Evidence-Based Alternative Strategies to Improve and Restore Skin Barrier Function: A Narrative Review

The skin barrier is a complex system composed of several functional layers (physical, chemical, microbiological, and immunological) that interact to protect the body from the environment while maintaining overall homeostasis. Proper functioning of the skin barrier can be disturbed by intrinsic as well as extrinsic factors, leading to the development of cutaneous disorders such as skin sensitivity, and inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis. Skin moisturization is a key first-line strategy to maintain skin health and treat dermatological conditions associated with impaired skin barrier function. Beyond conventional topical therapies, alternative or complementary approaches have demonstrated potential in improving and restoring the function of the skin barrier. This narrative review summarizes key insights from proceedings of an international meeting on skin barrier function, during which various strategies for improving or restoring skin barrier integrity and relieving the potential consequences of skin barrier damage (e.g., dryness, irritation, and itching) were discussed. In particular, evidence presented supporting the effectiveness of nutraceuticals is described. This review also examines how using lasers to deliberately disrupt the skin barrier in a controlled manner can promote restoration via physiological skin repair mechanisms, as well as facilitate topical drug delivery. These findings underscore the need for continued research to allow for a more patient-centered approach to managing barrier dysfunction and optimizing skin care regimens.