How can I repair my skin barrier? Are there any essential ingredients in topical products that can help repair the skin barrier?

Important ingredients in skin products can broadly be broken down into one of the 3 groups:

1. Moisturizer
2. Sunscreen
3. Anti-aging topicals/antioxidants

1. Moisturizers

Ceramides fall under this category. It’s a type of lipid (fat) produced by your body to retain moisture in the skin, and is particularly useful if you have dry skin or eczema. Linoleic acid, in turn, is required for your body to produce ceramides.

Which moisturizer you should use really depends on your skin type. Generally speaking:

1. If your skin is oily, use a gel-like, non-oily moisturizer that will hydrate your skin.
2. If your skin is normal, a lotion-like moisturizer will suffice.
3. If your skin is dry, or you are prone to eczema, a heavier moisturiser, or one containing ceramide to restore the skin barrier will be useful. You should also use moisturisers at least twice a day.

2. Sunscreen

Sunscreen is the single most important product you should use for your skin, to prevent both aging as well as the breakdown of your skin barrier.

Again, the type of sunscreen you choose really depends on your skin type:

1. If your skin is oily or normal, choose a light lotion.
2. If your skin is dry, a rich cream is preferable.

Sunscreens that are creams and lotions already have a moisturizing effect as well.

3. Anti-aging topicals

Despite what all the adverts will have you believe, the only anti-aging ingredients in products that are proven to work are retinoids, as well as Vitamin C and Coenzyme Q-10 containing serums. The latter are antioxidants that help to prevent sun damage by neutralizing free radicals.

Cheers