The skin is the largest organ of your body, and it's also one of the most important. The health of your skin impacts everything from how you look to how healthy you feel. If you're experiencing dryness, itching or redness, then you've probably got a problem with your skin barrier—the outermost layer of skin that keeps moisture in and germs out. This guide will help you understand skin barrier function and how to repair skin barrier damage. 

What is skin barrier?

The skin is made up of three layers

• The epidermis or outer thin layer

• The dermis, or thick middle layer 

• The subcutaneous fatty layer 

The epidermis and its upper layer, the stratum corneum, is your body's first line of defense and acts as a skin barrier. Its purpose is to protect the body from infection, moisture loss, and physical injury. Under a microscope, the stratum corneum consists of tiny cells called corneocytes that act as bricks and are tightly glued together by ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids. This layer also contains a protein called filaggrin which makes natural moisturizing factors (NMF) for the skin.

A healthy barrier will keep your body hydrated by preventing excessive water loss through evaporation. In addition to preserving hydration levels within its confines, this outermost layer also shields us against germs like bacteria or viruses by creating an extra layer between them. 

Quick facts about skin barrier

1. Your skin barrier is slightly acidic. It helps create a kind of buffer against the growth of harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi that can damage your skin and lead to infections. The typical skin barrier pH ranges from 4.1 to 5.8. 

2. The skin is the largest part of your skin, and the average adult has 21 square feet of skin that contain over 11 miles of blood vessels. 

3. The thickest skin is found on your feet, and the thinnest area of your skin are your eyelids.

4. The skin renews itself every 28 days and sheds about 9 pounds of dead skin every year.

Importance of healthy skin barrier function

Your skin barrier is one of the most essential parts of your body, as it protects you from infection and environmental damage. Your skin barrier also helps to keep your skin hydrated, moisturized and healthy. Your skin barrier has several functions it protects you from:

• Pollution

• Ultraviolet (UV) rays 

• Irritation, inflammation, and infection

• Dehydration

• Toxins

What is skin barrier damage?

The skin barrier, also called the moisture barrier or acid mantle, has two functions: keep the good stuff in and the bad stuff out. The skin barrier protects the internal body from pollution, harmful chemicals, and ultraviolet radiation from sun exposure. It also helps keep the body's moisture level intact; however, when the outermost layer of the epidermis (the stratum corneum) doesn't contain enough moisture, the skin will lose elasticity and appear dry, rough and flaky. It will prevent it from maintaining an appropriate skin barrier leaving the skin exposed and vulnerable to damage from external and environmental sources

5 signs of skin barrier damage

Disruption of the main functions of the skin barrier shows itself in numerous ways, including:

• Lack of skin elasticity

• Itchy, dry skin

• Wrinkles 

• Discolouration

• Thinning of the epidermal layer 

What causes skin barrier damage?

Many things impact the skin barrier, including:

• A dry, humid environment

• Hot or cold weather 

• Allergens, irritants and pollutants

• Too much sun exposure 

• Nutrient light diet 

• Overuse of exfoliating acid 

• Certain medications like steroid

• Stress

• Ageing 

How to repair skin barrier damage

The first step is to take good care of your skin, which will help keep it soft, strong and healthy. Here are some steps to repair skin barrier damage

• Moisturise with ceramides, ceramides are the building blocks of your skin's outermost layer and help maintain a healthy skin barrier. They also play a role in preventing water loss and hydrating the skin by attracting water molecules to themselves.

• Moisturise and hydrate with a Hyaluronic acid serum, Niacinamide serum, or lactic acid for additional nourishment and hydration that will help improve barrier function over time (and perhaps even quicker if you have an acute condition).

Skincare tips for skin barrier repair

Given the importance of maintaining your skin barrier, what can you do to keep them healthy and functional? Some dermatologist-recommended skincare tips will help in skin barrier damage repair:

• #1 Avoid too much sun 

Too much sun exposure can speed up skin aging, and the harsh UV rays can disrupt your skin barrier function. 

• #2 Be gentle

Avoid hot baths for a long time and use gentle soaps or cleansers

• #3 Eat healthy 

Eat healthy foods, including carrots, apricots, and other yellow and orange fruits and vegetables. Tomatoes, berries, salmon, fatty fish and nuts. Couple it with drinking a lot of water to keep your skin hydrated.

• #4 Don't smoke 

Smoking cuts down the oxygen supply to your skin and makes it dry. It also affects the collagen and elastin levels in your skin.

Do skin barrier-repairing creams work?

Barrier-repairing creams maintain and protect the skin's physical barrier and prevent the skin from drying out. Barrier creams help to prevent transepidermal water loss and skin breakdown by providing topical barriers to the skin. They act as a shield against potential irritants by forming a protective layer over the surface of your skin. 

The function of barrier repair creams are 

• Reducing friction and irritation

• Retaining moisture and suppleness 

• Softening dry skin

• Protecting from chemicals and environmental insults 

• Sealing cracks or fissures on the skin

How to use skin barrier repair creams and serums

Dermatologists usually recommend applying your skin barrier cream last as any other product you apply will not penetrate the skin. You should apply the skin barrier cream every 40 to 72 hours in your daytime routine or at night over your serum to give an intense hydration effect.

Certain products work well with skin barrier creams like anti-aging creams or peptides for your skin.

Best skin barrier-repairing ingredients

Look for these ingredients in formulations when choosing your skin barrier cream to restore and maintain the skin barrier 

• Ceramides

• Hyaluronic Acid 

• Niacinamide 

• Glycerine

• Oat Beta Glucan

• Allantoin

• Panthenol 

• Ethyl Linoleate

Repair your skin barrier with expert advice!

A resilient skin barrier is your secret to good skin and providing plump, glowing, healthy skin. As the skin barrier is the first line of defense against bacteria and external aggressors, it's essential to maintain and restore the damaged skin barrier.

A compromised skin barrier is possible to fix with the help of expert advice. You can now book an online dermatologist consultation on Clinikally and consult the best dermatologists in India who will help to breakdown what your skin barrier is and how to heal it along with the best products to try.

Get a healthy skin barrier with effective skincare!

The outermost layer of your skin, known as the skin barrier or moisture barrier, defends your body against environmental threats while keeping your body's moisture level intact. Dryness, itching, and inflammation are signs of disturbance in your skin barrier. You can repair and maintain the health of your skin barrier with the right skincare.