Stop Layering! How to Use Skincare Without Damaging Your Skin Barrier

Aggressive skincare routines and excessive "layering" of products, driven by the desire for instant glowing skin, pose a significant risk of damaging the skin's natural barrier, according to dermatologist Dr. Hafiza Fathan.

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Using products that are too harsh, layering skincare too much, treatments that are too aggressive. In their eagerness for instant glowing skin, many end up "hoarding" various treatments at once, even from different places in a short period.

Dr. Fathan highlighted that using "too harsh" products, layering too many items, or undergoing overly aggressive treatments can transform normal skin into a sensitive and easily irritated state. This is often a result of individuals trying to achieve rapid results by combining multiple treatments in a short period.

The skin barrier is the body's outermost defense, protecting against irritants, bacteria, and environmental changes. When this barrier is compromised, the skin becomes prone to redness, stinging, and breakouts. Dr. Fathan advised that the first step in recovery is not to add more products but to focus on soothing and calming treatments to restore the skin's normal condition.

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Treatment A, B, C done close together, even though all are aggressive. This is what ultimately damages the skin barrier. What was normal, becomes sensitive.

The recovery process for a damaged skin barrier can vary significantly from person to person, depending on the extent of the damage and its triggers. While some may see improvement within days, others might require several weeks or even months for their skin to heal.

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Usually, we first treat the sensitive condition. We find the cause, then perform therapies that are soothing or calming. The focus is on restoring the skin barrier.