How To Take Care Of Dry Skin

Most of the time dry skin is not something to be too concerned about. Simple dry skin is easily treatable and usually responds quickly to a dry skin care skincare regime. Dry skin can be easily irritated so it is important to use skin care products that do not irritate the skin. Look for products that have no perfumes, colourings, fragrances or chemicals that may irritate sensitive skin. Dry skin and sensitive skin can often go hand in hand.

Dry skin has a relatively low level of sebum or oil production and look parched – a result of its inability to retain moisture.  Moisturisers should be able to keep the skin hydrated all day and keep the skin supple and smooth. This is important to the function of the skin but also the feel – dry skin can feel tight and uncomfortable. Moisturising also locks in moisture and is best done after cleansing when the skin is still moist.

Avoid using any soap on the skin. Soaps and detergents can be very alkaline which also can be drying to the skin. Although the skin needs to be thoroughly clean at the end of the day to remove the build up of dirt and impurities, a creamy cleanser that will not strip the skin of its natural oils will clean gently and effectively.

Keep your dry skin well hydrated by drinking water throughout the day.  If the weather is hot or you have been exercising you will need to increase your intake.  Flying can also sap your skin of moisture – the humidity inside an aircraft can reach as low as 1% and be very hard on already dry skin..Caffeine and alcohol can also act as a diuretic and cause you to lose water so keep these to a minimum. If you live or work in buildings that are air conditioned or centrally heated you will also be losing moisture from the skin so compensate by drinking more or by having a humidifier.

If you suffer from dry skin on the body, limit the length of your showers and baths  and moisturise all over while the skin is still damp.  A traditional way to bathe dry skin that is also sensitive is to have an oatmeal bath that will soften and soothe the skin.  Try to limit the length of your bath and keep the temperature down and pat your skin dry gently.

Dry Skin Basics – Prevention

Dry skin – prevention is better than cure

Dry skin is a common skin type but shouldn’t be ignored as it could lead to further problems. A good skin care regime can not only help treat dry skin but may also play a preventative role in some skin conditions. Has your skin suddenly become red and inflamed? Or dry and itchy? You may have a skin condition called contact dermatitis. Untreated dry skin can result in dermatitis. Moisturisers can play an important role by helping to keep skin well hydrated and maintaining the integrity of the skin barrier, thus helping to prevent some skin conditions. Choose a moisturiser that is high in ingredients that will keep the skin hydrated all day long – try the skinsaviour range of products. Skinsaviour is especially formulated to soothe and hydrate dry skin with ingredients designed to help preserve the integrity of the skin barrier.

Severe dry skin can also be prevented by following a skin care regime for dry skin. Over time dry skin can become worse and therefore is harder to treat.  Severe dry skin can lead to cracking of the skin which makes it more prone to bacterial infections as the skins’ defence barrier is broken. Within a few minutes of having a shower or washing your face and body, smooth on a moisturiser to help lock in moisture and prevent dry skin.  Look for moisturisers that contain Shea butter, Olive Oil, Hyaluronic acid and other natural moisturising factors that soothe and fully hydrate dry skin. Keeping the skin well moisturised is also a preventative for fine line formation – the drier the skin the more the skin is prone to fine lines forming

Our skin is naturally protected by oils that keep it moist and soft. Therefore it is important to keep to minimum, external factors that we can control that strip the skin of this vital physical barrier.

Some of these factors include:

• Long hot baths and showers
• Swimming
• Cold windy weather
• Hot windy weather
• Sun exposure
• Dry saunas
• Harsh soaps and detergents
• Over cleansing
• Clothing that makes us itch
• Sun exposure
• Radiators
• Air conditioning
• Indoor heating

Many of these external factors we can regulate or keep to a minimum. Combined with a skin care regime especially formulated to deal with dry skin we find that we can easily keep our dry skin supple and smooth and looking its best, while preventing further skin problems.

Dry Skin & Hormones

Dry skin and menopause

Menopause is commonly connected with hot flushes and night sweats – most women are familiar with these. The lesser known problem of dry skin that commonly accompanies menopause is also a side effect of changing hormones or more specifically one hormone – estrogen. When women enter menopause and this varies widely from 40 to late fifties, the ovaries stop releasing eggs, periods cease and the production of the hormone estrogen begins to decline.

Estrogen has many functions to do with the reproductive function of a woman’s body but also stimulates the production of collagen and sebum that keeps the skin supple and well lubricated. When this declines, dry and itchy skin can begin to appear as the body also loses its ability to lock moisture in to the skin.  Not only is this noticed on the face but commonly all over the body.

Dry skin is treatable in menopause – try these ideas below to help keep your skin soft and smooth.

• Use a creamy cleanser and moisturiser that will help hydrate and lock the moisture into the skin. You need a skincare regime that has no perfumes, colourings, alcohol or soaps and detergents that may cause dry skin even drier.

