T.E.W.L & The Skin Barrier

The buzz word for 2024 and skin health is “Barrier Health” and to understand barrier health we need to talk about TEWL, or Trans Epidermal Water Loss. The skin is an organ constantly working to protect us from the outside world. It is made up of lipids, proteins, and complex cellular components. 

The definition of Trans Epidermal Water Loss is...

“is the amount of water that passively evaporates through skin to the external environment … on both sides of the skin barrier and is used to characterize skin barrier function.” 

So let’s break that down- 

• Trans Epidermal - this refers to the skin, both above and below. 
• Water Loss- this refers to the water leaving the skin and evaporating. 
• Skin Barrier Function- how health the skin is and how well its performing. 

So the amount of water leaving the skin directly impacts skin health. When the skin loses too much water, or a high TEWL, this impairs skin function (think about how you feel sluggish when you are thirsty or dehydrated). When our skin isn’t functioning properly, it is susceptible to things like infection, hyperpigmentation, excessive oiliness or dryness, and acne. 

In order to maintain skin barrier health- the first step is to minimize TEWL. This ensures the cells and organelles of the skin have the necessary components to function at their optimal levels, to balance oil, protect against infections and minimize acne lesions. 

Let's talk about what the skin barrier is is and why it is important! 

The skin barrier is the outermost layer of the skin, composed of skin cells, lipids, and protein. This complex structure is the body's first line of defense against the environment, pollution, UV rays, and infectious pathogens. 

 A healthy skin barrier is the first step to maintain healthy skin. When the barrier is in optimum health it maintains hydration levels, balances oil production, supports an even skin tone and helps to prevent acne lesions.  

You can protect your skin barrier in the following ways...

1. Avoid harsh cleansers 
2. Don’t over exfoliate 
3. Wear sunscreen daily 
4. Using the correct products for your skin type 
5. Incorporating ceramides in your skincare routine 
6. Maintain stress levels 

Clean Towels are clinically shown to improve your skin barrier. From our latest clinical study, participants that switched to Clean Towels...

• 100% saw a boost in overall skin health*
• 100% saw improvement in the skin's barrier*
• 93.94% saw a reduction in skin oiliness*
• 87.88% saw a reduction in skin redness*
• 78.79% saw a reduction in skin sensitivity*

*In a single-center clinical study of 33 healthy adults from various backgrounds to evaluate the safety and efficacy of our Clean Towels, the vast majority showed visible improvement in these minor skin issues after six weeks of continuous daily use.

Thank you for reading!