What type of barrier is the skin?
Your skin is your largest organ and it’s also powerful. Your skin barrier is your first line of defence against a number of external aggressors, and it works hard to keep you protected. It’s made up of three parts; the outer layer called the epidermis, the thick middle layer known as the dermis and the bottom fatty layer called the hypodermis. Each layer plays an important part as a skin barrier. Your skin barrier helps to protect you from pollution, UV rays, infection, dehydration and toxins, which is why you’ll want to keep it performing at its healthy best.
Carry on reading to discover what type of barrier the skin is, what causes skin barrier damage and how to protect your skin barrier.
What type of barrier is the skin?
To answer the question “what type of barrier is the skin”, it’s important to understand the three layers that it’s made up of. Here’s a brief rundown of each layer and how they form part of your skin barrier.
1. Epidermis (outer layer)
This outer layer is also known as the stratum corneum. It’s even sometimes described as a “brick wall”. This outer layer is made up of really tough skin cells that are all packed together with mortar-like lipids. Together, they form your skin barrier. Without your skin barrier, you’d have no defence against many harmful environmental toxins, which could negatively affect different parts of your body. Also, this part of your skin barrier stops water from escaping, which would leave you dehydrated.
2. Dermis (middle layer)
The middle layer of your skin is made up of collagen, elastic tissue, blood vessels, nerve endings, hair follicles and glands. One of the functions of this layer is to support and protect your skin barrier. The elastic tissue helps to support your skin and provides flexibility. The layer also regulates your body temperature, allows you to experience the sensation of touch and also assists your immune system.
3. Hypodermis (inner layer)
The innermost layer of your skin is called the hypodermis. This layer of your skin barrier connects your skin to muscles and bones and insulates your body, keeping you protected from heat and cold. It also produces sweat to help regulate your body temperature. The hypodermis acts like a shock absorber and protects your organs, muscles and bones from harm. This layer of your skin barrier also produces fat cells, which is your body’s energy storage system.
What causes skin barrier damage
Now that we’ve discussed what your skin barrier is made up of, you can see that it’s important to keep it healthy and protected. To do this, you should know what causes skin barrier damage. Here’s a brief list of what causes skin barrier damage:
- Your environment – dry, humid environments or hot or cold weather can damage your skin barrier
- Toxins, pollutants and irritants that can be found in the environment
- Smoking
- UV rays from too much exposure to the sun
- Hot baths or showers
- Harsh soaps or detergents
- Not taking good care of your skin
- A broken skin barrier due to cuts, scrapes, grazes and injuries
- Eating a diet with a lot of unhealthy food
- Washing your skin too much or exfoliating
- Certain medications
- Not getting enough sleep at night
What is skin microbiome?
There are all kinds of organisms that live on your skin like bacteria, fungi, viruses, archaea and mites. Together, these make up your skin microbiome. A lot of these organisms are really good for you and help to create a strong skin barrier. Some, however, are bad and could cause harm. It’s essential that you keep your skin microbiome healthy and well balanced to help support your skin barrier and even your immune system. Read our article about the skin microbiome to discover more about the good and bad bacteria and the role they play in keeping your skin barrier healthy.
How to protect your skin barrier
Your skin barrier is powerful and you’ll want to keep it performing at its healthy best. Here are some of our top tips on how to protect your skin barrier.
- Stay out of the sun and use a good sunscreen. UV rays can disrupt your skin barrier and can even cause dark skin spots and wrinkles.
- Moisturise your skin every day. Moisturises can hold water in your skin barrier and help to keep it smooth and elastic.
- Be gentle with your skin. Being rough by pulling can cause a disruption in your skin barrier.
- Choose gentle skincare products including a gentle shower gel
- Eating healthily can help with skin elasticity and keep it looking younger
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water each day.
Explore our range of Sanex products to help protect your skin’s barrier
Sanex Expert Skin Health Hypoallergenic Shower Gel
Take gentle care of your very sensitive skin with our hypoallergenic body wash that gently cleanses with its advanced formula, while providing minimised risk of skin irritation*. It's created with our proprietary prebiotic and postbiotic complex formula that supports the good bacteria on your skin and helps to create a strong barrier against external aggressors. It also leaves your skin less prone to dryness after each shower, while providing 12 hours of hydration. Our vegan sensitive body wash is dermatologically tested, contains 0%** sulphates and respects your skin's natural pH.
*Sanex updates all the fragrances regularly, avoiding where possible the use of fragrance allergens regulated under EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009.
**Does not contain any sulphate-based surfactants.
Sanex Expert Skin Health Pro Hydrate Shower Gel
Give your very dry skin a boost of much-needed moisture with our moisturising body wash that's expertly crafted to gently cleanse and deeply moisturise. It's created with our proprietary prebiotic and postbiotic complex formula that supports the good bacteria on your skin and helps to create a strong barrier against external aggressors. It also leaves your skin less prone to dryness after each shower, while providing 12 hours of hydration. Our vegan moisturising body wash is dermatologically tested, contains 0%* sulphates and respects your skin's natural pH.
*Does not contain any sulphate-based surfactants."
Sanex Zero% Kids Head to Toe Wash
Our paediatrician approved kids’ body wash has been specially developed to care for your little one’s delicate skin. It’s been made with a 99% biodegradable formula and is free from fragrance, sulphates, colourants and soap. It also contains moisturisers of natural origin to help your little one’s skin feeling soft and smooth.
