What is the cutaneous barrier? What does it do? How to keep it functioning properly. Read on and learn the whole story.

What does the cutaneous barrier do?

Did you know that your skin has three layers? The hypodermis, dermis and epidermis. And the last layer of your epidermis is called the "stratum corneum," (Latin for the horny layer) because it’s your skin’s primary protective barrier against aggression.

Here's why your skin’s barrier so essential...

Protecting against infection

Your skin’s barrier prevents microbes, bacteria, viruses and other aggressors from entering your body and causing infection.

Minimizing water loss

Your skin’s natural barriers help limit water loss to maintain proper hydration. A damaged skin barrier can lead to dry or dehydrated skin, skin sensitivity and the premature appearance of wrinkles, among other problems.

Protecting against irritants and allergens

Your cutaneous barrier also helps protect the skin against external aggressors, like chemicals, allergens and pollutants by preventing them from entering your body and by controlling your skin's defense reactions.

Maintaining your skin’s balance

Your cutaneous barrier also helps maintain your skin's pH balance, while stabilizing your body temperature and regulating exchanges between your skin and the environment.

However, when your skin barrier fails to function properly, you can become at greater risk of developing certain skin problems like acne, dry or rough patches, wrinkles and fine lines, discoloration, inflammation, itching... If you have a skin problem, it's important to find the right treatment to target the problem.

When should I use them?

Skin-barrier repair products are useful in the following types of situations:

• When your skin lacks moisture and shows signs of dryness, flaking or tightness.
• If you have skin irritations, like redness, itching, inflammation or allergic reactions.
• After dermatological procedures, chemical peels or other aggressive treatments that can weaken your skin’s barrier.
• Following prolonged exposure to the sun’s rays.
• To treat skin conditions like eczema, dermatitis or psoriasis.
• As a preventive measure to help bolster your cutaneous barrier and protect your skin from environmental aggressions.

Which ones should I use?

Avène is a pioneer in the field, and their Cicalfate+ skincare range is recognized as the benchmark in restorative skin care. Recommended by dermatologists, this well tolerated, fragrance-free line of products is specially created to suit the delicate, fragile skin of children and adults alike.

Cicalfate+ Intense Restoring Serum

This facial serum is the first step in an ideal skincare routine to help achieve and maintain healthy skin. In addition to moisturizing, soothing and repairing your skin, it also acts on your cutaneous barrier in two specific ways:

1. From the very first use, it begins to repair and reinforce your skin’s barrier over the long term.
2. After just three weeks of use, it helps your skin restore its capacity for self-repair, breaking the reactive cycle.

What's more, Cicalfate+ Intense Restoring Serum contains the patented active ingredient TRP Regulin, which reduces your skin’s reactiveness and feelings of discomfort, while its Vitamin B5 helps restore your cutaneous barrier.

Cicalfate+ Restoring Protecting Cream

This versatile cream can be used on the fragile, sensitive face and body of infants, children and adults.

Featuring restorative and purifying active ingredients that treat irritations, scratches, redness, pimples, dry patches, scars, sunburn and insect bites, this cream instantly relieves discomfort. Plus, its rich, creamy texture helps create a bandage effect to protect your skin.

In addition to providing deep hydration, this formula repairs your skin within 48 hours, promoting epidermal repair while limiting the growth of bacteria.