Ouch My Barrier! Who says that?!?!? Your Skin Barrier
This post draws heavily on this ORIGINAL ARTICLE
What Your Lovely Skin Barrier Does
Your Skin Barrier and the natural oils it makes keep your skin healthy by locking in moisture and giving skin a firm, soft, hydrated texture:
In normal function new skin cells move from the bottom upwards continually replacing itself. This process is dependent on adequate hydration and without it dry, scaly and rough skin will result. Failure to replace the topmost layer of skin cells means further water loss. Skin starts to dry out more, dead cells accumulate, pores clog and bacteria multiples creating inflammation and of course SPOTS!
Your Life Your Skin
So yes even though you exercise regularly (sweat and blood!?!), eat like a nymph, drink gallons of spring water and look after your skin, bathing in the morning dew etc., if your skin barrier is damaged then yes, unfortunately you may still have skin problems:
• Acne
• Dermatitis
• Dry skin
• Eczema
• Flaky skin
• Inflammation
• Itchiness
• Premature ageing
• Psoriasis
• Redness
• Rosacea
• Scaly skin
• Sensitive skin
• Tightness
How has this happened?
All these effects can contribute to the damage:
1. Constantly stripping away sebum
2. Cumulative damage that has affected the skin cell renewal cycle
3. Environmental conditions like dry, cold or hot weather, and wind
4. Not enough physical exercise
5. Not enough sleep
6. Nutritional deficiencies
7. Over-exfoliation
8. Over-washing your face
9. Poor diet high in processed foods and sugar
10. Stress
11. Sun damage
12. Unprotected winter skin
13. Using harsh products on your skin
14. Using hot water when washing and rinsing your face
15. Using too many chemicals on your skin
Too much of any of the above will eventually damage these components of your skin:
• Acid mantle
• Epidermal lipids
• Glycosaminoglycans (GAGS)
• Lymph movement or stagnation
• Natural moisturizing factors (NMFs)
• Sebaceous lipids
• Trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL)
Your Route to Repair
Sort your lifestyle!
Be gentle to your skin:
Cool water, not hot and definitely not steam.
Not excessively washing, scrubbing or exfoliating your skin.
Avoid chemicals in skin products which can be harsh and irritating and don’t forget that sunscreen.
Oils and Natural Humectants are the way to go, this combined with natural skin identical and protective factors work with your skin helping it to normalise and regain its function.
Spicy Lemon Jazz Hand Sanitizer + Skin Conditioner
These are the principles employed in the above item:
Only Natural and Organic Ingredients (No chemicals to strip, dry, deaden, damage and irritate skin)
Rich in Natural Organic Oils, Humectants, Skin Identical and Protective substances (Working from first application to gently clean, soften and assist natural skin barrier function, resulting in soft, conditioned skin)
Day to Day
Frequent regular hand washing can be turned from something obligatory and necessary into an opportunity to have lovely skin! There is a choice.
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