What is the skin barrier and how does it get damaged?
When the mortar wears away, the wall loosens. Water is lost faster, and outside irritants get in more easily.
Author: Uzm. Dr. Oya Oylum Argun
The outermost layer of the skin is often compared to a brick wall. The comparison explains how it works well.
The bricks are cells that have finished their life and hardened. The mortar is the layer of fat that fills the gaps between them. It is made of ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids.
This structure has two jobs: to slow the evaporation of water from inside, and to stop irritants from outside getting through.
When the mortar wears away, the wall loosens. Water is lost faster, and outside irritants get in more easily. The result is familiar: tightness, flaking, redness, a stinging feeling and sudden sensitivity to products that never caused a problem before.
Hot and long showers, harsh cleansers, frequent scrubbing and strong ingredients applied one after another are the main habits that wear this mortar away.
This article is for general information and does not replace individual medical advice. The right approach for you is decided at the consultation.
Last updated: 4 September 2026
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