HI guys, welcome to our blog page. In todays blog we will be going into detail about sentive skin.
Skin sensitivity is one of the main concerns in skin care. Between 60-70% of women and 50-60% of men in the world claim to have sensitive skin. But, how does it affect them?
Tingling, itching, stinging, a burning sensation, and temporary or permanent redness are some of the signs and symptoms of sensitive skin responding to its exposure to external and internal stimuli (UV radiation, pollution, temperature changes, hormonal changes, and so on).
Sensitive or sensitised skin?
We can differentiate between sensitive and sensitised skin by identifying the source of the sensitivity:
>sensitive skin. Sensitive skins suffer from an alteration of the skin barrier function and also show an increased reactivity in nerve endings. As a result, these skins respond exaggeratedly to internal and external stimuli, which should not cause such sensations.
>sensitised skin. Healthy skin can suffer occasionally or permanently from signs of acquired sensitivity. The urban environment, environmental pollution, UV radiation, hormonal changes, stress, the use of inadequate cosmetics, or undergoing medical-aesthetic treatments are some of the reasons behind these reactive manifestations.
What is the skin barrier?
The skin barrier (also called the stratum corneum) serves as the outermost protective layer of the skin.
This skin barrier is often described as like a brick wall. The skin’s cells are the ‘bricks’, made up of keratin (a protein) and natural moisturisers and the ‘mortar’ in between holds it together. In this analogy, the ‘mortar’ is made up of lipids containing essential nutrients that the skin needs to protect, hydrate and nourish the deeper layers of skin.
Dead skin cells are continually shed from the skin’s surface. This is balanced by the dividing cells in the basal cell layer (one of the layers of the epidermis) which is in a state of constant renewal.
Exposed to external elements as well as being connected to the body’s internal functions, the skin barrier can be a barometer for not just your skin’s health but also the detection of other issues that might be going on in the body.
Why is the skin barrier so important?
The short answer is that it’s an essential defensive shield. It’s a natural body armour designed to keep the body’s systems balanced. Four key functions of the skin barrier are:
1.STOPS PENETRATION OF PATHOGENS
The skin barrier acts as a first line of defence protecting the body from infection and harmful microbes.
This natural shield contains a network of specialised immune cells in the epidermis. These include cells called Langerhans cells whose job it is to keep guard. When these lookout cells detect foreign and potentially harmful substances, they activate the body’s immune system sending antibodies and other immune cells ready to fight infection.
2. MAINTAINS SKIN HYDRATION LEVELS
The ‘brick wall’ structure of the stratum corneum is designed as a moisture-locking barrier system. If you have a strong skin barrier, it will retain water efficiently keeping your skin hydrated, smooth, and elastic.
When the skin barrier is healthy and hydrated, nutrients are easily carried to the skin cells via blood vessels and carrier proteins, maintaining the overall health of the skin. However, when the barrier is compromised, this balance is disrupted, causing problems.
3. PROTECTS FROM UV RAYS
The stratum corneum is the body’s first line of defence against damaging UV rays. It cleverly provides both a physical barrier against over exposure, as well as allowing some penetration of solar rays to allow the production of Vitamin D. Those rays which do penetrate the skin’s surface enable the production of the pigment melanin, which provides further protection. However, if the skin barrier is compromised, this finely tuned function is disrupted. It is therefore vital to protect the surface of the skin and maintain the integrity of the skin barrier function.
4. SHIELDS FROM POLLUTION
Pollution often contains free radicals - unstable molecules that can cause oxidative stress.
Free radicals are highly reactive molecules with unpaired electrons. In an attempt to stabilise themselves, they interact with other molecules in the skin, including lipids, proteins, and DNA. This process leads to oxidative stress, causing damage to these essential components.
A healthy skin barrier works to prevent pollutant particals directly reaching the living skin cells.
What do we mean by a compromised skin barrier?
The term compromised (or more simply put - damaged) skin barrier refers to a situation where the outermost layer of the skin, is weakened or impaired. This results in a disruption of the skin's protective functions and may manifest in various signs and symptoms (see section below for more details on this).
What are the signs that the skin barrier is damaged?
Key causes of skin barrier damage;
There are multiple factors that can cause skin barrier damage. Knowing what they are will help you protect your skin.
Overwashing / over-exfoliation/ Over use of active products - Skin continuously produces natural healthy oils which are vital to maintaining its balance and protective properties. It’s important to keep skin clean and exfoliate regularly, however too much and too often disrupts the natural pH and strips the skin of these natural and important oils. This can lead to damage and breakouts of spots, dryness and rashes.
Pollution- Dust from the air can clog pores and increase bacteria on the face, leading to spots and acne. Other pollutants in the air can break down the skin’s natural oils responsible for maintaining the moisture in the skin, resulting in dehydration, acne, hyperpigmentation and dermatitis.
Genetics- Genes also can be a predisposition to certain skin conditions including acne, eczema and even types of skin cancers such as melanoma. That’s not to say that you will inherit these conditions, it just means that you may be more prone to them.
Ageing- The skin becomes thinner, it loses fat and doesn’t look as plump and smooth as it was in the past. Gravity can cause the skin to sag and wrinkle as the skin becomes less elastic over time.
Lack of sleep- Increases body’s cortisol levels when the body hasn’t had enough sleep. The high cortisol levels increase the skin’s sebaceous glands to produce more oil. This increased sebum (oil) can trigger inflammation.
Stress- raised cortisol levels resulting in increased inflammation.
Cold/hot weather Sudden temperature changes can also stress our body and the body’s state of equilibrium is abruptly altered. which can trigger conditions such as dry skin (xerosis) and eczema.
How can I protect my skin barrier?
Although the stratum corneum is the first line of defence in keeping body systems balanced, it isn’t infallible. There are proactive decisions that can be taken to protect the skin barrier and ensure that it doesn’t get easily compromised:
Avoid excessive heat or extreme cold
Don’t use harsh cleansers or aggressive exfoliants
Use a broad-spectrum SPF
Drink plenty of water & eat water-rich foods
Ensure you get enough omegas in your diet
If you have overcompensated your skin barrier book in a consultation with us to start your journey of repairing it and getting back that hydrated bouncy skin.
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