Your skin barrier protects your body from free radicals. Harsh environments are often the cause of damage. Protect your skin barrier with oils, ceramides, and more.

Beauty boutique and drugstore shelves are packed with products that aim to protect and rejuvenate your skin. Some of them exfoliate, some plump, and others moisturize.

All these products share the fact that they act on your body’s outermost layer, which is called the skin barrier.

Read on to learn more about what the skin barrier is, its purpose, what can cause damage, and how to repair and protect it.

Your skin is made up of layers, each of which performs important functions in protecting your body.

The outermost layer is called the stratum corneum. Some people describe this as a “brick wall.” It consists of tough skin cells called corneocytes that are bound together by mortar-like lipids. This is your skin barrier.

Inside the skin cells, or “bricks,” you’ll find keratin and natural moisturizers. The lipid layer contains:

  • cholesterol
  • fatty acids
  • ceramides

This thin brick wall prevents various harmful environmental toxins and pathogens from penetrating your skin and causing adverse effects inside your body.

Additionally, without your skin barrier, the water inside your body would escape and evaporate.

Your skin barrier is essential for your overall health. Protecting it helps your body function properly.

Daily, your skin defends against a barrage of threats, many of which come from outside your body, and a few come from within.

Some of the external and internal factors that can affect your skin barrier include:

  • too humid or too dry environment
  • allergens, irritants, and pollutants
  • too much sun exposure
  • alkaline detergents and soaps
  • exposure to harsh chemicals
  • over-exfoliation or over-washing
  • steroids
  • psychological distress
  • genetic factors that may make you more prone to certain skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis

The role of the acid mantle

Your skin barrier is slightly acidic. This acidity, the acid mantle, helps create a kind of buffer against the growth of harmful bacteria, viruses, and fungi that could damage your skin and lead to infections and other skin conditions.

It’s especially important to protect the acid mantle around wounds since the skin’s acidity is necessary for many of the biological interactions that occur during the healing process.

Sometimes, a health condition such as diabetes or incontinence can change your skin’s acidity, weakening this buffer. For people with these conditions, experts may recommend slightly more acidic skin care products.

When your skin barrier is not functioning properly, you may be more prone to developing the following skin symptoms and conditions:

There are various steps you can take to help protect and restore your skin barrier.

Simplify your skin care routine

When it comes to skin care, sometimes less is more. Consider talking with a dermatologist about which products are essential and most effective based on your skin care needs.

If you’re exfoliating, notice how your skin reacts to the method you use. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, those with sensitive skin and darker skin tones may want to use a soft cloth and a mild chemical exfoliant.

Some types of scrubs and brushes may temporarily damage your skin barrier.

Pay attention to pH

Your skin’s delicate acid mantle hovers around a pH of 4.0 to 5.8.

Researchers recommend cleansing with a product that has a pH between 4.0 and 5.0.

Try a plant oil to replenish your skin barrier

Some 2018 research suggests that certain plant oils may help repair the skin barrier and also prevent your skin barrier from losing moisture. Many of these oils have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects, too.

Some of the most effective plant oils to consider using on your skin include:

There are many ways you can use plant oils on your skin. You can apply creams and lotions that contain one or more of these oils as an ingredient. Alternatively, you can pour a small amount of the oil into the palm of your hand and then massage it gently into your skin until it’s absorbed.

It is best to perform a patch test before using oils, as some people may experience sensitivity or an allergic reaction.

Look for formulations that include ceramides

Ceramides are waxy lipids found in especially high concentrations in the stratum corneum. They are crucial for making sure your skin barrier functions properly.

Some 2019 research shows that products containing pseudo-ceramides may help improve the dryness, itchiness, and scaling in cases of atopic dermatitis.

Try moisturizers containing hyaluronic acid, petrolatum, or glycerin

Dry skin is common, and moisturizers are a popular remedy.

An occlusive moisturizer aids the skin barrier by reducing the amount of water loss from your skin. These products leave a thin film on your skin that helps prevent moisture loss.

A common occlusive moisturizer for dry skin is petrolatum, which experts say can block almost 99% of water loss from your skin.

Like occlusive moisturizers, humectants can also improve barrier function. Humectants work by drawing water — either from the environment or from inside your body — and binding it into the skin barrier. Look for products that contain any of the following:

Not all skin care ingredients work for everyone. That’s why you may want to try a few different products to determine which one works best for keeping your skin healthy, protected, and well moisturized.

The outermost layer of your skin, known as your skin barrier, defends your body against environmental threats while simultaneously protecting your body’s critical water balance.

Symptoms such as dryness, itching, and inflammation can indicate a disturbance in this important barrier.

You can help repair your skin’s barrier by simplifying your skin care regimen, using products with a suitable pH, and using a moisturizer that contains ceramides or a humectant like hyaluronic acid.

Moisturizers with petrolatum can also help your skin barrier seal in moisture.

Your skin barrier is your body’s frontline defense against everything the environment can throw at you. Keeping it healthy is much more than a cosmetic concern. Speak with a dermatologist for more advice on ways to repair and protect your skin barrier.