Impaired Barrier Function
noun [im•pair•ed bar•rier func•tion]
Improper function of or damage to the stratum corneum results in moisture loss, irritation, redness and hypersensitivity. Impaired barrier function is characterized by rough, red and flakey skin that is easily irritated due to the skin’s inability to protect itself from the outside environment. This is often a result of transepidermal water loss.
Jump to
Transepidermal Water Loss
Related Courses
Investigating Impaired Barrier Function
Discover how weather, over-treatment, and improper product use can lead to impaired barrier function, and how to address this common concern.
Preventing and Treating PPE Related Skin Concerns
Learn how PPE is quickly becoming a culprit in creating or exacerbating skin conditions, both on the face and on the body and how to effectively prevent and treat these concerns.
Types
& Causes
Impaired Barrier Function
Impaired Barrier Function from Environmental Stressors
Impaired Barrier Function from Inappropriate Product Use
Impaired Barrier Function from PPE
Common Causes and Characteristics
- overuse of aggressive products, and use of products with excessive perfumes and preservatives
- harsh climate
- removal of the skin’s natural moisturizing factor (NMF), the substances that are responsible for maintaining the skin’s hydration and pliability, by attracting and holding moisture; removal of the NMF will result in excessive transepidermal water loss (TEWL)
- interruption of intracellular lipids found between the dead surface cells and responsible for trapping water in the stratum corneum; this lipid bilayer provides an occlusive, impermeable barrier, and prevents the loss of water and NMF
- TEWL from inside the body through the epidermis to the surrounding atmosphere; a small amount of TEWL is critical to skin health, yet excessive TEWL may result in skin sensitivity; TEWL is increased when the epidermis is compromised and the NMF is decreased
- keratin denaturation, an alteration of the protein’s shape through some form of external stress (e.g. application of heat, acid, or alkali), may prevent the keratin from carrying out its normal cellular functions
Treatments
& Protocols
How to Treat
-
Sensitive Skin: Decrease Redness and Inflammation -
Sensitive Skin: Increase Hydration to Control Excessive Dryness -
Sensitive Skin: Protect from UV Exposure (SPF)