• Use a sunscreen daily – even on cloudy days. Dry skin can be made worse from exposure to the sun.

• Essential fatty acids in the diet are important to focus on – omega 3’s as found in deep sea fish such as tuna, salmon and sardines. Add nuts, soy, olive and flaxseed oil to the diet on a daily basis.

• Keep showers and baths to a minimum. As pleasant as a long steamy shower can be – it is also very drying for the skin.

• Pat dry gently and apply moisturiser all over the body on a daily basis to moisturise and help prevent moisturise loss.

• Avoid soaps with too much perfume, antibacterial action or deodorant ones as they all tend to dry out the skin further.

If dry skin continues to be a problem after following a dry skin care regime, it may be time to consult a doctor or dermatologist. Most simple cases of dry skin should respond well to the suggestions above over a period of a few weeks.

Dry Skin – When To See The Doctor

Dry skin is a common problem and in most cases, is easily treatable at home. An examination by a doctor is advisable if after making dietary, lifestyle and skincare regime changes, you still have chronic dry skin problems. It is then we might need to investigate whether there is an underlying health problem that needs to be resolved.

Dry skin can be part of a symptom picture for a number of underlying medical conditions, some of which can be quite serious. If you have dry skin that has cracked and bled, medical advice should also be sought. Some medications that you have been advised to take can have dry skin as an unwanted side effect.

Why the skin is so important?

Skin is the primary defence system of the body and is actually classified as the largest organ of the body. If the skin is damaged in any way or becomes drier and drier until cracking in the skin occurs, there is danger that microbes can enter the skin. These microbes can enter causing bacterial and fungal infections.

Untreated dry skin can lead to dermatitis – inflammation of the skin, causing itchiness, redness and swelling and again can become open to infection, especially if it is scratched due to the itchiness. So we can see it pays to look after our skin – if you are worried about your dry skin or it is making you miserable – see your doctor.

Medical Causes

• Hypothyroidism – a low thyroid condition that can cause dry skin by reducing the amount of oil produced by the body and other symptoms such as intolerance to cold and weight gain.

• Dehydration – dry skin associated with infrequent, dark urine, headaches.

• Underweight – especially if fats have been avoided in an effort to lose weight.

• Malnutrition – linked to low oil and fatty acid intake. A healthy body and healthy skin need some oils and essential fatty acids to maintain the lipid barrier and these are some of the body’s best natural moisturisers.

• Diabetes – fluctuations in glucose levels can lead to dehydration and this also will cause the skin to dry.

• Genetic Predisposition.

• Eczema and psoriasis – skin conditions that may be diagnosed.

Medications that can cause Dry Skin

There are a number of medications that can cause dry skin such as:

• High blood pressure medication – diuretic action

• Allergy treatment such as antihistamines

• Retinoids used in the treatment of acne

If you notice you develop dry skin after taking a new medication, speak to your doctor. Many cases of dry skin are easy to treat and are not a sign of more serious health conditions, but if in doubt – get it checked out.

How to treat aging skin

Changes in our skin as we age

As we get older the skin can become drier, less supple and elastic with some degree of thinning. In part this is due to changing hormone production. The thinner skin can be susceptible to bruising and tearing while itching, cracking and scaling can all be a problem. The signs of aging become more evident on our skin with increased roughness and wrinkling and uneven pigmentation.

Care should be taken that so called age spots are checked carefully as precancerous and cancerous lesions can occur in aged and photo aged skin – if you are unsure, get your skin checked by your doctor. Age spots are more related to accumulative sun damage than due to aging.

Skin care for older skin

Your skin requires different skin care as you age. If you had oily skin when you were younger it is now this becomes a benefit more than a problem. Your skin will be less prone to dryness from aging and may well have developed less lining and wrinkling. As we grow older, our skin doesn’t produce new cells at the same pace and this reduced cell turnover rate means our skin does not have the fresh glowing look of when we were younger. Daily moisturising with a moisturiser that effectively hydrates will plump the skin cells and give a fresher look.

What to do?

• If you smoke – stop smoking and help not to accelerate the aging of your skin.

• Good nutrition is important – try to eat a healthy well balanced diet with the good oils included such as olive oil, fish oils from salmon and tuna, flaxseed oil and avocado fruit or oil. All will help to keep aging skin supple and smooth.

• Treat your skin gently with an effective moisturiser that will help provide all day hydration – hydrate your body as well, dehydration shows on the skin.

• Changing hormone production can be treated naturally with certain herbs and supplements or hormone replacement therapy can be sought through a doctor.  Balancing hormones can have a positive effect on the skin.

• Use cleansers that are creamy and have no drying ingredients such as soap and detergents.

• Sun protection is as important now as it ever was – use a sunscreen when outdoors.