The skin barrier has already become one of the great beauty topics,
because the well-being of your skin begins with the well-being of its barrier.
So that you understand what it is, how it works and how important it is to take care of it, we have prepared a mini guide that will guide you on your path to beautiful, healthy-looking skin.
What exactly is the skin barrier?
These two words are on the lips of all skincare lovers today, but do you really know what it is?
The skin barrier is part of the most superficial layer of the skin—the epidermis—and is made up of skin cells (corneocytes), lipids, amino acids and fatty acids. In fact, the hydrolipid mantle that covers the stratum corneum—the outermost area of the epidermis—is also considered part of the skin barrier.
What is the barrier function?
The terms skin barrier and barrier function are often interchangeable.
The barrier function is responsible for protecting the skin from external agents, as well as preventing the loss of transepidermal water, thus helping the skin to feel comfortable and have a vital appearance.
Transepidermal water loss – known by the acronym TEWL– is a process that occurs naturally in the skin. It is the evaporation of water through the skin surface, which occurs to maintain the appropriate level of hydration.
Some external factors – such as wind, cold or heat – can alter the integrity of the barrier function and cause an increase in this transepidermal water loss (increase in TEWL), causing dryness, irritation and accelerating the appearance of signs of aging.
• Regulate body temperature
• Protect the skin from cold and heat
• Absorb vitamin D from the sun
• Absorb the active agents of your cosmetics
Why can the skin barrier be damaged?
The barrier is a very delicate part of our skin. It can be altered by the intake of certain medications, dehydration, incorrect use of cosmetics (such as excessive exfoliation), stress, high sun exposure or other external factors such as climate or pollution.
What happens if your skin barrier is damaged?
To begin with, if the skin barrier is disrupted, your skin will neither function nor look optimal.
You may also wonder how to know if it is not in good condition. Well, flaky, dry and tight skin, acne breakouts and the rapid appearance of wrinkles, lines, spots and sagging, could be a warning that your barrier is damaged.
Pay attention to how your skin reacts to your usual skin care routine, since, if it is altered, it could also present redness, blemishes or itching.
How to improve the skin barrier?
1. Find the reason why your barrier is altered and try to solve it.
2. Make sure you sleep well so that the skin regenerates itself.
3. Follow a diet rich in fatty acids, such as nuts, seeds and fish.
4. Acts directly on the skin with nourishing, repairing and skin-friendly cosmetics.
5. Protect your skin from external agents: pollution, blue light and solar radiation.






