Apr 24 - Ballito Umhlanga

Better your barrier
The health of your skin barrier determines the overall condition
of your skin. Lourette du Toit, a skin and laser specialist and CEO of
Dermology Group, shares her tips for healthy, more resilient skin…
The truth is flawless skin doesn’t exist – seasonal changes,
breakouts and sensitivity are all completely normal.
Lourette says she always ensures a patient’s skin barrier is
healthy and happy before starting any treatment. “The skin
barrier is essentially your skin’s security system,” she explains.
“It protects against damage caused by environmental
aggressors and other irritants, such as airborne pollutants
and harmful UV rays.” The first sign of a damaged skin barrier
is dehydrated or water-dry skin. Other signs that your barrier
might be impaired include sensitive, red, itchy and flaky skin.
The good news, however, is that there are a few simple ways
to take care of the skin barrier.
STOP TRYING TO SCRUB
YOUR OIL AWAY
“Most of the time, my
acne patients’ skin barriers are
impaired because they are
over-exfoliating their skin to
try and get rid of excess oil,”
says Lourette. “Over-exfoliating
strips the barrier of natural
lipids, damages the barrier and
can possibly even lead to more
breakouts.”
USE BARRIER- FRIENDLY
INGREDIENTS
Build your barrier with nourishing
ingredients. Choose products that
contain ceramides, hyaluronic
acid (HA), niacinamide and
peptides, which allow the skin to
retain moisture.
LESS IS MORE
“Often I see patients trying to
keep up with a 20-step skincare
routine while their skin barriers
are still unhappy,” says Lourette.
“This can actually slow down the
process of achieving healthier
skin.” Skincare essentials include a
good cleanser; a moisturiser; and
a SPF 50 broad spectrum. If you
have a specific issue you’d like to
address, you might find a serum
helpful.
GO LOW AND SLOW
When you incorporate
your first serum
or active ingredient to
address a skin concern, do so
conservatively. Gently introduce
the active ingredient to your
skin. This means starting off by
using it once a week for the first
month, twice a week for the
second month and then if all
goes well, try three times a week
for the third month.
USE AN SPF
An SPF 50 broad
spectrum with
blue light protection is nonnegotiable
in any skincare
regime. “If you are serious about
getting results, you need to
get serious about SPF,” urges
Lourette. “These days, we also
have to protect our skin against
the harmful rays from our TV’s,
laptops and cell phones.”
Details: Dermology, Izulu Office Park, Rey’s Place, Ballito; www.dermology.co.za;
064 803 2300; ballito@dermology.co.za; IG: @dermology_africa
32 Get It • Ballito • Umdloti • Umhlanga April 2024