acid complex that works synergistically to restore the skin’s barrier function, while deeply hydrating its layers. Besides that, Profhilo is also widely known for its natural skin lifting effects.

5 main benefits of Profhilo:

Conclusion

Repairing a damaged skin barrier takes time but with patience and care you can restore its protective properties so that your complexion looks hydrated and healthy again! Identify any potential triggers that could be causing damage then use targeted products such as Skin Refresh Cleansing Wash, Skin Restore Calming Serum and Skin Repair Moisturizer to help repair your skin barrier so that moisture stays locked into the epidermis while still being able to breathe normally! With this ultimate guide in hand you will be able to bring back balance into your skin barrier!