The Moisture Barrier: How Long Does It Take to Heal?
We've all been there. You wake up, look in the mirror, and see a dry, flaky patch of skin staring back at you. Your first instinct is to reach for that harsh cleanser you bought on clearance at the drugstore and scrub away. But stop! That's only going to make things worse. Instead, you need to focus on repairing your skin's moisture barrier.
But how long does it take to fix a damaged moisture barrier? Keep reading to find out.
How the Moisture Barrier Works
Before we can answer that question, we need to understand how the moisture barrier works. The moisture barrier is a thin layer of lipids (oils) that sits on the surface of your skin. This barrier is what helps your skin retain moisture and keep irritants and bacteria out.
When your moisture barrier is damaged, it can no longer perform its functions as effectively. This leads to dryness, redness, and sensitivities—and nobody wants that!
The good news is that the moisture barrier can be repaired relatively easily. However, how long it takes to fix a damaged moisture barrier depends on the severity of the damage as well as how well you take care of your skin.
Minor Damage vs. Major Damage
If you have minor damage to your moisture barrier (think: a few dry patches), you can expect it to heal within a week or two with proper care. However, if you have major damage (think: cracked, raw skin), it can take up to six weeks or longer to see significant improvement.
Of course, nobody wants their damaged moisture barrier to hang around for six weeks! So, what can you do to speed up the healing process?
How to Heal Your Moisture Barrier Faster
There are a few things you can do to help heal your damaged moisture barrier faster:
- Use gentle products: Harsh cleansers, scrubs, etc. will only aggravate your skin and makes things worse. Opt for gentle products that are designed for sensitive skin instead.
- Avoid hot showers: Hot water strips away the natural oils from your skin, which can lead to further damage. Stick with lukewarm water instead—your skin will thank you!
- Up your humidity game: Using a humidifier in your home or office will help add much-needed hydration back into the air. And when the air is more hydrated, your skin will be too!
Nobody likes dealing with a damaged moisture barrier—but unfortunately, it's something that happens to even the best of us from time to time. The important thing is not to panic (and definitely don't reach for that harsh cleanser!). With some patience and TLC, your damaged moisture barrier will be healed in no time!
If you have any questions about your skin, skincare regime, acne or any product recommendations please feel free to contact us here and one of our Vasseur team will get back to you as soon as we can.
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