The Easiest Way to Improve Skin: Protecting Your Skin Barrier (feat. Ceramide)

Recently, the keyword skin barrier has frequently appeared in advertisements and on social media. Having good skin can also be expressed as having a strong skin barrier. However, we may inadvertently threaten our skin barrier through our daily habits. Since a compromised skin barrier can make skin appear aged and rough, today we will tell you about lifestyle habits that threaten the skin barrier and tips for keeping it strong.

The skin barrier protects our skin from external stimuli and prevents moisture from escaping the body. It refers to the structure of keratinocytes and the lipids and proteins that fill the spaces between them. Simply put, it is the outermost line of defense for the skin.

If you look at houses built in the 90s or early 2000s, you've probably seen many with solid walls made by putting cement between bricks. The skin barrier is similar in structure. This is called the 'Brick and Mortar Model,' where the bricks are what we commonly call keratinocytes, and the spaces between these keratinocytes are filled with intercellular lipids like cement, creating a strong skin wall structure.

The reason the skin barrier is important is that if it breaks down, aging can accelerate rapidly. Let me explain the reasons now.

1. The role of filaggrin and Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF)

The protein called filaggrin in keratinocytes, which act as bricks, plays a very important role. Filaggrin creates natural moisturizing factors, or Natural Moisturizing Factor (NMF), to keep our skin hydrated. If filaggrin is insufficient, Natural Moisturizing Factor decreases, making the skin very dry, weakening the recovery function of the stratum corneum, and allowing external stimuli to easily penetrate deeper. This can cause various skin allergies and contact dermatitis.

2. The importance of the skin lipid component, ceramide

The lipids that act as cement between the bricks are composed of ceramide, cholesterol, and fatty acids. Among these, ceramide, which accounts for about half of the total, is very important. Ceramide effectively collects and holds moisture, preventing it from escaping. Therefore, sufficient ceramide must be maintained for hydrated and elastic skin. However, as we age, lipid components including ceramide decrease. A decrease is also reported in atopic patients, and for those in their 60s, it can be reduced to about one-third compared to those in their 20s. Naturally, the skin becomes dry, loses elasticity, and ages faster.

Surprisingly, the skin barrier can be destroyed or compromised by a variety of causes in daily life.

1. Excessive exfoliation

There is a perception that dead skin cells should be removed quickly, but excessive exfoliation can actually break down the skin barrier. At one time, exfoliating pads and wipe-off toners (wiping toners) were incredibly popular in the cosmetics industry. Many of you watching this video probably have and frequently use these products. However, if you exfoliate too often, or rub too hard with the intention of removing all dead skin, the normal skin barrier will be completely compromised, negatively affecting the skin.

If exfoliation is absolutely necessary, it is best to do it about once a week, gently rubbing with a cloth without applying much force, within a range that minimizes physical irritation. When washing your face, to protect the skin barrier, do not scrub your face as if you are scrubbing your body. If you are using a popular electric cleanser, it is best to reduce the intensity to minimize irritation.

2. Prolonged mask wearing

Prolonged mask wearing is also one of the lifestyle habits that can compromise the skin barrier. A recent study showed that prolonged mask wearing increased transepidermal water loss and pH, which are indicators of skin barrier damage. An increase in these two values compromises the skin barrier, leading to contact dermatitis or irritant dermatitis. Therefore, during hot summers, it is recommended to live in as cool an environment as possible, and to remove and readjust your mask every two hours when there is no contact with others.

The most common initial symptom of a compromised skin barrier is itching. When the barrier that maintains skin moisture breaks down, moisture evaporates, leading to dryness and itching. In addition, the following symptoms may appear:

• Basic cosmetics or foundation pilling or flaking
• Skin appearing dull and rough
• Frequent inflammation
• Redness
• Trouble occurring in specific areas

All of these symptoms can be signs of skin barrier breakdown.

1. Use moisturizers

To strengthen the skin barrier, it is effective to apply plenty of moisturizers containing the lipid component ceramide or Natural Moisturizing Factor. It is also important to stop habits that irritate the skin.

2. Skin Booster, Rejuran Healer

However, if the skin barrier is already damaged, you might consider Rejuran, a skin booster that can provide more powerful effects. Rejuran is a procedure that injects active substances that promote skin regeneration into the dermal layer of the skin, improving elasticity and strengthening the barrier by increasing the density and thickness of damaged skin. Although there are individual differences in skin condition, it is usually reported that improvements in the damaged skin barrier can be felt within 3 to 10 days.

So far, we have learned about the skin barrier, which is extremely important for our skin. The impact on the skin is significant when the skin barrier is compromised, to the extent that the skin can appear aged and rough, yet it is a problem we often overlook. We hope you will avoid lifestyle habits that negatively affect the skin barrier before it is damaged, and diligently apply moisturizers to maintain a healthy skin barrier.