Understanding the role of the skin barrier in atopic dermatitis
The skin barrier is the outermost layer of the skin, and its role is to protect the body from irritants such as allergens and viruses, while also regulating water loss and skin hydration.
In people with atopic dermatitis (AD), it is often said that they have a dysregulated or dysfunctional skin barrier. This means that their skin isn’t as good at keeping the bad stuff, like irritants out, and keeping good stuff, like water in. This leads to symptoms of dryness, irritation, and inflammation.
ESC recently asked Ottawa-based dermatologist Mark Kirchhof, MD, PhD, FRCPC, FAAD about the skin barrier and its role in AD.
“You can think of the skin as a brick-and-mortar wall that prevents certain germs from getting in. When the skin becomes damaged, these germs can more easily enter the skin causing inflammation and resulting in more loss of moisture. Maintaining your skin barrier is an important part of AD management as it can help reduce the likelihood of germs getting across the barrier and causing inflammation.”
Here are some ways you can help maintain your skin barrier:
- Practice good moisturizing habits. Apply a barrier cream (like a lotion or ointment) frequently, and make sure to put cream on after your skin gets wet.
- Try to minimize your exposure to known allergens and irritants – this can be done by tracking your triggers and avoiding environments that you know can trigger a flare.
- Treat your inflammation (under the guidance of a qualified health care professional) and let them know if your symptoms are not improving – there may need to be an adjustment to your skin care or treatment regimen.
When in doubt, consult a qualified health care professional, like a dermatologist. They can assess your skin and create an optimized treatment plan to help bring control to, and relief from AD symptoms.
Eczema Society of Canada (ESC) thanks Mark Kirchhof, MD, PhD, FRCPC, FAAD, for sharing his expertise during ESC’s March 2022 Life with Eczema virtual event series and on this content. Funding for the Life with Eczema Winter 2022 event series was generously provided by Pfizer Canada and Sanofi Genzyme, a division of sanofi-aventis Canada Inc.
Disclaimer: Information provided in this resource does not constitute medical advice and is not intended to be used as a diagnostic tool. The information is up-to-date at time of publication. All medications, interventions, and treatment plans have risks and benefits, and it is important that individuals discuss their or their child’s specific health care needs with a qualified health care professional.
March 2022
