TEWL (Transepidermal Water Loss)

What is Transepidermal Water Loss (TEWL) ?

To understand TEWL, we first need to understand the skin. As we already know that our skin is composed of multiple layers: the epidermis (top), dermis (middle), and hypodermis (bottom). The epidermis is the outermost layer of skin (the one you see when you look in the mirror). Transepidermal water loss refers to the loss of water that passes through the epidermis and evaporates into the air.

When your skin is losing too much water, you may notice dryness, flakiness, dullness, itchiness, rough texture, and visible fine lines.  TEWL also plays a big role in inflammatory skin conditions like acne and eczema.

TEWL is a natural process and it happens to everyone. It’s your skin’s way of regulating its water content. However, things like low-humidity weather, damage to the skin, and skincare products that are drying can exacerbate the TEWL

It’s impossible to completely stop TEWL, but you can minimise it and promote a healthy balance of water in your skin. 

Here are some tips for reducing TEWL:

• Get a good moisturising routine with LUXES Hydra Filler Elixirum /  2 Seconds Hydra Filler and Hyaluron Intense. They draw water to the epidermis and seal that moisture in and protect it from evaporating.
• Avoid harsh facial cleansers. Heavy-duty, high-pH face washes and soaps can strip the skin’s moisture and make TEWL worse.
• Choose your active ingredients wisely. Overusing active ingredients like retinol and alpha hydroxy acids can damage the skin’s barrier, worsening the effects of TEWL.
• If you live in an environment with low humidity or spend most of you time in air-conditioned spaces , use a humidifier as it can help increase moisture in the air, and keep TEWL at bay.