The skin acts as a barrier to keep good things inside the body and harmful things out. Healthy skin is like a new wall with several layers.
The outer “brick” layer of the skin is called the stratum corneum, and that is the layer usually referred to as the skin barrier. The cells in the stratum corneum (corneocytes) are like bricks and they are held together with a matrix of lipid, phospholipid, and water layers that act as the mortar. Lipids are oily, waxy substances mostly consisting of ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids.
The “bricks” are “painted” with a thin, water-repellent oily triglyceride layer called sebum.
This beautifully engineered, multi-layered “wall” keeps water, good bacteria, and cell-building materials inside the skin and keeps out potential threats from bad bacteria, viruses, irritants, the sun, and allergens.
Sometimes the skin doesn’t function as it should due to factors we can’t control, like our age, allergies, climate, injury, or genes. But there are many things we can do to injure the skin. Below I list some of the areas of concern. In separate posts, I expand on how to avoid and reverse skin barrier damage.
A “thin-skinned” person is usually thought to be someone who is vulnerable or sensitive to criticism or insults. This idea is based on the reality that having thin skin makes us more vulnerable to external attacks that lead to skin problems!
The skin barrier is made up of about 20 layers of cells. Some areas of the body have thinner skin, like the eyelids, and other areas, like the palms and soles of the feet, have more layers. One way to improve the skin barrier is to make it thicker and denser and avoid practices and products that make it thinner.
If the lipid/water layer (the “mortar”) of the stratum corneum becomes dry and cracked, or if the sebum layer is too thin, tiny holes can develop in the “wall” so that water escapes (trans-epidermal water loss). Moisturized skin keeps the water in! Dry skin becomes vulnerable to attack. Dry skin can also cause more wrinkles.
Just like in the gut, the skin has a host of good bacteria that fight off bad bacteria and other bad actors.1 The skin microbiome minimizes skin barrier damage from the sun and pollution, calls on our immune system for help when needed for healing, helps retain moisture, and slows the signs of aging. Sometimes our skincare routines can disturb the balance which can weaken the “wall”.
Stress elevates the hormone cortisol in our skin barrier. Too much cortisol can cause inflammation, irritation, or itching2, which can create more stress. Chronic stress can produce a vicious cycle of skin problems.
A poor diet can affect your skin in many ways. It can cause inflammation, acne, dryness, premature aging, and other skin problems. To improve your skin health, eat a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, healthy fats, and water. These foods can provide your skin with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, hydration, and essential fatty acids that can protect and nourish your skin.
When the skin barrier no longer functions normally, gaps develop in the “wall” so that water escapes and irritants and pathogens can get in. Some of the results include:
By taking a holistic approach to our skin health, we can prevent these symptoms and maintain a healthy skin barrier. Read the related posts below to see natural ways to address skin barrier damage.
