The Secret To Flawless Skin? Learn To Protect Your Skin's Natural Barrier

From sun to wind to freezing cold, our faces are exposed to the most extreme of elements on a daily basis. To safeguard against this brutal treatment, our bodies developed a powerful first line of defense. We call it our skin's "barrier." This so-called barrier is made up of corneocytes (also known as dead skin cells) and a lipid bilayer that holds those cells together. This lipid bilayer works to envelop the corneocytes, keeping water and nutrients inside the skin and harmful bacteria and irritants out. These days, there are a handful of products out there, from sunscreens to face mists, which will claim to create a barrier around your skin, blocking everything from dust to car exhaust to pollen from disrupting your complexion. But the truth is, our skin's natural barrier is far more effective than any product at fending off those environmental irritants. You just need to know how to care for it. Take, for example, a child. Most of the time, their skin is bright, clear and blemish-free. Fast-forward a decade or two and suddenly that same person suffers from breakouts, dermatitis, dry skin or rosacea. But it's not just a result of unbalanced hormones. Those conditions are clear signs of a weakened barrier. When you have a healthy, functioning barrier, your skin will look plump, smooth and hydrated. But, when skin starts to look dry, dull or slack, your barrier has likely been compromised. The bad news: it's pretty easy to damage your skin's natural barrier. Some of t...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news