Cart

Your cart is empty

Continue shopping now

The Importance of the Skin Barrier

Sporty & Rich Wellness - The Importance of the Skin Barrier

By: @curanaturopathy

Our skin barrier plays a crucial role in a healthy glowing complexion, but unfortunately there are many internal and external factors that influence the functionality of our skin barrier. 

The skin barrier is the outermost layer of your skin, referred to as the epidermis or status corneum - this layer of tissue is composed of epithelial tissue that acts as a protective layer against the external environment. This protective function derives from its sturdy structure consisting of tightly packed cells (corneocytes) bound together by lipids (ceramides) to form its structure. Underneath the epidermis consists of the dermis which contains sweat glands, blood vessels, collagen and elastin (proteins that give your skin its elasticity, plumpness and healthy glow). This is the layer the skin barrier helps to protect.

Why is the skin barrier so important?

The skin barrier acts as the interface between the external environment and inner health. Due to its permeability, our skin barrier is susceptible to external stressors and environmental aggressors that penetrate through the epidermis. This permeability is bidirectional, meaning that what your skin is exposed to externally affects your internal health and vice versa.

See below for a list of its main functions.

Promotes Moisture Levels

Regulating moisture and lipid levels whilst maintaining a balanced pH level is one of the main roles of the skin barrier. When the skin barrier becomes damaged, allowing the tight junctions between cells to become more permeable (meaning, foreign irritants penetrate the skin’s surface and allowing water to leave our skin from the inside out), this can result in transepidermal water loss (TEWL). The common presentation indicating TEWL includes dryness, redness, irritation, dehydration and/or flaky skin.

Protection from Pathogens

The skin barrier acts as our first line of defence and also acts as an antimicrobial barrier consisting of its own microbiome to protect against pathogens, viruses, bacteria and fungi. 

It plays a role in immune health due to its correlation with digestive function which impacts the immune cells inhabiting the epidermis and dermal layers of the skin. When our gut health is compromised whether it’s from excessive antibiotic use, poor diet, medication, stress, chronic illness, etc., this can reduce the gut microbial diversity, which results in a weakened immune system. This weakened immune response contributes to systemic inflammation therefore exacerbating skin inflammation and damaging the skin’s protective barrier.

Nourishing both the gut and skin microbiome assists in protecting against pathogens that contribute to a damaged skin barrier and/or the onset of skin complaints.

Mitigating the Effects of Environmental Stressors/Aggressors

Our skin is constantly exposed to environmental aggressors from overexposure to sunlight, blue light from screens, weather conditions, smoke, pollution, harsh chemicals, allergens, and more - all factors that influence the skin’s permeability, compromise the skin’s protective barrier and photo-protective function.

Our skins photo-protective function serves to mitigate skin damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, however if this becomes compromised by external stressors, the host is more vulnerable to skin issues such as thick dry skin, sensitivity, rosacea, atopic dermatitis, eczema, acne, breakouts, skin infections etc.

How a Weak Skin Barrier Ages Us

Our skin is one of the most noticeable areas that becomes affected when it comes to ageing. Despite this normal biological process, a weakened skin barrier can certainly exacerbate ageing skin concerns.

If our skin barrier becomes weakened (whether this occurs due to increased water loss, overexposure to UV light/external stressors, inflammation, over-exfoliating, poor diet, lack of adequate hydration in the epidermis) this can contribute to reduced skin elasticity, fine lines, wrinkles, redness, dullness, dryness, age spots and/or pigmentation.

The most common causes of aged skin concerns derives from:

A natural decline in skin cell turnover
Slower natural biological production of collagen and elastin
Lack of adequate moisture and hydration
Overexposure to UV light/radiation
A natural reduction in sweat and oil glands in our skin’s barrier allowing the barrier to become more easily compromised and/or irritated.

How to Protect, Repair, and Nourish the Skin Barrier

  • Avoid over-exfoliating as this strips the pH level of your skin and damages the transdermal layer (protective layer) resulting in a weakened barrier
  • Avoid harsh chemicals, scrubs and soaps which can strip the skin barrier of its natural oils. Opt for natural/gentle cleansers that are correct for your skin type to promote barrier repair.
  • Do an overhaul of your current skincare, and ditch products that contain excessive ingredients, harsh chemicals, fragrances, etc
  • Consider whether essential oils and fragrances are irritating your skin, and/or if your current products are too stimulating/active for your skin type (such as retinol in Vitamin A) as this could be contributing to heightened permeability and sensitivity
  • To optimise your moisture levels, implement a hydrating face oil and/or moisturiser that contains ingredients specifically utilised for their hydrating and nourishing properly such as humectants (i.e. hyaluronic acid), emollients (i.e. squalene), fatty acids (i.e. jojoba, organ oil), antioxidants (i.e. Vitamin A, C, E)
  • Wear a natural/organic broad-spectrum sunscreen (at least SPF 30) and wear a hat when outdoors to prevent hyperpigmentation (as well as regularly getting your skin checked by a professional GP!)
  • Lastly, ensure you’re consuming a diet rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant nutrients to assist with skin barrier repair and protection.
If you’re looking for further support with skin health, please contact Tayla via email hello@curawellness.co, Instagram @curawellness.co or book in for a naturopathic consultation (Australia-wide only).
Previous
Next

The Wellness Club

Sporty & Rich Wellness - What’s Causing My Skin to Breakout?

