Strengthen Your Skin Barrier – The primary function of the skin barrier is to protect the body from mechanical damage and harmful substances such as chemicals, bacteria and viruses. Also, the skin ensures the body remains hydrated. Without the skin barrier, your body would have a hard time preventing the water inside from escaping to the atmosphere. The skin barrier also protects the body from free radicals and UV radiation. Due to the crucial role the skin barrier plays, it is essential to take good care of it to continue performing its functions.
How to Strengthen Your Skin Barrier
The integrity of the skin barrier is constantly under threat. Some factors that compromise the integrity of the skin barrier, such as genetics, age, and skin diseases, are unavoidable. However, some practices such as applying harsh chemicals, sun exposure and other factors also can damage the skin barrier.
Below are tips on how to repair your skin barrier or strengthen it.
Strengthen Your Skin Barrier – Avoid Harsh Chemicals
Skincare products are the main culprits for damaged skin barriers in most people. Most of them contain harsh ingredients that strip off the skin’s oil and act against the delicate acid mantle, causing a pH imbalance in the skin. Choose nourishing moisturizers with good ingredients and actives, such as omega 6, glycerin, hyaluronic acid and linoleic acid. They are capable of healing and strengthening your skin barrier.
Strengthen Your Skin Barrier – Use a High-Performance Product
Ensuring your skin is properly moisturized and hydrated is key to keeping the skin barrier strong. High-performance serums and natural skincare products, deeply nourish the skin on a cellular level. A good serum usually contains vitamins, ceramides or peptides: which are all equally crucial in repairing and strengthening the skin barrier. Places like Luxuriant168 have a range of products means means that whatever you’re looking for, there should be something to suit you perfectly.
Strengthen Your Skin Barrier – Avoid Hot Water
Taking a hot shower after a hectic day always feels great. However, have you ever taken time to think about the effects the hot water could have on your skin? Hot water can make your skin dry, flaky, and itchy by stripping off the sebum, the natural oil that is essential in keeping your skin supple and making the skin barrier unable to hold water inside the body, thus leading to dehydration.
Strengthen Your Skin Barrier – Wear SPF Daily
To maintain a healthy skin barrier, you should wear SPF daily, even if you plan to stay indoors. SPF protects the skin from harmful UV rays and other environmental stressors. Making SPF application part of your daily skincare routine will ensure your skin does not age prematurely and will help you preserve your skin’s barrier.
Strengthen Your Skin Barrier – Avoid Mechanical Scrubs
Physical exfoliation is essential in getting rid of dead cells from your skin. If done correctly, exfoliation is essential in keeping the skin smooth and pores clean. However, if you have sensitive skin, you should avoid it and look for better alternatives such as chemical exfoliation, which is gentler on the skin.
The skin barrier may also be damaged by stress, climate (too hot), excessive sun exposure and pollution, so aside from the correct skincare routine, these are also important factors to keep in mind. So there are some tips for you to make use of when it comes to how to strengthen your skin barrier – let me know what you think!
Debz Louise is a plus-size blogger based in Yorkshire. Behind many nationwide campaigns such as #WeaAreTheThey & winner of Best Blogger at the UK Plus Size Awards, she talkas about life as a plus-size 40-something woman in South Yorkshire.
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