R.The skin is more than just an expression of your health and your good appearance. It is your only barrier between internal and external worlds, while maintaining good things and banning bad. This complex member is brilliantly designed, but it faces new challenges in the modern world. It is at risk of collapse.
Real broken “skin barriers”. They are the subject of great attention from “Leather“On Tijook, but they are strictly studied by dermatologists,” says Dr. Anthony Rossi, a dermatologist at the Memorial Celing Cancer Center for Cancer. We love the skin barrier, but in a very physiological and scientific way. “
In addition to prohibiting the elements physically, the barrier uses its small police: the immune cells and millions of healthy microbes that cut the causes of rogue skin diseases, among other important functions. In recent years, researchers have learned more about the reason for the barrier failure, the consequences of the barrier at risk, and how to protect it for health and – Yes -.
Real skin barrier
Skin barrier involves Four layers of protectionPhysics, chemical, immunity, and microbes. Instead of a pie pile, think about these layers as links in a chain. “Everything is interconnected and interrelated,” says Dr. Richard Gallo, Professor and Head of the Department of Dermatology at the University of California, San Diego. “If any link is weak, your series will be committed.”
The visible external part of the skin, called the skin, is responsible for most physical protection. It is made of protein -rich cells in addition to fats or fats, which fill the gaps between cells. When this “”Bricks and mortars“The wall is strong, which is loaded Natural moisturizing factors That keeps the skin wet. It is full, resistant to stalls, and harmful substances such as UV and bacteria.
Another role in the skin plays: support the chemical layer of protection. They do it by Promotion The perfect acid environment for preserving the skin. This acidity also provides a comfortable house for useful microbes while hunting pathogens.
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The third layer, immunity, includes Specialized cells That fights skin infections before spreading. These immune cells are found in the skin and the layer under it, the dermis, which also includes nerves and blood vessels.
The fourth defense of the defense of the skin barrier is Microbium skin. Gallo says that these microbes “produce all kinds of great things”, such as molecules that kill pathogens and help build the fats needed for acidity and skin strength. Dr. Erine Chen, Assistant Professor of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, adds, adds Dr. Irene Chen, assistant professor of biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and pathogenic specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital.
If these protective layers fail, the skin collapses, literally and metaphorically. Tears or discounts can display the underlying tissues to harm. Skin diseases may develop like Atopic dermatitis and Chastity. Life -threatening infections such as Mrsa And streptococcus bacteria can also gain the toe. “They take advantage of the joints of the skin,” explains Gallo.
In addition, the risk of skin cancer rises and skin wrinkles spread, along with acne. It is not just looks. Threat It may lead To the physical inflammation, which pushes biological aging.
Therefore, what are the interventions that start from the barrier defenses, and how can we thwart them?
Products that harm the skin barrier
It turns out that we are causing a lot of damage to ourselves by applying skin products that harm the envelope of the meat that we seek to protect. Like dwarfing plant growth by excessive water, excessive self -care can undermine the skin barrier.
This is especially true when using abrasive products. Chemical soap and harsh antiseptics have components – such as foam factors such as Sodium sulfate Laurel– That – which Break O fat in the skin, destroys and irritates the physical layer of protection. Cosmetics may have similar effects. “They are dismantling the membranes of fat,” says Rossi. The soap made of vegetable ingredients and other natural ingredients are often the tenderness of the skin than those that contain sulfate and other synthetic additives.
Another issue is a lot of bathing. Rossi says that the whole body soap rarely if necessary. “The natural foam of washing with water will clean you,” he explains, unless you sweat in abundance, as he explains. Dr. Bruce Robinson, a dermatologist in New York City, Advice Regular use of soap body washing for hair parts only; Soap more comprehensively only 1-2 times a week and limit the shower to about five minutes.
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Dr. Esther Freeman, associate professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical Faculty of Medicine, says that he is away from heavy exfoliation. These harsh products can change your skin acidity, exposing the microbial police against pathogens.
Many products contain alcohol, dyes and preservatives called paraben that can lead to allergic reactions and rubbing the barrier in a wrong way. In particular, products with perfumes should be avoided. “We see a lot of skin allergies with perfumes,” says Freeman. “Especially if the barrier is not completely intact, you can stimulate allergies over time.” Look for “perfume -free” products. It can still have a “uncomplicated” perfume that hides chemicals, According to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Since the epidemic, dermatologists have witnessed excessive in personal cleaning behavior, which will harm the skin barrier. Gallo notes one example: continuous hand sterilizer, even without a large bacterial exposure. Akiko Iyusaki, a professor of immunity at Yale University, says do not reduce the value of washing your hands. “Washing hands regularly with warm water and soap has a long way to prevent infections,” she says. When hand washing is not possible, the antiseptic becomes a key, especially in bacterial environments. However, none of this requires a lot of bathing.
