What causes a damaged skin barrier? Expert weighs in on best treatments

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As the brunt of winter dwindles, managing your skin might be tough. After the months-long blow of chilly air, it’s possible your pure oils have turned to dry spots, making moisturising extra of a necessity. But even because the frigid local weather heats up, your skin could proceed by means of the tough patch, and when you can’t blame the climate, how will you assist it?

Many causes may end up in a damaged skin barrier, the climate being one in all them. To discover out the best methods to forestall and deal with a damaged skin barrier,The Independent spoke to Dr Joshua Zeichner, an affiliate professor of dermatology and director of beauty and scientific analysis in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital.

“The term skin barrier refers to the skin’s ability to protect itself from the outside world, keeping aggressors out and keeping hydration in,” Dr Zeichner stated. The dermatology skilled in contrast the outer layer of the skin to “tiles on your shower floor”.

“The skin cells themselves are like tiles, and natural fats in the skin are like the grout that forms a waterproof seal between them,” he defined. “When the outer skin layer develops microscopic cracks, the skin becomes dry, irritated, and inflamed.”

Aside from “dry and cold weather,” genetic weak spot, over-washing, over-scrubbing, and environmental exposures that immediate allergy symptoms or irritation can add injury to the skin barrier. The indicators of a damaged skin barrier embody redness, dry patches, flaky spots, and itchiness.

There are a number of strategies that assist assist a damaged barrier. In common, it’s best to make use of mild cleansers that lock in pure oils moderately than stripping them from the skin. Dr Zeichner urged making use of lotions that can assist help the operate of the skin barrier and “replace lipids in the skin”.

“Look for products that contain ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid,” Dr Zeichner added. “Avoid long, hot showers. Keep showers less than 10 minutes and use lukewarm water. Water temperature should be around what you would imagine a heated pool to feel like in the summer. Pat dry rather than rubbing.”

Dr Zeichner additionally warned towards exfoliating. Instead of attempting to rid your skin of dry flakes by scrubbing it, it’s best to moisturise to encourage hydration.

He remarked: “If you see flakes, your knee-jerk reaction may be to exfoliate. Scrubbing already dry skin can make matters worse. Instead give your skin what it needs, which is hydration. Moisturise, and if you still have flakes you can exfoliate after if needed.”

“It is a myth that drinking water is needed to hydrate your skin,” Dr Zeichner continued. “Not drinking enough water is not the cause of dry skin. Moreover, drinking more water will not hydrate your skin.” The best hydration methodology is utilizing a lotion or cream to forestall dryness.

The dermatology skilled urged three notably helpful merchandise: RoC Barrier Renew PM Moisturiser, Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream and Body Wash, and Shaklee Youth Moisture Lock Day Cream.

RoC’s cream incorporates ceramides and lipopeptides, two highly effective restore components, in accordance with Dr Zeichner. “Think of them like spackle that fill in cracks between cells in the outer skin layer and provide a breathable barrier over the skin,” he defined.

For a mild face and physique wash, Dr Zeichner believes the Eucerin Eczema Relief Cream and Body Wash to be high selections. The product is designed for folks with eczema-prone, delicate, or disrupted barrier skin. Dr Zeichner famous: “It is non-drying and non-irritating and is formulated with colloidal oatmeal to protect and ceramides to repair the skin.” On the Shaklee cream, Dr Zeichner proclaimed: “This hypoallergenic formula contains a blend of hyaluronic acid to plump along with beta-glucans lactobacillus ferment to maintain a healthy microbiome.”