From the Guidelines
No, it is not necessary to skip moisturizer to let your skin "breathe." Skin doesn't actually breathe in the way lungs do, as it receives oxygen through your bloodstream, not from the external environment. Regular moisturizing is beneficial for maintaining your skin's protective barrier, preventing water loss, and keeping skin hydrated and healthy. According to the most recent guidelines, such as the Taiwan guidelines for the diagnosis and management of pediatric atopic dermatitis 1, the use of moisturizers is essential for maintaining a healthy skin barrier.
Key Points to Consider
- Quality moisturizers are formulated to be non-comedogenic (won't clog pores) and allow for normal skin functions while providing hydration.
- The idea that skin needs to "breathe" without moisturizer is a misconception.
- For optimal skin health, choose a moisturizer appropriate for your skin type—gel-based for oily skin, lotion for normal skin, or cream for dry skin—and apply it daily after cleansing while your skin is still slightly damp.
- Moisturizers have been indicated as primary therapy for mild atopic dermatitis and as adjunctive therapy for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, as stated in the guidelines for the evaluation and management of atopic dermatitis 1.
- Non-medicated moisturizers can also be used to help reduce itching and desquamation in patients with psoriasis, as noted in the joint AAD-NPF guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis 1.
Recommendations
- Do not skip moisturizer to let your skin "breathe," as this can lead to dryness, irritation, and other skin issues.
- Instead, choose a moisturizer suitable for your skin type and apply it regularly to maintain a healthy skin barrier.
- If you're experiencing skin issues like acne or irritation, consider switching to a lighter moisturizer rather than skipping it entirely, as advised by dermatological guidelines 1.
From the Research
Importance of Moisturizers
- Moisturizers play a crucial role in maintaining the skin's natural barrier function, protecting it from internal and external irritants, and keeping the skin healthy 2.
- They consist of various ingredients, including occlusive agents, emollients, humectants, lipid mixture, emulsifiers, and preservatives, which help improve dryness and skin barrier function 2.
- Moisturizers have been shown to improve conditions like atopic dermatitis and other chronic skin diseases by restoring the integrity of the stratum corneum and acting as a barrier to water loss 3.
Benefits of Moisturizers
- Moisturizers can help reduce fine lines and make skin appear smooth and soft 3.
- They can also help maintain hydration and overall integrity of the stratum corneum, making them an important adjunctive therapeutic modality for patients with various dermatologic disorders 4.
- Therapeutic moisturizers can improve the signs and symptoms of dry skin and help maintain hydration, as research has demonstrated 4.
Potential Drawbacks of Moisturizers
- Long-term daily use of a moisturizer on normal skin may increase skin susceptibility to irritants, as suggested by a study that found increased transepidermal water loss after challenge with sodium lauryl sulphate 5.
- However, this does not necessarily mean that moisturizers should be skipped, as they provide numerous benefits for the skin, especially for individuals with dry or diseased skin 2, 3, 4.
Selection of Moisturizers
- The type of humectants and emollients contained in a therapeutic moisturizer can affect the overall tolerability of the formulation 4.
- Dermatologists should recommend therapeutic moisturizers that are noncomedogenic, devoid of irritant ingredients, and compatible with many therapeutic regimens 4.
- A study evaluated the effect of different moisturizers on barrier recovery in hairless mice and found that some products were more effective than others in correcting barrier function 6.