How to Repair a Damaged Skin Barrier and Why It’s Important

Garrette says that one of the main reasons his clients experience barrier damage is because they are exfoliating way too often. It’s hard not to fall into the trap of buying six different exfoliating products, but it’s so easy to overdo it and cause sensitivity and irritation. 

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What are the signs of skin-barrier damage? 

One of the few plus sides of a compromised barrier? It’s pretty easy to tell that that’s what you’re dealing with. Your skin will look and feel irritated overall—think redness, scaly texture, itching, and inflammation. Gohara says you can even experience rashes, while Garrette says a telltale sign of a damaged barrier is that you experience stinging and burning when applying nonactive products like cleansers or hydrating serums. An out-of-whack barrier may also lead to acne, which will only be exacerbated by more harsh treatments. 

How to repair a damaged skin barrier 

If the above paragraph had you scared that one too many exfoliating products would leave you red and scaly forever, that’s not the case. In fact, reversing the damage is actually a pretty straightforward process, and you’ll get your barrier back in good shape. While your first instinct may be to up your skin-care game, all three experts say less is way more here. 

“Allow your skin to renew itself—skin care as simple as Vaseline or Aquaphor is all you need to get there,” says Idriss (see our guide to “slugging” for more info on that technique). “This also includes avoiding all makeup as well. The thought of this is terrifying to my patients dealing with damaged skin barriers, but the short-term disturbance of quitting it all is worth the long-term gain of clear and smooth skin.”

Aquaphor Healing Ointment

Vaseline Petroleum Jelly

Garrette gives his clients with impaired barriers a little more leeway but still recommends a stripped-back routine. He recommends taking two or three weeks off from all active products and ingredients like exfoliants, retinol, and even vitamin C. “Focus on healing, hydrating, nourishing, and skin-replenishing ingredients like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, cholesterol, beta- glucan, sodium PCA, squalane, and centella asiatica,” he says. 

As for Gohara? “I always recommend the Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream,” she says. “It’s a rich, nourishing cream that soothes and calms damaged skin, and utilizes the brand’s proprietary C+ Restore complex, the world’s first post-biotic skin repairing active ingredient.” No matter what products you decide to use, remember to keep it simple, go for a balmy texture, and look for keywords like hydrating and soothing. 

Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream

The Inkey List Ceramide Hydrating Night Treatment

CeraVe Unscented Daily Moisturizing Lotion

Krave Great Barrier Relief

How to protect your skin barrier 

In addition to repairing  your barrier, you’re going to want to protect and strengthen it so it’s less susceptible to future damage.  The number one secret to keeping your barrier strong and healthy? “Stop playing chemist,” says Idriss. “So many people are overdoing it with their skin-care routines and harming themselves in the process. I strongly encourage you to take the time to understand your skin issues in order to address them one by one and not all simultaneously.”  

If you’re adding new products to your routine, introduce them one at a time, and go easy on the actives. “Slow and steady wins the race and saves your skin barrier in the process,” says Idriss. 

Similarly, Gohara recommends using gentle, nonsoap cleansers and incorporating barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides, glycerine, and centella into your daily routine. And she warns that you’re probably exfoliating much more than you should be. Unless you have extremely acne-prone skin, one to three times a week should be plenty. And of course, be thoughtful when it comes to your routine. “If your skin is too dry, or appears irritated or itchy, take a moment to identify what in your skin routine may be the culprit.”

Dr. Loretta Replenishing Serum

Kate Somerville DeliKate Recovery Serum

Naturium Niacinamide Gel Cream

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser

Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Hyaluronate Serum

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair BarriAIR Cream

Bella Cacciatore is the beauty associate at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @bellacacciatore_.