Is Your Skin Barrier Damaged? How To Find Out!

by BR Kellie

While some of us dream of having picture perfect skin, the reality can often be a bit of a nightmare. Breakouts. Redness. Irritation. Scaly patches. Getting our skin into balance can feel harder than solving a Rubiks cube. What's worse, is that in trying to do our best by our skin we can end up damaging it, as I recently discovered when my skin became a super scaly, super congested, breakout-prone hot mess.

This led me down a google hole, where the simplest answer made the most sense... I was experiencing skin barrier damage. So what is skin barrier damage, how can we avoid it, and - should we need to - how can we heal it? 

What is the skin barrier anyway?

Basically, the skin barrier is a collection of cells and lipids that makeup the outermost layer of your skin. It works to protect your skin from harmful bacteria, as well as environmental stress caused by the likes of pollution and UV radiation, while keeping your hydration levels within the skin balanced.

How does the skin barrier get damaged?

There are many reasons that your skin barrier can become damaged, ranging from stripping your skin by using chemical and/or physical exfoliants, using hot water on your flannel, overly-hot showers, using skincare that contains harsh ingredients or fragrances. It can even be caused by stress, smoking, too much sun, and even the ageing process.

How can I tell if my skin barrier's damaged?

Signs that your skin barrier may be damaged can include dryness, flakiness, redness, and irritation.

For example, say you're using your usual moisturiser and your skin's still dry and flaky, that's a sign of potential damage.

If your skin's feeling irritated for no good reason, and is itchier and/or redder than usual, that's another potential tip-off.

Suddenly breaking out, and you can't blame it on hormones? When your skin's barrier is compromised, this can disrupt the bacteria on your skin, which can lead to pimples and acne.

Find yourself reacting to skincare products that wouldn't normally bother you? Or perhaps the sun or even the air sees your skin flare up? Once again, increased skin sensitivity could be caused by a damaged barrier.

So, if it is damaged, what can I do?

We love a simple solution to a problem, and when faced with skin barrier issues, the first step is super simple, in fact it's the KISS method. Keep it simple, sweetie. The first thing to do is strip your skincare routine right back. Pack away any skincare containing acids, chemicals and physical exfoliants. Stick to super gentle, hydrating products, and be sure to use a sunscreen that's formulated for the face during the day.

Healing your skin barrier can take anywhere between two weeks to two months, depending on how damaged it is. So don't expect a super quick fix, and be consistent with your new skincare routine.

And if that doesn't work?

If you're not seeing any results with your simplified skincare routine, then it's time to talk to a doctor or dermatologist to rule out other issues, or to get more tailored advice and products for your skin's needs.

As for my skin?

I suspect over-use of acids caused the issue, so I've backed away from those and am keeping things super simple. While my skin's still dry and there's goodly congestion in the pores, the acne seems to have calmed its farm. It's still early days, but there's hope. And if there's no hope? There's a trip to the doctor in my future.

So, my lovelies... have you ever given much thought to the state of your skin barrier? Have you experienced a damaged skin barrier? And if so, what helped you heal it? Sharing is caring, so get chatting below!