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April 2026 What IS Your Skin's "Barrier?"
- Julie Powers
- Apr 21
- 2 min read
It’s spring! The weather is warming up, days are getting longer and it’s time to repair your skin from winter’s damage. Winter weather triggers complex biochemical changes that directly affect barrier lipids, ceramide synthesis, and the skin’s ability to maintain equilibrium.
Your skin is your largest organ, and it is a barrier to protect your insides from the outside world. The outermost layer of the skin is the stratum corneum. It is a highly organized structure composed of corneocytes embedded in a lipid matrix. This “brick and mortar” model is foundational to skin barrier integrity. You also have what’s called the “acid mantle” that sits on top of your stratum corneum. It is made up of sebum and natural moisturizing factors, that include ceramides, cholesterol and free fatty acids. Together, this regulates trans-epidermal water loss (water evaporating out through the skin), maintains a healthy pH (4.5-5.5) and act a defense from pathogens and irritants.
During winter, your barrier takes a beating, because the lower humidity pulls water from the stratum corneum which disrupts lipid formation, and the colder temperatures cause constriction of dermal capillaries, so nutrients and oxygen delivery is less efficient. This reduces the production of lipids and ceramides at the cellular level. Ceremide levels can drop 25-30% during winter months!
What you will notice is dryer skin, roughness and sensitivity, all due to the reduction in lipid production. Unfortunately, this can also trigger inflammation and hyperkeratosis, which is a thickening of the skin, which contributes to dullness and irritation.
Our goal in the treatment room is to repair your barrier, and restore proper lipid production. Hydration is important, but so is oil production. Lipid balance is the foundation of skin health, and is key to glowing skin.
Book your appointment today!
10% off home care products for barrier repair through the end of April!
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