What’s Causing My Skin To Breakout?

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @curanaturopathy Your skin health is a reflection of your internal health. If there's any signs of imbalance in the form of active breakouts, pimples, blemishes, so on, this can give us an indication that there's an imbalance internally and most often it's related to our gut health. Factors such as nutrition, hormones, stress, lifestyle choices can also influence your skin....

Read more
Sporty & Rich Wellness - Are Electrolytes Healthy For You?

Are Electrolytes Healthy For You?

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @gooodmoodfoood I am sure you have seen a lot of information on social media and the internet lately about drinking electrolytes. This may be slightly confusing because we have been told for years that sodium is bad for us and is making us dehydrated! In reality, ultra-processed foods high in processed sodium leave us feeling dehydrated and lethargic. When an individual...

Read more
Sporty & Rich Wellness - The Importance of Non-Toxic Skincare: Health Risks of Popular Ingredients in Conventional Products

The Importance of Non-Toxic Skincare: Health Risks of Popular Ingredients in Conventional Products

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @inceipek1 In recent years, there has been a growing concern among consumers about the potential health risks associated with the use of conventional skincare products. Many popular ingredients found in these products, such as emulsifiers, parabens, and others, have come under scrutiny for their potential toxicity. Emulsifiers: Emulsifiers are commonly used in skincare...

Read more
SIBO: The Most Commonly Missed Cause of IBS

SIBO: The Most Commonly Missed Cause of IBS

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @drmelissa.co Bloating, abdominal discomfort, unusual gas, constipation and/or diarrhoea are all symptoms that western medicine commonly chalks up to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). But IBS is essentially a blanket diagnosis for a group of symptoms, without providing any insight into the cause of the symptoms or curative treatments. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is a condition of the small intestine. The...

Read more
Sporty & Rich Wellness

Where to Start When Healing Acne

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @drmelissa.co Acne is one of the most complex skin concerns to treat. Treatment often involves a lot of trial and error and each case requires an individualized approach to achieve the best result. Patients may opt to treat the skin with pharmaceuticals (oral or topical), conventional skincare products, or with more natural options including supplements, gentle topicals, herbs, acupuncture, light therapy, etc. Regardless...

Read more
Sporty & Rich Wellness - Your Comprehensive Guide to SPF

Your Comprehensive Guide to SPF

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @dermahealthnutrition  Relaxing in the warmth of the sun is undoubtedly enjoyable, but are you aware of the potential risks? Protecting your skin from harmful rays is essential to prevent sunburn, reduce the risk of skin cancer and premature ageing. Here's what you need to know:...

Read more
Sporty & Rich Wellness - The Importance of the Skin Barrier

The Importance of the Skin Barrier

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @curanaturopathy Our skin barrier plays a crucial role in a healthy glowing complexion, but unfortunately there are many internal and external factors that influence the functionality of our skin barrier.  The skin barrier is the outermost layer of your skin, referred to as the epidermis or status corneum - this layer of tissue is...

Read more
Sporty & Rich Wellness - Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Skin Health

Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Skin Health

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @dermahealthnutrition  Omega-3 fatty acids are essential to our health and, according to recent research, may also have a positive effect on skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, and wound healing. Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat and are called "omega-3" because the first double bond in their chemical structure is at the third...

Read more
Sporty & Rich Wellness

The Connection Between Exercise and Skin Health

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By @coreflexpilates founder @chrisbardawil Exercise keeps our skin clear and firm, boosts its blood flow, removes toxins, and lowers cortisol levels. All of these factors are beneficial for the skin, but there are some things to be aware of when it comes to exercise and skin health, these are mainly; redness, bacteria, and drying out of the skin.When first looking up this...

Read more
Sporty & Rich Wellness - What is Microcurrent and Does it Work?

What is Microcurrent and Does it Work?

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

@drmelissa.co Microcurrent devices have become a staple in the routines of many skincare professionals and aficionados. These at-home and in-office devices claim to tighten and lift the face while softening fine lines and wrinkles...but do they work?  Microcurrent devices provide treatments that are non-invasive and gentle. They deliver low level electrical currents...

Read more
Sporty & Rich Wellness - Perioral Dermatitis

Perioral Dermatitis

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

By: @drmelissa.co Perioral Dermatitis (PD) describes the inflammation of the skin around the mouth (peri- meaning “around”, and oral referring to “mouth"). It typically presents as a red, itchy and swollen rash. PD most commonly affects females age 20 to 45, and can affect children as well. PD is often misdiagnosed as acne or rosacea. PD occurs because the skin around the mouth has fewer...

Read more
Sporty & Rich Wellness - Debunking the Myth: Embracing the Beauty of Oil for Healthy Skin

Embracing the Beauty of Oils for Healthy Skin

Translation missing: en.blogs.article.by Taylor Davis

  By: @inceipek1 For far too long, oil has been deemed the enemy when it comes to skincare. Many people believe that applying oil to the skin can lead to breakouts, excessive greasiness, and clogged pores. However, this belief is based on a misunderstanding of the complex nature of oils and their interactions with...

Read more