Does Your Skin Sting? (And Other Symptoms of an Impaired Barrier.)
Over-exfoliating is not the only cause of sensitized skin! Internal and external factors can also play a role… A corneotherapy-based approach is the key to addressing inflammation at its root.
What do acne, dermatitis, rosacea, sensitized, or sensitive skin have in common? All can be linked back to a little thing called inflammation. When inflammation occurs, skin cells actually spread apart, meaning your skin is much more vulnerable to any outside invaders. If any of these skin conditions pertain to you, you should know your skin is likely already compromised on some level. This can happen for a few reasons, but luckily there is a particular method in skincare that can help repair inflammation at a root level.
Corneotherapy is an outside in approach to healing the skin’s barrier function: the protective shield in the epidermis that defends our skin from outside pathogens (harmful bacteria), pollution, allergens, dirt and debris.
Corneotherapy was discovered in the 1960’s by Doctor Albert M. Kligman in order to minimize skin disorders and prevent against the irritation we all know as that uncomfortable sting we can feel while performing our skincare routines. Klingman’s discovery may have been the start to what we all do every day (right guys??)… MOISTURIZE. But corneotherapy is so much more than just using a good moisturizer…
Corneotherapy involves using ingredients that are similar to our skin’s natural makeup. These ingredients support and strengthen the Stratum Corneum, encouraging our skin’s own natural defense system, protecting our lipid layer and preventing against water loss. While babying the skin is key, you may surprised to know in corneotherapy, we also want to encourage our skin cells’ turn over process by exfoliating… responsibly!
However, if you’ve ever felt the aforementioned sting, it may mean your barrier is compromised, and it could be happening for a few reasons. While this can be the result of using poor products or over-exfoliating, it can include:
Intrinsic factors such as hormones, inflammation, stress, medication and diet. As well as extrinsic factors including climate, UV exposure, allergies, improper skincare, using hot water. All of these factors can contribute to inflammation, which spreads skin cells apart, meaning we lose more ceramides, fatty acids and lipids. Meaning we feel the effect of a damaged barrier, which may mean stinging, more breakouts, dry, flaky skin, and other forms of irritation.
The good news is… We can used corneotherapy to reinforce our barrier and reverse some of the damage. What ingredients should I look for to heal my barrier? Again, skin-related ingredients are what we want! These include:
Phospholipids
Ceramides
Cannabidiol CBD
Seabuckthorn
Oxygen (Nasturtium)
Fulvic Acid
Linoleic Acid
Sunflower Oil
Vitamins C, E, A
Hyaluronic Acid
Squalene
All skin is different, but all skins need care that protects our valuable lipid layer, or barrier. If a damaged barrier is something you struggle with, I’m here to help! Corneotherapy is at the heart of every TessaSkin treatment plan, whether you constantly feel “stingy” or not!
To good skin health + a happy barrier!
— Esthetician Tessa
(Source: GlymedPlus.com)
