If the outermost layer of the epidermis (the stratum corneum) does not contain enough water, the skin loses its elasticity and appears dry, rough, and flaky. Poorly hydrated skin is also unable to maintain an appropriate intact skin barrier, which makes the skin more vulnerable to damage from environmental sources. As a result, it tends to show signs of ageing more quickly (skin sagging, wrinkles).
Several factors can damage the skin barrier: smoking, lack of sleep, stress, a diet poor in nutrients, pollution, wind, UV radiation, too frequent washing, the use of overly harsh cleansers, excessive use of exfoliating acids such as glycolic acid, and too frequent mechanical exfoliation.
The disruption of the essential functions of the skin barrier can manifest in several ways:
A chronic skin irritation;
Itching ;
A dull skin;
A delay in wound healing;
The emergence of dead skin cells due to an excessive flaking;
Of premature ageing signs (wrinkles and fine lines that start to appear or intensify prematurely);
Theworsening of certain skin discomforts such as rosacea and eczema. Indeed, these conditions are partly caused by a defect in the skin barrier. However, additional external damage to an impaired skin barrier can trigger a flare-up of these conditions.
If these symptoms are familiar to you, we recommend using products enriched with moisturising and lipid-replenishing active ingredients (hyaluronic acid,ceramides,squalane, vegetable oils, vegetable butters, etc...).Find all our products dedicated to dry skin here.