What Is the Skin Barrier and How to Protect It?

Skin barrier is like a superhero, making a fabulous, invisible shield that defends against harmful pollutants. This remarkable layer, the stratum corneum, teams up with the lipids, keeping out the bad guys like dehydration, irritants, and even the sun rays. In this blog post, we will unravel the science behind the skin barrier, how it functions and what we can do to protect it. 

How Does the Skin Barrier Function?

The stratum corneum, the skin's outermost layer made of tightly packed corneocytes embedded in a lipid-rich matrix, is at the center of this protection system. This lipid matrix works as a barrier, preventing dangerous substances from accessing the skin and minimizing water loss. It regulates the passage of necessary nutrients while preventing pollutants and allergens from entering, thus reducing dehydration and lowering the risk of illness. Additionally, it plays an important role in preserving the skin's elasticity and overall health, ensuring a smooth and supple appearance. 

What Damages the Skin Barrier?

Several factors can damage our skin barrier without us even recognizing it, and some we can't even control. What we can do is our best at protecting our skin from any potential damage that we might face. Here are the most common causes: 

• Environmental conditions: Cold, dry air in the winter or hot, humid weather in the summer, can dehydrate the skin and disturb the lipid barrier, resulting in dryness and irritation.

   

• Sun exposure: Overexposure to the sun's harmful UV rays can cause sunburn, premature aging, and collagen and elastin decline.

   

• Aging: Slower cell turnover causes a buildup of dead skin cells on the surface, which could compromise the strength of the barrier.

   

• Overexfoliating and scrubbing: Using an overly aggressive exfoliator you are eliminating healthy dead skin cells and oils from your skin, weakening the skin barrier, and making your skin more sensitive.

   

• Poor skin care routine: Poor skin care products and practices, such as using harsh products, not hydrating, skipping moisturizers, and not wearing sunscreen, can cause skin barrier damage over time.

How to Protect the Skin Barrier?

Even though we may not always consider our skin to be a vital part, we should reconsider this because protecting our skin barrier is essential for keeping our skin healthy. Here we bring you some tips on how to make sure your skin barrier is protected and stronger than ever. 

Protect Your Skin From the Sun

Wear SPF at all times and avoid exposing yourself to the sun in the peak hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. 

Hydration

To increase moisture levels, the ultimate solution is UFO™ 3. It directly combats the effects of aging skin's loss of hydration and suppleness, while tightening the skin using cold cryo-therapy. The Hyper-Infusion technology in UFO™ 3 provides deep, long-lasting hydration, which helps to push the active elements deep into the dermis, resulting in a healthy, bright complexion.

Elevate Your Skin Care Routine

We may believe we have completely washed our skin, but most of the time there is debris left behind which impacts our skin barrier. To achieve a more gentler and thorough cleansing, use a gentle cleanser like LUNA™ Micro-Foam Cleanser 2.0. When combined with the FOREO LUNA™ 4 device, this combo cleanses and exfoliates your face like no other, removing 99.5% of dirt from your skin and leaving you with a fresher, healthier-looking canvas. 

Body Care

We can’t forget the rest of our bodies! This ultra-hygienic silicone brush washes, LUNA™ body, massages, and exfoliates your skin while increasing circulation and reducing muscular tension. T-Sonic™ massage and soft silicone touchpoints work together to exfoliate skin softly and prevent ingrown hairs, resulting in ultra-smooth skin and closer shaves. If you want to obtain clean, smooth, and supple skin, this is a must-have in the shower.  

As numerous outside factors harm our skin barrier, it is critical to properly care for it in order to maintain its health. Give yourself some time to relax and try out some of the products recommended to ensure that your skin barrier is refreshed and protected. No need to be concerned about damaging the skin barrier, Foreo's got your back!