Talking about skincare, what comes to mind is probably beauty. Protecting the skin actually serves to maintain health. And actually, almost all mammals take quite a lot of care over their skin. They may not use eye creams, moisturisers or lotions for the body but cleanse just the same (serves purpose), keeping their skin protected primally.

With humans, it is no different. The single most important skincare step is not layering products—it's cleaning. This lecture will explain skin hygiene, from washing your face to bathing the entire body.

Skin Barrier

Full-body cleanses can be deconstructed; How do you clean your face? Wash the feet? And scrub? Private parts? Before diving into specifics though: let’s break (it) down ——that all skin is structurally and functionally the same whether on face or legs.

What does the skin do? Barrier — plain and simple, between internal tissues and external environment. This barrier stops you from swelling up in a pool, drying out under sunstroke-inducing heat, having UV-induced damage to your organs or getting sick amid a microbial soup.

The stratum corneum in the epidermis is what makes this shield. It acts as a wall, protecting the sub-cutaneous tissues. The “wall” coats itself with “paint” i.e an oily film of sebum and sweat. Combined, they are skin's physical barrier. The core of skincare is shielding structure.

How can you tell if your barrier is still there? Here's a quick checklist to find out:

1. Breakouts that are frequent and multiple

2. Your skin easily reacts to stimuli

3. Oily and dry mixture textures, with open pores

4. Thin skin; redness/capillaries visible.

5. Dryness, Itching or flaking

6. Repeated eruptions (eczema, macules or papules)

If you have checked ≥1 items, the barrier is compromised at an early stage — start fixing it now.

Improper skincare is a major reason for barrier damage, which—cleansing being the most liable step.