SKIN BARRIER REPAIR
WHERE IS THE SKIN BARRIER?
The skin barrier is in the outermost layer of the epidermis, called the stratum corneum. It surrounds the skin cells, called keratinocytes.
The function of the skin barrier is to prevent water from evaporating off the skin’s surface and to keep out allergens, irritants and microbes.
What is the Skin Barrier?
The skin barrier is a bilayer of lipids that surrounds the skin cells in the upper part of the epidermis. These multilamellar membranes bathe keratinocyte skin cells in protective lipids.
The lipids that make up the skin barrier line up in bilayer membranes so that their hydrophobic tails (yellow in the illustration) form a centre section that repels water. This prevents the passage of water across the multilamellar membranes.
What Is the Skin Barrier Made Of?
The skin barrier comprises lipids called ceramides, fatty acids and cholesterol.
There are many different kinds of fatty acids, and the type of fatty acid is important to barrier strength and function.
A healthy skin barrier is made up of a specific physiological ratio of ceramides, fatty acids and cholesterol.
The lipids that form the bilayer membranes are like puzzle pieces that need to fit together exactly to eliminate any spaces between them.
Symptoms of a Damaged Moisture Barrier
- Skin that feels and looks rough and dry
- Dull skin tone - Skin with a compromised barrier does not reflect light; therefore does not glow and is not radiant
- Slight to severe flaking skin, which causes an ashy
look affecting dry brown and black skin - Slight to severe flaking skin, which may cause an ashy appearance
- A feeling of skin tightness
- Itchiness (pruritus)
- Skin that feels and looks rough and dry
- Dull skin tone - Skin with a compromised barrier does not reflect light; therefore does not glow and is not radiant
- Slight to severe flaking skin, which causes an ashy look affecting dry brown and black skin
- A feeling of skin tightness
- Itchiness (pruritus)
COMPLICATIONS FROM DAMAGED SKIN BARRIER
A damaged skin barrier can lead to:
A damaged skin barrier can lead to:
- Acne
- Sensitive skin
- Skin allergies
- Dermatitis / Eczema
- Itching (pruritis)
- Accelerated skin aging
SKIN BARRIER FUNCTION
The 2 PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF THE skin barrier
- PERMEABILITY BARRIER: Creating a barrier against electrolytes- and moisture loss (TEWL - Trans-epidermal Water loss)
- ANTIMICROBIAL BARRIER: Creating a barrier against the entry of unwanted microorganisms such as allergens and irritants. This function protects the skin against irritant dermatitis and skin infections.
Both of these barriers are localised primarily to the stratum corneum layer of the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin).
When these barrier functions are impaired, the result is: DRY SKIN
When these barrier functions are impaired, the result is:
DRY SKIN
The 2 PRIMARY FUNCTIONS OF THE skin barrier
PERMEABILITY BARRIER
Creating a barrier against electrolytes- and moisture loss (TEWL - Trans-epidermal Water loss).
This function protects the skin against becoming dry.
ANTIMICROBIAL BARRIER
Creating a barrier against the entry of unwanted micro-organisms such as allergens and irritants.
This function protects the skin against irritant dermatitis and skin infections.
PERMEABILITY BARRIER
Creating a barrier against electrolytes- and moisture loss
(TEWL - Trans-epidermal Water loss).
This function protects the skin against becoming dry.
ANTIMICROBIAL BARRIER
Creating a barrier against the entry of unwanted microorganisms
such as allergens and irritants.
This function protects the skin against irritant dermatitis and skin infections.
Both of these barriers are localised primarily to the stratum corneum layer of the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin).
When these barrier functions are impaired, the result is: DRY SKIN
When these barrier functions are impaired, the result is:
DRY SKIN
Both of these barriers are localised primarily to the stratum corneum layer of the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin).
When these barrier functions are impaired, the result is: DRY SKIN
When these skin barrier functions are impaired, the result is:
DRY SKINTREATMENT OBJECTIVES FOR DRY SKIN WITH BARRIER IMPAIRMENT
Physiological Barrier Repair with Lipid-based, Ceramide-dominant therapy.
Increase the moisture content of the epidermis with Humectants.
Fill the gaps between skin cells and replace missing lipids with Emollients.
Create a protective layer on top of the skin to prevent water loss and “seal” in moisture with Occlucives.
Increase cellular turnover by hydrating skin with Emollients.
Relieve itching skin by increasing the skin's natural moisturising factor.
Repairing a Compromised Skin Barrier
TRIPLE PHYSIOLOGIC LIPID-BASED BARRIER REPAIR THERAPY
- Unlike moisturisers, topical triple physiologic lipid-based technology amplifies lipid production and replenishes the lamellar bilayers that are critical for normal barrier function and antimicrobial defence.
- Topically applied physiologic lipids, in contrast to moisturisers, do not form an occlusive layer on the SC surface. Instead, they are quickly absorbed into the underlying nucleated cell layers, where they incorporate into lamellar bodies.
- This Barrier Repair Therapy furthermore reduce inflammation by several mechanisms.
- This leads to a smoother surface with less friction and greater light refraction.
Physiologically replenish the lipid bilayers that are critical for normal barrier function and antimicrobial defence.
PRACTICAL EXAMPLE OF HOW TRIPLE LIPID BARRIER REPAIR THERAPY WORK
SUPPORTIVE MOISTURISING CLASSES
OCCLUSIVES
- Occlusives create a protective layer on top of the skin that prevent water loss and “seal” in moisture.
- Occlusives coat the stratum corner (outermost skin layer) to retard transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
- Occlusives is one of the best choices to treat dry skin because it provides an emollient effect as well as decreases TEWL.
- Occlusive agents are only effective while present on the skin; once removed, TEWL returns to the previous level.
Creates a protective layer on top of the skin that prevents water loss and “seals” in moisture.
HUMECTANTS
- Humectants are water-soluble materials with high water absorption capabilities.
- Draw moisture from the air into the skin and/or draw moisture from the dermis into the epidermis.
- The attract water from the atmosphere and from the underlying dermis into the epidermis (outer skin layer).
- Although humectants may draw water from the environment to help hydrate the skin, in low-humidity conditions they may take water from the deeper epidermis and dermis resulting in increased skin dryness. For this reason, they work better when combined with occlusives.
Draw moisture from the air into the skin and/or draw moisture from the underlying dermis into the epidermis.
EMOLLIENTS
- Emollients soften and smooth the skin.
- They function by filling the gaps between skin cells and replace missing lipids.
- Emollients flatten the curled edges of the individual skin cells (corneocytes).
- This leads to a smoother surface with less friction and greater light refraction.
Fill the gaps between skin cells and replace missing lipids.
DERMEXCEL™ TRIPLE PHYSIOLOGIC LIPID-BASED BARRIER REPAIR THERAPY
DERMEXCEL™ MOISTURISER RANGE
DERMEXCEL™
Medical-grade skin care products formulated according to pharmaceutical standards of purity, potency, and stability. All active ingredients, and the concentrations and dosing protocols in which they are used, are supported by data published in the peer-reviewed medical literature.
DermExcel™ takes an easy, effective and affordable approach to evaluating and treating the skin. Targeted treatments to improve skin conditions and maintain skin health.