Skin Barrier Repair: 7 Tips for Healthier Skin

Balance and patience are the key ingredients to help you achieve a healthy skin barrier.

You might have a damaged skin barrier if your skin is feeling dry, irritated, or super sensitive. But don’t worry! With a little TLC, you can reclaim your healthy glow with a little barrier repair. Here’s the lowdown on how to help your compromised skin reclaim its former glory.

How to repair skin barrier

Your skin barrier (aka epidermis) takes a mighty beating. As the outermost layer of your skin, it faces everything from whipping winds to scorching sun. Stress, excessive drinking, smoking, lack of sleep, or various illnesses can also contribute to skin concerns.

But your skin barrier might also be hurting from your own skin-care routine. It’s me, hi. I’m the problem, it’s me. Overusing too many products with different active ingredients can be a recipe for skin barrier damage. If you’re an overzealous exfoliator or smearing your skin with products containing retinoids or alpha hydroxy acids, you need to pump the breaks.

Here are some tips for rebuilding your skin’s barrier!

1. Eliminate the skin care cocktail

Some active ingredients in your skin products help to exfoliate your skin, while others boost hydration. However, combining too many active ingredients at the same time can do more harm than good. Take a closer look at the active ingredients in your skin products and eliminate anything that contains retinoids (usually in the form of retinol) or AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids). Think of this as an elimination diet for your skin.

2. Chill out on the chemical exfoliation

Another way to immediately stop irritating your skin is to ease up on the exfoliation. Start by avoiding harsh chemical exfoliants. Retinol, for instance, can help prevent clogged pores and boost collagen production, but it can also be too much of a good thing if used too often or in combination with AHAs. Also, avoid exfoliating cleansers with glycolic acid or salicylic acid.

3. Stop scrubbing so hard

While chilling out on the chemical exfoliation, it’s a good idea to ease up on the physical exfoliation. Instead of treating your skin like old wooden furniture that needs power sanding, treat it like a newborn. When cleaning your skin, opt for lukewarm water over hot water and reach for a soft washcloth instead of a rough scrub brush.

4. Join the hydration nation

Moisture is your skin’s best friend, so hydrate from the inside out. When it comes to moisture, you want to put it in and lock it in. Fill up that water bottle, pop it on your desk, and take some sips all day!

When in balance, your skin’s natural oils are your skin barrier’s best friend. A lot of popular cleansing products, like drying sulfates, strip away too much of your skin’s natural oil, leaving your skin barrier dried out and damaged. Instead, try a gentle cleanser with glycerin or hydrating ingredients naturally occurring in your skin, like hyaluronic acids or ceramides. Top this off with a very gentle, water-based moisturizer.

5. Your skin reflects your lifestyle

You are what you eat. And what you smoke. And what you worry about.

In other words, strive to find balance in your life when it comes to your diet, your stress levels, and your habits. Your skin barrier will thrive if you have a balanced diet, a mental health regimen, and regular fitness practice.

6. Avoid UV rays

The sun can be a great source of vitamin D, but it can also damage the skin barrier. While you’re finding a new, gentler skin care routine, help your skin barrier by applying a simple and gentle sunscreen product on a daily basis. While you’re at it, don’t be shy about wearing a stylish hat for even more UV protection.

7. Decrease inflammation

Inflammation can cause a number of woes, including damage to your skin barrier. Some skin care products contain anti-inflammatory ingredients like oats, squalane, niacinamide, or tiger grass. It might help to add foods to your diet that decrease inflammation, like fish, nuts, avocados, and olive oil.

What is the fastest way to repair skin barrier?

Don’t expect an overnight rebound when it comes to skin barrier repair and recovery. Consistency and patience are your two greatest allies in building lasting skin resilience. Some experts estimate that a compromised skin barrier can heal at least a month. If the damage is more extensive, your skin can take up to three months to show lasting improvement.

It’s important to note that your skin might look worse before it feels better, as with any natural healing process. Try not to panic. Give your new skin routine some time to work. Swapping products too often can start the skin barrier damage cycle all over again.

How do I know if my skin barrier is damaged?

You can usually spot skin barrier damage through these common symptoms:

dryness

redness

irritation

acne

rosacea

eczema

You might have skin barrier damage if your skin feels extra dry, ashy, or flaky. When applying products, extra sensitivity, stinging, or burning is also a sign that your skin is crying out for help. A little pain might be normal when adjusting to a new product, but stop using that product if the pain lasts.

