A healthy skin barrier is crucial for protecting your skin. Several factors contribute to strengthening this barrier. Let's explore some key methods and ingredients.
Topical Treatments and Products
Using barrier-fortifying products is a direct and effective approach. These products often mimic the skin's natural composition to repair and reinforce its protective layer. For example, Lipid Barrier Cream utilizes ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids (including squalane) to strengthen the skin barrier by mimicking the skin's natural sebum and the structural components of the stratum corneum. [^1]
- Ceramides: These lipids are essential building blocks of the skin barrier, contributing to its integrity and preventing moisture loss. Many creams and serums contain ceramides to bolster this crucial component.
- Colloidal Oatmeal: Studies show that colloidal oatmeal ( Avena sativa) effectively improves the skin barrier through multiple mechanisms, making it beneficial for dry and compromised skin. [^2]
Internal Factors and Lifestyle Choices
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle significantly influences your skin barrier’s strength:
- Nutrition: A balanced diet rich in healthy oils, minerals, and antioxidants supports skin health from within. [^3]
- Hydration: Adequate water intake keeps your skin hydrated, improving its elasticity and overall barrier function. [^3]
- Gut Health: Beneficial gut microbes produce short-chain fatty acids that enhance epithelial barrier function and reduce inflammation. Probiotics, such as Bifidobacterium longum, combined with galactooligosaccharide (GOS), have shown promise in improving skin barrier function and reducing symptoms of atopic dermatitis. [^4]
Medical Interventions
In certain cases, medical treatments can directly improve skin barrier function:
- Dupilumab: This medication has demonstrated effectiveness in significantly improving skin barrier function in patients with atopic dermatitis by reducing transepidermal water loss (TEWL) to levels comparable to healthy skin. [^5]
- Nicotinamide: This form of vitamin B3 boosts ceramide synthesis and other components crucial for a healthy skin barrier, thus improving epidermal permeability. [^6]
Considerations
It’s important to note that certain factors can negatively impact the skin barrier. For example, high levels of glucocorticoids (stress hormones) can increase ER stress and impair skin barrier function. [^7] Similarly, some oils high in monounsaturated oleic acid may increase skin permeability more than oils with a balanced fatty acid profile. [^8] Understanding these factors allows for a more holistic approach to skin barrier health.
[^1]: California Skin Institute. (2021, June 22). Do These 5 Things to Strengthen Your Skin Barrier. https://www.californiaskininstitute.com/do-these-5-things-to-strengthen-your-skin-barrier/
[^2]: Lee, J. H., Kim, M. J., Lee, J. H., Lee, S. Y., Jeong, J. H., & Choi, J. H. (2017). Colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) improves skin barrier through multi-therapy activity. Journal of dermatological science, 86(3), 236–243. https://jddonline.com/articles/colloidal-oatmeal-emavena-sativaem-improves-skin-barrier-through-multi-therapy-activity-S1545961616P0684X/
[^3]: California Skin Institute. (2021, June 22). Do These 5 Things to Strengthen Your Skin Barrier. https://www.californiaskininstitute.com/do-these-5-things-to-strengthen-your-skin-barrier/
[^4]: Kim, J., et al. (2023). Bifidobacterium longum and Galactooligosaccharide Improve Skin Barrier Function and Reduce Atopic Dermatitis-Like Skin Symptoms. Nutrients, 15(2), 365. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36174995/
[^5]: Kanda, S., et al. (2022). Dupilumab significantly improves skin barrier function in patients with atopic dermatitis. Allergy, 77(7), 2134-2144. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/all.15432
[^6]: Imokawa, G., et al. (2000). Nicotinamide increases biosynthesis of ceramides as well as other lipids, and improves the epidermal permeability barrier. British Journal of Dermatology, 143(3), 616-622. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10971324/
[^7]: Alvarez, C. et al. (2023). Hyperglycemia-activated 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 impairs skin barrier function by increasing ER stress. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 8028. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-36294-y
[^8]: Kim, J.H., et al. (2017). Anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects of topical application of natural oils. PLoS One, 12(10), e0185463. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5796020/
