What is Your Skin Barrier, and How Do You Repair It?
The skin’s barrier is your body’s protective shield, keeping moisture locked inside while preventing pollutants, allergens, and bacteria from entering. Also known as the ‘stratum corneum’, the skin barrier is made up of brick-like skin cells that are held tightly together by the mortar – lipids. A healthy barrier appears clear, plump, and hydrated, whilst a broken skin barrier leaves your complexion vulnerable to sensitivity and irritation.
In this guide, we’ll take a deeper dive into the skin’s barrier, discuss how to repair it when damaged, and explain how NOON’s innovative skincare products can strengthen skin health.
What is a Broken Skin Barrier?
The skin’s barrier can break when the lipids holding your skin cells together begin to weaken and crack. This subsequently leads to what is known as ‘transepidermal water loss', allowing moisture to evaporate from the skin and resulting in a number of potential skin damages.
So, what should you look out for if you think you may be living with a broken skin barrier? Here are some of the key signs of a broken skin barrier:
- Inflammation
- Irritation and redness
- Tightness
- Sensitivity
- Breakouts
Why Did My Skin Barrier Break?
Recognising a broken skin barrier is one thing, but the next step is to identify the cause to prevent future damage. There are a number of factors that can have a damaging effect on the skin barrier, including:
- Pollution and UV Exposure: Can cause oxidative stress, break down collagen, and lead to inflammation.
- Harsh, cold weather: Cold, windy conditions can limit hydration and damage lipids, which are the fats that help maintain the skin's moisture barrier.
- Over-exfoliation: Heavy exfoliation can strip away lipids and essential oils faster than they can regenerate.
- Hot water: Using hot water on the face can lead to dehydration and strip the skin of natural oils and lipids, causing further dryness and irritation.
- Chronic stress: Known to cause breakouts, chronic stress also damages the skin by causing cortisol spikes, which reduce lipid production and slow cell rejuvenation.
- Harsh cleansers: Disrupting the acidic balance of the skin, stripping away natural oils and lipids, and causing irritation, harsh cleansers can often harm certain skin types. NOON’s products, however, are designed with DermShield technology, allowing them to pack just as high a potency without the unnecessary irritation.
How to Repair the Skin Barrier
When it comes to repairing the skin’s barrier, the focus should be on replenishing the skin to help restore damaged lipid layers. Here at NOON Aesthetics, we supply clinicians with a selection of cleansers, serums, moisturisers, and more to help hydrate and seal the skin’s barrier.
Depending on your client’s circumstances and skin type, there are a number of approaches that they could take to soothe and repair their skin. For example, some may be advised to temporarily strip back on skincare products for around 2 weeks, giving their skin a chance to reset. Next, we’d recommend focusing on humectants – water-attracting skincare products designed to boost hydration.
Restoring a Broken Skin Barrier with NOON
Why Rely on NOON’s Products?
As we mentioned, NOON Aesthetics’ collection is designed with DermShield technology – perfect for those living with sensitive skin. Our skincare products are formulated with high concentration levels, without the irritating side effects that can often come with medical-grade skincare. This allows your clients to strengthen their skin barrier without causing further redness and inflammation.
Discover products for a selection of skin types, including reactive skin, dry skin, oily skin, and more in our range.
Become a NOON Aesthetics Stockist Today
Now that you’ve got a better understanding of how to repair the skin barrier with NOON Aesthetics, consider becoming a stockist today. Offer your clients our selection of medical-grade products when you fill in our enquiry form. If you’re already a customer, place an order online at ACRE Pharmacy.