Bricks, mortar and why your skin stings

The outermost 15–20 cell layers decide how calm your skin feels. Toggle Healthy / Damaged to see what over-exfoliation, harsh cleansers and procedures do to it.

1. Corneocytes, the bricks. Flattened, protein-filled cells packed with natural moisturising factors that hold water.
2. Lipid mortar. Roughly half ceramides, plus cholesterol and free fatty acids. This is what barrier creams replace.
3. Water stays in. An intact barrier keeps trans-epidermal water loss low, so skin stays supple instead of tight.
4. Irritants stay out. With gaps in the mortar, fragrance, surfactants and microbes get in. That is the sting, the flush and the reaction.