What is the Skin Barrier and Why is it so Important?

Healthy-looking skin begins and ends with a healthy skin barrier. As skin’s number one line of defense against damaging stressors and dehydration, it needs regular care and maintenance. But what exactly is the skin barrier?

1. Most simply, it’s the outermost layer of skin and the part you can see.
2. It acts like a shield, keeping the bad stuff from entering and the good stuff from leaving the skin.
3. It’s made up of cells and lipids that work together to protect skin. 
4. It’s responsible for making sure that water and electrolytes do not evaporate from skin.

Imagine your skin is a brick wall. Each brick is held in place with mortar. When your skin is healthy, nothing gets past the mortar. When your skin is unhealthy, it’s as if the mortar has loosened, letting bacteria and pollutants enter as water and nutrients escape. To maintain your proverbial “mortar” and have healthier skin, here are 4 steps that you can take.