YOUR SKIN BARRIER REVEALED
Photo Credit: beautyinthebag.com
The skin is more than our body’s largest organ. “It also plays an important role as a barrier to UV exposure, physical trauma, and infection, and it also regulates temperature and water loss,” explains Miami dermatologist Christopher O’Connell, MD. Symptoms of a compromised skin barrier include stinging, burning, redness, peeling and inflammation, and if left untreated, can progress to fissures, cracks and worse yet, bleeding and infection.
According to Dr. O’Connell, gentle skincare including a mild cream cleanser and moisturizer, as well as avoiding prolonged water exposure and extreme heat or cold are the best ways to soothe sensitivity associated with a weakened skin barrier
