A seasonal transition.
It’s the time of the year when many people start to suffer from acne and rough skin. The sudden changes in the skin can make us impatient and change our skincare routine or what we eat.
And become nervous if our skincare routine is right or not.
Is there a universal law of skincare? Today, we will introduce some skincare tips we all wander.
“What is the structure of our skin?”
“How can we achieve beautiful skin?
“What are the good ingredients for the skin?”
If you have these questions; here you may find your answer.
Check out this article to get rid of your skincare anxiety and try “Microbiome Care.”
Contents
Understanding the structure of your skin
Let's start with the structure of our skin. Yes, there is a lot of technical jargon, but getting to know your skin could be one of the easiest ways to deal with your skin problems.
The structure of the skin is as follows. From the top, the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue.
Let's take a closer look at the epidermis; the outermost part of the skin.
The epidermis is at the top of the skin. It is very thin and delicate with a thickness of only 0.1 to 0.3 mm. However, regardless of its thinness, there are four layers of tissue in there: the stratum corneum, the granular layer, the stratum spinosum, and the basal layer.
In this way, the skin is made up of multiple layers of tissue to protect us from irritation and friction. And the most pivot part of the skin is the stratum corneum which is at the top of the epidermis. It is easily damaged, and if you don't care for the stratum corneum enough, it may cause symptoms such as atopic dermatitis and rough skin.
That's why balancing the stratum corneum from outside the skin is the first step to getting beautiful skin.
The barrier function created by sebum
The stratum corneum has a barrier function that protects the skin. This barrier function is the key function that blocks harmful substances from the external environment. Our hero in this battle is the "sebum" in the stratum corneum.
Although "sebum" may sound bad, it is essential to maintain the skin condition. Sebum is the "oil" produced by the skin, and it forms a film that covers the entire skin.
The idea of using oil at the end of skincare is based on this function of sebum.
Tight junctions that control the skin’s condition
Now, let's take a look at the tissues that exist on the inside, which we cannot take care of from the outside. The "granular layer" which is right under the stratum corneum has tissues called "tight junctions."
Since the granular layer does not appear on the surface, ingredients such as lotion cannot reach, and it is difficult to improve it by usual skincare. This is where inner care takes over the leading role.
And the keyword here is tight junctions.
Tight junctions function to pull the reins of the barrier function. So tissues are also called "cell adhesion molecules" and protect the connections between cells.
In addition, some studies have shown that the activation of tight junctions strengthens the skin’s barrier function and keeps it slightly acidic.
Does glycerin cause acne?
If you look at the ingredients list of a lotion or serum, you will always find one in it. True, glycerin helps to moisturize your skin.
However, do you know that glycerin is the favorite food of acne-causing bacteria?
Cutibacterium acnes, the acne-causing bacteria is an essential microbiome that brings moisture to your skin, but it will cause some skin troubles when they increase too much.
And it is glycerin that causes the growth of the Cutibacterium acnes. Although most cosmetics have glycerin in them, choosing one without glycerin could be the solution if you suffer from acne.
Still, glycerin is an excellent moisturizer, so it is the right answer to choose glycerin when you want to treat your dry skin.
Select the "slightly acid" products to activate good microbiome for skin
Staphylococcus epidermidis is essential to make your skin clear and glow.
Staphylococcus epidermidis, also known as "good microbiome for skin," keeps the skin slightly acidic and makes it beautiful and strong. However, excessive washing and cosmetics can also wash away these good microbiome for skin.
Normally, good microbiome for skin can eat sweat and fat on our skin and expel fatty acids and glycerin on their own. However, when the microbiome quantity decreases due to overwashing, it will not function properly.
On the other hand, it will also cause skin irritation to put on the glycerin-containing cosmetics too much when the good microbiome for skin works precisely and is balanced.
Therefore, if you want to use a surfactant, we recommend choosing a natural one such as rice bran. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects while removing dirt and grime, and it could be a shortcut to get beautiful skin without irritation.
While there are various approaches to skincare, such as careful face wash and good ingredients, have you ever checked whether your skin is "alkaline" or "acidic"?
Nowadays, some products can check your skin's pH, and you can see if your skincare is right for you.
What on earth is the appropriate pH? Which pH can cause skin troubles?
Here, we will answer all your questions about pH with specific numbers.
The pH around 6 is the easiest for bacteria to multiply.
The worst enemy of acne, Cutibacterium acnes is said to proliferate best in the pH of 6 to 7.
The ideal skin pH
The pH of 6 or lower is considered slightly acidic, which is ideal for the skin.
Therefore, we recommend a slightly acidic facewash to keep the good microbiome for skin to work.
As you can see, the difference in the pH could strongly affect the bacteria’s growth. You can get balanced and beautiful skin by maintaining the skin as close to slightly acidic as possible and refraining from alkaline cosmetics.
Do you want to learn more about the secrets of the good microbiome for skin? Click here.
What is the "good microbiome for skin"? An expert on microbiome explains the power of Microbiome Care for your skin.
keyword: good microbiome for skin
How Clay (Mud) Removes Dirt
There is one more important issue besides what you put on your skin. That is, what to use to remove the dirt.
Most people know that we should avoid surfactants, but there are very few face washes without them. Then, what should we use to wash our faces?
The surprising answer to this question is "clay." Clay helps remove dirt and excess sebum from the pores. Also, it's rich in minerals.
Clay cleansers can reduce irritation to the skin as much as possible, leading to less adverse effects on the skin and well-moisturized skin.
There are many types of them on the market; white clay, red clay, etc. But when you're buying one, check its mineral content.
It does not dry out the skin and has anti-inflammatory properties. If you're willing to challenge a new face wash, why don't you give it a try?
Protecting the skin with anti-inflammatory ingredients
There are many ways to get beautiful skin, such as clay face washes and weakly acidic cosmetics. But among them, we highly recommend using a face wash that contains anti-inflammatory ingredients, especially when you are concerned about your pores opening up. Inflammation and oxidation are some of the causes of keratin formation. The keratin becomes thicker and makes the pores open up.
If you've been having problems with your skin lately, check your face wash to see whether it contains these anti-inflammatory ingredients below.
List of anti-inflammatory ingredients;
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Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate Stearyl glycyrrhizate Allantoin Aminocaproic acid Asparagus Officinalis Stem Extract Turmeric extract etc... |
The structure of skins shows us so many things; the importance of caring for the stratum corneum and how tight junctions strengthen the barrier function.
Please remember: avoid over-washing and nurture the good microbiome for skin with clay. Avoid glycerin to prevent the growth of acne bacteria. You can achieve beautiful skin by making small efforts.
Let's continue Microbiome Care together for it.
References：
Reshma Sultana, Strain-dependent augmentation of tight-junction barrier function in human primary epidermal keratinocytes by Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium lysates, Appl Environ Microbiol. 2013 Aug;79(16):4887-94.
