What is Dry skin
Dry skin has a low level of sebum and can be prone to sensitivity. Skin has a parched look caused by its inability to retain moisture. It usually feels “tight” and uncomfortable after washing unless some type of moisturiser or skin cream is applied. Cracking and chapping are signs of very extremely dry and dehydrated skin.
When you have flaky, itchy, dry skin, you want fast relief. Easing your dry skin isn’t just about what you put on it. It also depends on how you clean your skin, the air around you, and even your clothes.
♦ Avoid the use of tap water when cleansing dry skin. A deposits are too drying on the your skin. You can use mineral water to freshen your face.
♦ You can apply a spray of mineral water on your skin misted on with a plant sprayer every morning and pat your skin dry.
♦ Cleanse your dry skin regularly. Make sure your skin gets extra protection. Washing dry skin with soap and water not only removes grime but also the natural oils protecting the skin. A moisturiser increases the water content of the outer layers of the skin and gives it a soft and moist look.
♦ Use non detergent, neutral-pH products to cleanse your dry skin. And avoid using any commercial soap. And don’t forget to touch your face very gently. Cleanse with a cream, leaving a light, very thin trace of it on the skin after the second cleansing.
♦ Follow a bath or a shower with a mild application of baby oil. Always massage your face with home-made nourishing cream every night before retiring. Please be generous with the cream in the areas surrounding the eyes where tiny lines and crows feet are born.
♦ Always avoid coming in contact with highly alkaline soaps and detergents like washing soaps and powders which contain highly alkaline and drying ingredients.
♦ Moisten with water and then apply a very thin film of air-excluding moisturizer, this will restore the suppleness of the dry skin.
♦ Don’t put any heavy creams on the thin skin directly surrounding to your eyes, that cause the skin to puff up in this process which can lead to sagging skin. Use specifically formulated eye cream or gel.
Some dry skin is hereditary. Some comes with aging, as natural skin oils diminish. Some can accompany medical conditions such as asthma or thyroid disease. But daily skin care habits such as washing with harsh soaps, using sanitizing or harsh cleansing agents, and scrubbing can also cause or worsen dry skin.
Since most dry skin is due to external causes, it responds well to external skin care treatment. Just making a few adjustments to your daily skin care routine can help. No matter what the cause, there are many things you can do to make dry skin smooth and supple.
What to Look for in a Moisturizer
You don’t have to pay a fortune for a good, rich moisturizer. Read the label. Ingredients that may be helpful for dry skin include:
♦ Ceramides. Ceramides help the skin hold water and soothe dry skin. Synthetic ceramides may mimic the natural substances in the outermost layer of skin that help keep moisture in.
♦ Dimethicone and glycerin. These draw water to the skin and keep it there.
♦ Hyaluronic acid. Like ceramides, hyaluronic acid helps skin hold water.
♦ Lanolin, mineral oil, and petroleum jelly (petrolatum). These help skin hold on to water absorbed during bathing.
To help heal dry skin and prevent its return, dermatologists recommend the following.
Prevent baths and showers from making dry skin worse. When your skin is dry, be sure to:
♦ Close the bathroom door
♦ Limit your time in the shower or bath to 5 or 10 minutes
♦ Use warm rather than hot water
♦ Wash with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser
♦ Apply enough cleanser to remove dirt and oil, but avoid using so much that you see a thick lather
♦ Blot your skin gently dry with a towel
♦ Slather on the moisturizer immediately after drying your skin
