I may be biased but the skin and integumentary system is pretty darn amazing! It is the largest organ in the body and is our sole protection from the external environment, such as UV radiation, pollution, free radicals and microorganisms. It also helps with maintaining a healthy body temperature and maintaining hydration.

The skin is made up of 3 different layers from the outermost to the innermost as follows: the epidermis, dermis and subcutis. The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the epidermis and is the ultimate front-line warrior protecting us from external stressors. This layer is composed of keratin (proteins) and lipids.

It is fair to say that if our skin barrier is disrupted, we can be prone to all sorts of issues from eczema, bacterial or fungal infections, irritation, dryness and more. We know that common disruptors to the skin barrier include heavy sun exposure, vigorous mechanical exfoliation (ie: wash rags or facial scrubs), excessive chemical exfoliation (ie: salicylic, glycolic or lactic acid), skincare products with fragrances, environmental pollutants and changes in weather.

If you have dry skin, textured skin, flaky skin or itchy skin, you may have an impaired skin barrier. Don’t fret, we can help! If you need to repair your skin barrier, here is a quick “how to” guide.

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Remove all exfoliants for a week or two

  • When your skin barrier is impaired, we don’t need to impair it further by using exfoliants. This means switching to gentle mode.
  • Instead of using a washcloth, just use gentle soap, water and your hands.
  • Bench the use of AHA’s and BHA’s, (ie: salicylic, glycolic and lactic acid) from your skincare routine for a week or two. Eventually when you restart these products, limit their use to 1-2 times per week.

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Remove all active & irritating ingredients

  • In addition to the above, remove any “active ingredients” that may be adding insult to injury, I am talking retinol and retinoids. We love these products, but they work by increasing the speed of your skin turnover which ultimately will worsen your dryness and irritation. Put these aside until your skin is resuscitated.
  • We all know the watermelon fragranced skincare products from Sephora are fun, but your skin doesn’t know what to do with that and it is likely wreaking havoc on your skin. Stick to basic, fragrance free, products.

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Hot water is not your friend

  • Swap hot water for lukewarm water to minimize skin dryness and water loss from the skin. Don’t spend extended amounts of time in the shower, 5-10 minutes maximum. Remember, the best time to apply moisturizer is within 3 minutes of getting out of the shower for optimal absorption.

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Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize

Choose gentle products to moisturize your skin morning and night. Here are a few of my favorites for when it’s time for recovery mode:

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Pro tip:  Apply the moisturizer when your skin is slightly damp. Your skin will soak it right up!

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If you do all these steps and your skin is still irritated, flaky or itching, it is time to see your friendly dermatology provider for help. What’s your favorite moisturizer?

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