A Skincare Breakthrough: What This Scientist Found Will Change Your Routine Forever

“The Truth About Skin Care: Is Your Moisturizer Damaging Your Skin?”

Whenever you walk into a pharmacy or supermarket, one thing is always the same: shelves packed with skin care products. Moisturizers, lotions, and creams all claim to be the perfect fix for dry skin.

But the real question is: Do they actually help your skin?
Or could they be making things worse?

Skin issues such as eczema, atopic dermatitis, and rosacea are becoming increasingly common. So let’s dive into what the latest science says about how everyday lotions might be harming your skin and what you should know before applying that next bottle of moisturizer.

 What the Experts Say

Dr. Peter Elias, a dermatologist at UC San Francisco, says most people have sensitive skin or are unknowingly dealing with conditions like:

·         Eczema: Dry, red, itchy skin that may crack or peel. Often appears on hands, elbows, knees, or face.

·         Atopic Dermatitis: Severe itching (especially at night), red or brown patches, oozing or crusting, and thickened skin from scratching.

·         Rosacea: Persistent redness, visible blood vessels, pimple-like bumps, flushing or burning, and in severe cases, thickened skin on the nose.

After 45 years of research, Dr Elias and his team discovered something surprising:

Not all lotions are good for your skin. Some actually make it worse.

 What is "Swiss Cheese Skin"?

Dr. Elias explains it with a brilliant analogy:

Imagine your skin as a brick wall. The bricks are dead skin cells called corneocytes, and the cement holding them together is made up of three key lipids:

·         Cholesterol

·         Ceramides

·         Fatty acids

If these lipids aren’t present in the right balance, holes begin to form in the “wall” just like in Swiss cheese.

These holes make the skin porous and allow moisture to escape. That’s when the vicious cycle of dryness, itching, and inflammation begins.

The Moisturizer Trap

Many people told Dr. Elias their moisturizer feels good for an hour, but then the skin feels even drier.

Here’s why:

·         Some moisturizers disturb the natural pH of the skin.

·         Others disrupt the lipid balance.

·         This leads to damaged skin and more dryness.

When the skin senses damage, it sends out distress signals in the form of cytokines, small molecules that cause inflammation.
In people with sensitive skin, this inflammation never really stops.

The Never-Ending Cycle

1.   Your skin feels dry

2.   You apply lotion

3.   It feels good for a while

4.   But the skin barrier becomes more damaged

5.   Skin gets even drier

6.   So you apply more lotion…
And the cycle continues.

Dr. Elias warns, “Most moisturizers are never even tested properly on sensitive skin!”

What’s the solution? Repair the Skin Barrier

Dr Elias and his colleague, Dr Mao-Qiang Man, developed a special barrier repair lotion.
This lotion contains cholesterol, ceramides, and fatty acids in the exact right ratio.

What does it do?

·         Reduces cytokine levels

·         Calms inflammation

·         Repairs the skin barrier for real

Large-scale studies on this lotion are currently ongoing in China, and researchers like Dr. Theodora Mauro from UCSF are also studying whether improving the skin can help reduce inflammation across the whole body, including heart disease and diabetes!

 IL-17: The Protein Behind Aging Skin

Another fascinating discovery came from scientists at IRB Barcelona and Cang:

They found a protein called IL-17 that’s significantly increased in aging skin.

What is IL-17?

·         IL-17 stands for Interleukin-17.

·         It’s a protein produced by our immune system during infections, allergies, or inflammation.

·         It’s an inflammatory cytokine — it causes inflammation.

 How IL-17 Accelerates Skin Aging

1. Chronic Inflammation = Early Aging

High levels of IL-17 lead to:

·         Constant skin inflammation

·         Breakdown of collagen (which keeps skin firm and youthful)

·         Result: Wrinkles, sagging, dull, and dry skin

2. Weakens the Skin Barrier

IL-17 weakens the skin’s defense system:

·         Allows bacteria and pollutants to penetrate

·         Skin becomes more sensitive, dry, and irritated

3. Plays a Role in Skin Diseases

Research shows IL-17 may also trigger:

·         Psoriasis

·         Eczema

·         Rosacea

All of these accelerate premature skin aging.

 What Does "Aging" Really Mean? 

As we age, every system in the body begins to slow down, including the skin. Aging skin shows signs like:

·         Wrinkles

·         Fine lines

·         Dryness

·         Dullness

·         Loose skin

·         Dark spots

 Blocking IL-17 = Slowing Down Aging?

Scientists have found that temporarily blocking IL-17 can:

·         Slow down the formation of wrinkles

·         Improve hair follicles

·         Reduce water loss from skin

·         Speed up skin healing

IL-17 is already being targeted in treatments for psoriasis, and now, it may be used to slow down skin aging, too!

 Bottom Line

·         Not every moisturizer is helpful, especially if you have sensitive skin.

·         Avoid “Swiss cheese skin” by using pH-balanced lotions with the right lipid mix.

·         Understanding proteins like IL-17 can help treat both inflammation and aging.

Tips for People With Sensitive Skin

1.   Use only pH-balanced products (ideal pH is around 5.5).

2.   Look for creams with ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids.

3.   Choose fragrance-free and paraben-free products.

4.   If your skin feels drier after applying lotion, switch products.

5.   Consult a dermatologist for long-term irritation or reactions.

Your skin has real needs. Don’t trust every shiny bottle.
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 Next Article:

“Natural Ways to Control IL-17” — Coming Soon!