Fighting elements: UV rays and pollution
Excessive self -care has repercussions that exceed the limits of our bathrooms. Since it weakens the skin barrier, we are more vulnerable to outdoor threats – most likely, UV rays from the sun.
They float on the surface on the natural oils needed to produce a special protein called Filaggrin In the skin. When abundant, Filaggrin maintains a wet barrier UV resistant. With less Filaggrin, more UV rays pass.
With the same distinctive symbol, high UV exposure It may cause Rossi says that Filaggrin is deterioration, as well as collagen and elastin, which enhances the skin queue and its elasticity, and we know that it causes skin cancer. ”At the age of 70, skin cancer is Hitters 1 out of 5 Americans.
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Sunflower It is important to prevent the barrier to prevent the barrier. It is also important, if you are outside when the sun is stronger, from 10 am to 4 pm “I am a great fan of it The fabric with the ultraviolet protection factor“SPF is like clothes,” says Freeman. UPF 30 or higher classification Recommended.
Another threat to the barrier is environmental pollution like Material particles And hydrocarbons. “They restore corruption on the skin by causing free radical oxidation,” says Rossi. “It definitely causes the reactions to the skin that it provides prematurely,” Robinson notes.
Initial evidence Suggest The application of vitamin C is topical before the exit may be preventive. “It can reduce some of the toxic effects of the cells of the particles,” says Freeman.
Robinson says another issue is dry air, which “causes an inflammatory response and a full set of problems.” “Itching begins, and scratching causes a physical shock, which is exposed to the skin more, so it loses moisture.”
Rescue
A Well -moisturized It can save the skin barrier. “We are doing things all the time that makes our skin work badly,” says Chen. “So we have to restore water.”
A moisturizer fights the septum enemies. Look for one with ingredients called ritual That attracts and keeps water from deeper layers of skin and dermis, while keeping the outer layer full and strong. Robinson notes hyaluronic acid example; It holds up to 1000 times its weight in the water. Gallo is recommended by a relative cousin, Hippara sulfateIt is likely to be more effective. Glycerin is another useful component.
Russian asks patients to inhibit the skin before applying a moisturizer. He says this is the technique of “soaking and distorting” the imagination of water on the skin, which enhances the effect of the moisturizer.
Other good moisturizing ingredients, known as a blockage, provide fats to enhance gaps in the skin. “They behave like cement or glue for our skin cells to adhere to each other,” Rossi says, and they form a unified front against the attacks.
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Jelly oil, like Vaseline, is another type of blockage. It is a second shield on the skin barrier, such as a barrier that protects the castle, or as Friman places, “a brick wall that places it on the skin.” Chen says that the better it is the better (but people with sensitive skin should avoid olive oil, which can be annoying).
Gallo sees a negative aspect to a blockage. “They can prevent pores,” he says. “It is worth looking, but it should not be the only component to keep the barrier to work.”
Emir Like coconut or shea butter is a third moisturizing class. Product experience to find a dedicated approach; A person’s needs depend on GeneticsAmong other factors. “What works well for one person may not work for the benefit of others,” says Gallo. Dermatologist can provide guidance.
As with other products, moisturizers should be free of perfumes.
Go with your bumps
Companies offer products to repair broken skin barrier. Few of them have been studied to determine their benefits. However, Robinson believes that some injection drugs deal with the repair function well. “They are boycotting a series of inflammation in the skin,” he says. Dupixent and Jak inhibitors As “gamechangers” for appropriate patients.
Some probiotics supplements that are marketed provides the improvement of the skin microbiome. Robinson says these supplements “did not show that they help the skin barrier.”
In general, though, scientists are actively studying the bonds between the microbium intestine and the leather microbium, called Bowel. Gallo Find That when the skin barrier is damaged in the mice, their bowel microbes changed. “Members speak together, and microbium responds,” he says.
This indicates that the meals that support the healthy intestine microbium can Biome is useful for the skin For a more effective barrier. Initial evidence indicates that the products made by the intestinal microbes It ends up Loosters for the skin. “The small molecules revolve through your blood to influence the tissues throughout your body, including your skin,” says Chen.
Nutrition also enhances the development of building blocks for the basic stem cells of the skin barrier to regenerate and repair itself. A healthy lifestyle in general that slows down aging, which supports The length of the skin barrierChen says.
Protect the barrier prevention, before breaking it. “It is more important than what people realize,” says Chen. “Everyone should think about the health of their skin.”