Takeaway

To boost skin care health, eliminate products with retinoids and AHAs, ease up on chemical and physical exfoliation, make your body a hydration station, and find a lifestyle that promotes both physical and mental health. Protect your skin from UV rays, reduce inflammation, and reach for gentle skin products that will help you balance your natural skin oils.

As you start your new skin care journey, remember to be patient and consistent as your natural glow gradually comes back!

DQH Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? It’s easy to create a skincare routine, but knowing how to use it is another thing entirely. In most cases, if you’re not getting the desired skin results, it could be due to the layering of conflicting ingredients. So, is it possible that salicylic acid and vitamin C are such ingredients? Or are these active ingredients the duo that’s been missing from your skincare routine? If you want answers, stick around because today we are going to explain the benefits of salicylic acid and vitamin C and how they can be used in your daily life. What are the benefits of salicylic acid for skin? Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used beta hydroxy acids and is favored by many people with oily, acne-prone skin. This acid is derived from willow bark, and unlike its water-soluble relatives (called alpha-hydroxy acids), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, which means it can penetrate deeper into the lower layers of the skin. Once it reaches the lower layers, it can help unclog pores of excess sebum, dirt, bacteria, debris, and impurities. This results in clearer skin tones and greater definition. Not only does salicylic acid benefit the underlying layers, but the outer surface of the skin benefits as well. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid removes the buildup of dead skin cells. This is accomplished by breaking the bonds that hold dead cells to the surface. Over time, this can cause the complexion to look dull and prone to acne, blackheads, and other blemishes. If you’d like to learn more about salicylic acid and how it can improve your skin, check out this dedicated blog post from a beauty insider. What are the benefits of vitamin C for skin? Vitamin C is considered one of the most powerful antioxidants, which means it is very effective at fighting free radicals and preventing them from causing further skin damage. Examples of free radicals include pollution, central heating, UV rays and harsh climate. They attack proteins, fats and cell membranes as soon as they come into contact with the skin, causing signs of premature aging such as fine lines and wrinkles as well as hyperpigmentation, flaky patches of skin and loss of elasticity. Many people usually prefer to use vitamin C in their morning routine as this ingredient gives the complexion a radiant glow. You’ll also find that vitamin C can target areas of hyperpigmentation, plumping the skin and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The thing about vitamin C is that there are a lot of outdated studies going back to the 1950s that describe vitamin C as an unstable skin component. Thanks to improvements in modern technology, this is no longer the case as all products now contain a stable form of vitamin C. Visit The Beauty Insider to learn more about vitamin C. So please check out our blog post. Can I use salicylic acid first and then vitamin C? Yes, you absolutely can. In fact, it’s thought that using salicylic acid before using vitamin C ensures it penetrates faster and works faster. This is an efficient way to utilize two power sources, and the reason has to do with pH. For example, the skin’s natural pH is about 4.7, making it slightly acidic. Salicylic acid and vitamin C are also both acidic, and you’ll find that vitamin C is absorbed quickly into the skin. Therefore, using salicylic acid beforehand can increase the acidity of the skin and allow vitamin C to penetrate into the skin faster. While this is considered an effective way to combine two powerful ingredients, you need to be aware of your skin type and how it reacts to certain active ingredients. Even people with perfect, normal skin can experience skin sensitivity and irritation. Therefore, always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using any new products on your skin. It’s also important to follow skin application rules. In this case, you need to use the product correctly to ensure you get the best results for your skin. If you’re not sure what I mean, the basic rule for skin is to start with the thinnest consistency and work your way up to the thickest consistency. This prevents a barrier from forming on the surface, preventing other active ingredients from penetrating the skin. Can I use salicylic acid at night and vitamin C in the morning? Yes, absolutely, this is considered the most effective way to get returns without any adverse side effects. This is because there is enough time between applications to ensure that the skin’s pH levels return to balance. You’ll also find that Vitamin C is rich in antioxidants and is perfect for use in the morning to ensure your skin is protected and looking its healthiest. Due to the small size of salicylic acid molecules, it is an acid that is able to reach the deepest parts of the skin. While this is effective at keeping skin clear, it also increases the risk of irritation and photosensitivity. Therefore, many people prefer to use powerful BHAs in their evening routine without exposure to UV rays, pollution, or harsh weather. Warning: If you avoid using sunscreen every day, none of these ingredients will do what your skin needs. The combination of chemical peels and powerful ingredients increases the risk of further damage to the skin’s surface. Use SPF 50 every day to keep your skin protected and your lipid barrier healthy, even on cloudy days, keeping your skin in top condition.

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