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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.