Why is the skin barrier so important?

What is the skin barrier?

The skin has three main layers:

• The epidermis: the skin barrier refers to the outer layer of the epidermis, the one that protects your skin against attacks and keeps it hydrated, thus preventing it from drying out;
• The dermis: this is the layer located under the epidermis. It's this second layer that produces an oil that keeps your skin soft and smooth;
• The hypodermis: this third layer, or lower layer of the skin is the subcutaneous tissue. Its role is to control your body temperature and store fat. It is made up of connective tissues that attach the dermis to your muscles and bones.

The skin barrier is therefore a waterproof protection which helps hold the outer layers of the skin together.

 

 

What is a damaged skin barrier?

When the outer layers of the skin are healthy, it appears soft, supple and plump. But when the skin barrier is damaged, the skin appears dry and imperfect, because it lacks nutrients. It loses vital substances which allow it to maintain its skin cells perfectly joined: this is particularly the case of ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids such as linoleic acid.

 

When the skin barrier is weakened, irritants penetrate directly into your skin, which weakens it and prevents it from absorbing the nutrients it needs. The skin becomes dehydrated, and becomes more vulnerable to all external aggressions.

 

A weakened skin barrier leads to a dull complexion , rough skin, irritation and redness. It is then more difficult to reduce the signs of aging.

 

But conversely, when the skin barrier is damaged, the epidermis can produce excess sebum , which is supposed to compensate for this dehydration and rebuild the hydrolipidic film . You then have a shiny forehead and oily skin . 

 

A shield against aggressions

The skin barrier is autonomous: it is capable of self-regulating. But with skin aging , and external aggressions such as wind, heat, cold, UV rays, it can be damaged. Washing too frequently with water that is too hot can also cause the skin to dry out and damage the permeability barrier.

 

In addition, an unbalanced diet, lack of physical exercise, stress, lack of sleep, smoking or even taking certain medications weaken the ability to the skin to act as a shield against external aggressions.

 

A healthy protective skin barrier helps maintain healthy skin and ensure its various functions, such as:

• Hydration: the skin barrier helps keep the skin hydrated by limiting water loss. The lipids found in the skin surface form the hydrolipidic protective film which retains moisture, thus preventing dehydration and drying out of the skin;
• protection against diseases: the skin neutralizes external aggressions such as bacteria, viruses and pollution and prevents them from penetrating the body;

• Protection against UV rays: Melanocytes produce melanin, which protects the skin against UV rays and sun damage. Healthy skin thus reduces the risk of sunburn, premature aging and skin cancer induced by UV rays;

• Regulation of body temperature: the protective skin barrier helps maintain an optimal body temperature by preventing excessive heat loss and regulating perspiration.

How to take care of your skin barrier?

Step 1: know what your skin type is

To treat your skin well, and hydrate it properly, you must start by identifying its type and any possible problems.

 

Do you have dry, normal, combination or oily skin ? A simple test will allow you to answer this question. Clean your face and wait half an hour:

• If your face shines evenly, you have rather oily skin;
• If you only notice excess sebum on the nose, chin and forehead (the T zone) then your skin is rather combination;
• If you have a feeling of tightness and redness, you have dry skin;
• If your skin is not particularly shiny and does not feel tight, you certainly have normal skin.

Step 2: find a routine that strengthens the skin barrier

In order to start caring for your skin barrier with a daily routine that strengthens the surface layer, cleansing the skin plays a key role. Cleanse your face morning and evening to remove impurities, oil and makeup, which can build up and prevent other products from working properly on your skin. Opt for a gentle cleanser, such as the Grangettes Switzerland cosmetic purifying facial gel , which rids the surface of your skin of sebum and impurities from the skin's surface while respecting the skin barrier.

 

Moisturize your face every day to keep your skin smooth and healthy. Opt for a treatment formulated to provide lasting hydration and strengthen the hydration barrier . The soothing face cream and the Grangettes Switzerland cosmetic anti-aging cream are wonderful allies here.

Nourish the eye area carefully. In fact, the skin around the eyes is more delicate than that of the rest of the face because it is thinner. It is therefore essential to opt for products specially formulated for this fragile region.

 

Furthermore, it is around the eye area that the first signs of aging are observed. The Grangettes Switzerland cosmetic eye contour gel has effects on bags and dark circles, visibly reducing the signs of fatigue and sagging of the skin. This treatment is enriched with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide (vitamin B3), improving the elasticity of the skin, for a rejuvenated look.

 

What to do and what not to do to take care of your skin barrier

If you feel that your skin barrier is damaged:

• Stop exfoliations for at least a week;
• Clean your skin daily with a gentle cleanser, which respects the skin's pH;
• Use products rich in ceramides and biomimetic oils like squalane ;
• Use soothing ingredients like niacinamide, which maintains the body's hydration level;
• Note the times when you have the feeling that your skin barrier is weakened, to pinpoint what could trigger the problem.

Ready to protect your skin barrier?