Prevent Dry Skin by Understanding TEWL: Tips for Lasting Hydration

Have you ever wondered why your skin feels dry and tight, even after applying moisturizer? One reason might be TEWL, or Transepidermal Water Loss. TEWL is a scientific term for how much water your skin loses to the environment. While TEWL is a natural process, if it gets out of balance, it can lead to skin dehydration, dryness, and a compromised skin barrier. In this blog, we’ll break down TEWL in simple terms, explain why it matters, and discuss how to keep your skin hydrated and protected.

What is TEWL (Transepidermal Water Loss)?

Your skin’s main job is to act as a barrier between your body and the outside world. Part of this job includes holding onto moisture to keep your skin healthy and hydrated. TEWL is the process through which water moves from the inside of your body, through the skin’s layers, and evaporates into the air. This loss of water is a natural part of your skin’s functioning, but if the skin barrier is compromised, TEWL can increase, causing your skin to lose moisture faster than it can be replenished.

Why Does TEWL Matter?

When TEWL is balanced, your skin maintains the right amount of moisture, staying soft, supple, and resilient. However, if TEWL is too high, it can lead to:

• Dehydrated Skin: Skin loses its natural plumpness and radiance, making it look dull and feel tight.

• Dryness and Flakiness: Increased TEWL can cause the skin to feel rough, flaky, and irritated.

• Compromised Skin Barrier: A weakened barrier allows pollutants, allergens, and bacteria to penetrate more easily, making the skin more prone to irritation and breakouts.

"When the skin barrier is weakened, it allows more water to escape, which can leave your skin feeling dry and tight. This increase in TEWL not only leads to dehydration but also makes it easier for irritants to get in, causing sensitivity and inflammation. Keeping that barrier strong is essential to reduce TEWL and maintain healthy skin.” – Dr. Kavita Mariwalla, Board-Certified Dermatologist

Visualizing TEWL: The "Brick Wall" Analogy

To understand TEWL better, think of your skin like a brick wall. In this analogy:

• The bricks represent your skin cells.

• The mortar (cement) represents lipids (natural fats) and oils that fill the spaces between the skin cells.

When the "mortar" is strong, it holds the skin cells tightly together, keeping water inside. But if the mortar is weak (due to things like harsh weather, over-cleansing, or aging), gaps start to form, and water escapes more easily. This is when TEWL increases, and your skin loses moisture faster than it should.

Everyday Example: Skin as a Sponge

Another simple way to think about TEWL is to imagine your skin as a sponge:

• A well-hydrated sponge holds water perfectly, staying soft and bouncy.

• A dry sponge becomes stiff, rough, and brittle, with cracks forming easily.

Just like a dry sponge, when your skin loses too much water, it feels rough and loses its flexibility. Hydrating and protecting your skin’s barrier helps it retain water and stay smooth and resilient.

What Causes Increased TEWL?

Cold, dry winter air is often a leading factor in depleting skin’s moisture levels.

Various factors can increase TEWL and dry out your skin:

1. Environmental Stressors: Harsh weather, wind, and low humidity can pull moisture out of the skin.

2. Over-Cleansing or Over-Exfoliating: Using strong cleansers or exfoliants too often can strip the skin’s natural oils, weakening the barrier.

3. Aging: As we age, the skin produces less natural oil, making it more prone to dryness and higher TEWL.

4. Air Conditioning and Heating: Both can create dry indoor environments, leading to faster moisture loss.

How to Combat TEWL and Keep Skin Hydrated

Understanding and managing TEWL is key to keeping your skin hydrated and healthy. Here are some effective ways to protect your skin from excessive moisture loss:

1. Strengthen the Skin Barrier with Moisturizers

Using a good moisturizer can help to reinforce the skin barrier and reduce TEWL. Look for products with ingredients like ceramides, fatty acids, and cholesterol, which mimic the lipids in your skin and act as the "mortar" to keep cells together.

2. Incorporate Hydrating Ingredients

Hyaluronic acid and glycerin are powerful humectants, meaning they attract water to the skin and help lock it in. Hyaluronic acid, for instance, can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, making it an excellent choice for boosting hydration levels and reducing TEWL.

3. Opt for Professional Hydration Treatments

Having a regular professional skin treatment is essential to enhance your skin's health and prevent TEWL

Professional treatments, like a Hydrating Boost Facial, can deeply hydrate the skin and support the barrier. These treatments often use advanced hydrating ingredients and techniques to reach deeper skin layers, helping to keep moisture locked in and reduce TEWL. By boosting hydration, these treatments can enhance your skin’s health, radiance, and resilience.

4. Protect Against Environmental Factors

Applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen not only protects against UV damage but also helps prevent moisture loss. Sunscreen shields the skin from harmful rays that can weaken the barrier, while antioxidants in serums or moisturizers help defend against free radicals that can further damage the skin.

Why Extra Hydration is Essential

When TEWL is high, your skin struggles to retain moisture on its own. This is why adding extra hydration through products and treatments is crucial. By boosting moisture, you’re helping to fortify the skin’s barrier and keep it healthy and radiant.

Conclusion

TEWL is a natural process, but managing it is essential for maintaining healthy, hydrated skin. If you’ve been experiencing dry, tight, or flaky skin, focusing on strengthening your skin barrier and adding hydration may be the key to improvement. From quality moisturizers to hydrating facials, there are plenty of ways to combat TEWL and give your skin the care it deserves.

Ready to give your skin a hydrating boost? Book a Hydrating Facial with us today to restore moisture, strengthen your skin’s barrier, and reveal a glowing, refreshed complexion!

Transform Your Skin - Schedule Now!

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References

1. Rawlings, A. V., & Matts, P. J. (2005). Stratum corneum moisturization at the molecular level: an update in relation to the dry skin cycle. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 124(6), 1099-1110.

2. Elias, P. M. (2012). Structure and function of the stratum corneum permeability barrier. Drug Development Research, 13(3), 135–143.

3. Darlenski, R., & Fluhr, J. W. (2012). Influence of skin barrier function on the physiology and pathophysiology of the skin. Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 30(3), 109-116.

4. Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare. (n.d.). What is TEWL? Dr. Dennis Gross. Retrieved November 8, 2024, from https://drdennisgross.com/blogs/skincare-blog/what-is-tewl