Our skin is the largest and most complex organ in the body. Its main role is to protect our body from external irritants and pathogens and to prevent excess water loss. Our skin has an amazing way of handling this constant exposure. Our barrier, along with the acid mantle and microbiome, work together to support our skin's natural protective function.

Some factors that can compromise your skin's barrier are often perceived as being "good" for your skin or completely harmless, when in fact they can significantly contribute to disrupting and weakening the barrier. Some common causes include:

• Excessive cleansing and exfoliating
• Incorrect or excessive product use
• Physical damage such as friction and shaving
• Incorrect professional treatments
• Inflammatory skin conditions
• Lifestyle factors, such as hot showers, recreational sports and UV exposure
• Stress and hormonal changes

When we see impaired skins in clinic, they often appear as dry, dehydrated, with unbalanced lipids, thickened texture, changes in the pores, redness, irritation or congestion.

Fortunately, these concerns can be improved with correct, tailored homecare, guidance and professional treatments.

At The Studio, we always treat the skin's barrier before treating more specific concerns. Our first action is to bring the skin back to homeostasis (its healthy, balanced state), before moving into more advanced or corrective treatments. Often, when we see impaired and unhealthy skins, they present as other severe skin concerns such as acne. It is important to uncover the underlying issues before moving into your treatment plan.