The biggest skin care lesson worth learning this year? Good skin health is all about knowing how to repair your skin barrier. Blame it on the red, itchy skin many of us have suffered from due to overzealous use of actives—or perhaps it’s the switch to a more intuitive approach to our skin care routines—whatever it is, skin barrier health is trending, with a casual 129.5 million views on the search term “skin barrier repair” on TikTok, and searches for “how to repair the skin barrier” up 130% on Google Trends in the past 30 days. And long may it continue.
“In dermatology, our skin barrier is known as the epidermis,” explains dermatologist Dr. Mary Sommerlad. “It can be disrupted by intrinsic or extrinsic factors, and often a combination of both. Intrinsic factors include skin barrier diseases that have a genetic component, such as eczema and ichthyosis, and high levels of stress and illness.”
Meanwhile, extrinsic factors, including excessive exposure to harsh weather elements, such as too much sun or wind, or extremes of temperature (like going from a heated room to the biting-cold outdoors), are one reason for why compromised barriers often show themselves during the winter season. Others include exposure to potential chemical irritants, such as certain active skin care ingredients, like AHAs and retinoids, and soaps containing SLS or any physical irritants that can scrub the skin. Not to mention pollution, smoking, poor sleep, and allergens.
Skin barrier aggressors are everywhere, but the most overwhelmingly common reason for impairment in consultant dermatologist Dr. Anjali Mahto’s clinic is “the overuse of actives and using too many products all at once,” she says. “The skin becomes overwhelmed, and as a result, the barrier becomes compromised.”
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