What Is Transepidermal Water Loss And How Can It Be Prevented?
Trans epidermal water loss could be one of the reasons you have parched or dry skin (TEWL). Translation? Your skin is evaporating water and moisture. Although TEWL can cause a range of dry skin disorders, including severe dehydration, there are strategies to keep your skin moisturized or avoid dryness in the first place.
What Is Transepidermal Water Loss and How Does It Happen?
Let's go over the layers of our skin again to better comprehend TEWL. The epidermis, the outermost layer of our skin, is made up of three primary layers (aka what you look at in the mirror). The intermediate layer is the dermis, and the innermost layer is the hypodermis. Water flows from the dermis through the epidermis and evaporates through the skin barrier, resulting in TEWL.
"The skin barrier comprises of the epidermis and, more precisely, the hard, outermost layer of the stratum corneum," dermatologist Anna Guanche tells Allure. The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin, however it is actually made up of five layers. The stratum corneum is the epidermis' outermost layer.
Moisture evaporates through the inadequate skin barrier when the stratum corneum is weakened, resulting in severely dry, dull, or dehydrated skin. Your skin is usually capable of regulating water loss and maintaining hydration on its own, but certain conditions might compromise the function of your skin barrier, worsening dryness. If you're wondering if TEWL has damaged your skin barrier, knowing what to check for will help. Flaking, itching, skin tightness, and redness are all indications of TEWL.
What are the causes of transepidermal water loss?
TEWL can be triggered by:
- Eczema, dermatitis, and rosacea are examples of skin conditions.
- Dry weather or prolonged exposure to dry air indoors ( i.e. from air conditioners and central heating)
- Using harsh soaps, over-washing, exfoliating, and scrubbing
- Allergies, diabetes, and renal disease are all possible causes of kidney failure.
- As your sebum production slows, your skin will age.
- Burns from the sun or wounds
- Chlorine
How To Stop Transepidermal Water Loss
The most crucial aspect of preventing TEWL is maintaining a healthy skin barrier. “What is a skin barrier, and how are we expected to defend it?” you might wonder.
A healthy, functional skin barrier keeps the good stuff in, such natural oils and moisture, while keeping the bad stuff out. Due to inefficient water retention, a weakened skin barrier does a poor job of preserving your skin's health, which can lead to skin disorders like dermatitis or dryness. Take a look at the following lifestyle and skin care advice to maintain your skin's ecology healthy and prevent TEWL.
1. Use Hydrating Products
Moisturizing is a key technique for both maintaining skin health and addressing skin barrier dysfunction. “Preventing TEWL will maintain your skin's barrier healthy and hydrated,” explains Eminence Organics Director of Product Development Colette Lieberman. Richer creams will keep moisture in as you sleep, avoiding water loss.”
Night creams, for example, are an important part of any skin care regimen. Because the skin is in recovery mode at night, it's the best time to utilize ultra-rich creams with higher concentrations of active ingredients to promote hydration, restore the skin, and improve the appearance of the skin. For mature skin, this is a very crucial phase. With rich age-defying formulations that trap in moisture, our Marine Peptide Collection is meant to decrease transepidermal water loss. Exopolysaccharide is an ingredient in several of the items in this collection that helps to reduce TEWL and improve skin moisture.
TEWL can be further reduced by utilizing humectants, occlusives, and emollients in skin care products. Moisturizers contain these vital elements. Glycerin and hyaluronic acid are humectants, which attract water from the environment into the skin. But this isn't enough; something must be done to prevent the liquid from evaporating. That's why occlusives like beeswax, which act as a lipid barrier to keep water in, are necessary. Emollients are also utilized to make moisturizers feel smoother and reduce TEWL.
2. Use A Humidifier For A Compromised Skin Barrier
Try using a humidifier in your house if you live in a dry climate or are prone to dry winter weather to see if it helps your skin repair. Humidifiers that produce "nano-sized water particles" have been demonstrated to "positively improve skin hydration and skin barrier function" in studies.
3. Skin Hydration Techniques For Bathing
If you already have dry, dehydrated skin, ScienceDirect recommends putting a damp face cloth or towel to the affected region, while soaking your hands or feet in a basin can help. Bathe for about 10 minutes in warm (not hot) water before applying an occlusive moisturizer to seal in the moisture. ScienceDirect recommends using a damp face cloth or towel to hydrate the face and neck, while bathing your hands or feet (if you have dermatitis) in a basin can be used to hydrate the limb.
4. Avoid Harsh Cleansers And Over-Exfoliating
Excessive washing, exfoliation, chemical skincare, and some acne treatments can all damage the skin barrier and cause skin issues. If you're not sure what's causing your symptoms, it's always a good idea to see a dermatologist. Avoid over-cleansing or using foamy cleansers that may strip your skin of its natural oils as a general rule. A gentle milk cleanser is a better choice. Also, pick your active components carefully. Retinol and alpha hydroxy acids are two ingredients that may exacerbate the symptoms of TEWL.
Are you afflicted with TEWL? Discover the Marine Peptide Collection, which is meant to prevent water loss and moisture retention.