Natural Skin Care Home / Facial Skin Care/ Dry Skin Care

Dry Skin Care Causes and Remedies

Dry skin is a common problem. Generally dry skin is caused by wrong practices that we follow in a day routine though it can be inherited also. So we can safely say that by taking precautions and doing changing certain practices we can avoid this problem. Our skin needs moisture to stay smooth and supple, and retaining moisture is especially difficult in winter. Central heating of home and other buildings is very drying to the skin.

Dry skin has a parched look caused by its inability to retain moisture. It usually feels "tight" and uncomfortable after washing unless some type of moisturizer or skin cream is applied. Chapping and cracking are signs of extremely dry, dehydrated skin. 

Simple daily routines, such as bathing and towel drying, may actually remove moisture rom the skin. Modifying your bathing routine will help preserve your skin's moisture. Bathing provides the skin will moisturize temporarily, but it removes the skin's oily lipid layer and in the long run causes more moisture loss than gain.

The wrong moisturizing lotion can have the same effect. Generally, water-based lotions are best cosmetically but oil-based creams are more effective in trapping moisture.

Causes of dry skin

Following are the factors which lead or contribute to dry skin:

1. Dry skin could be inherited.
2. A very strict diet which results in weight loss.
3. Increasing age, resulting in decreased natural lubrication.
4. Cool weather, especially when windy or the humidity is low.
5. Air conditioning, central heating or sitting close to a fire or fan heater.
6. Excessive bathing, showering or swimming, especially in strongly chlorinated hot or cold water.
7. Frictional irritation and chapping.

Remedial measures:

Following are some of the remedies when applied could diminish the problem of dry skin.

1. Hot water dries out the skin. Try to limit your time to fifteen minutes or less in the bath or shower. Bathing should be done no more than once a day. If you bathe too frequently you will remove the natural oils from the skin causing dryness.
2. Avoid using strong soaps that dry the skin. Skin cleansers are recommended.
3. Deodorant soaps are often very harsh and drying. If you need them, limit their use to areas that develop an odor such as the armpits, genital area, and feet.
4. Avoid vigorous use of a washcloth in cleansing. When toweling dry, do not rub the skin. Blot or pat dry so there is still some moisture left on the skin.
5. Apply a moisturizer to the skin. The best time to do this is immediately after a bath or shower so that the moisturizer holds in the moisture from the shower. If you have severely dry skin, apply oil to the still moist skin then apply a moisturizing cream and also apply the moisturizer at bedtime.
6. All areas that are exposed to the sun, such as the face, ears, hands, and back of the neck should have a moisturizer containing sun block or a sunscreen of SPF 15 or greater applied daily.
7. For laundry, use "All-free", "Tide-free" or "Cheer-free" detergents. Avoid using fabric softeners, especially in the dryer. Keep irritating fabrics away from your skin. Don't wear clothing made of wool or other "scratchy" fabrics. Use cotton percale sheets on your bed.

The above are easy tips which anyone can apply as they are neither time consuming or expensive. Taking sometime out for oneself and getting astonishing results is certainly worthwhile.