Dry Skin
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I have had problems with dry skin my entire life, so I work pretty hard to make sure my skin looks healthy instead of dry and flaky. You definitely shouldn’t be embarrassed by dry skin because it is something that a lot of people have to deal with. Because dry skin can be uncomfortable, it is good to treat and prevent it.
What Causes Dry Skin?
Dry skin can be caused by regular sun exposure, tanning (including tanning beds), dehydration, swimming, and harsh, drying products (like alcohol based hand sanitizers).
Normal skin will feel soft because of its water content. When your skin is dry, it is not retaining enough water. This can lead to cracking and flaking of the skin which can be very uncomfortable, and even painful. Dry skin affects people of all ages and is quite common.
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What Prevents Dry Skin?
The best ways to prevent dry skin:
- Exfoliate and moisturize on a regular basis.
- When bathing, use warm water instead of hot water.
- Shower off as soon as possible after exercising or playing sports. If you shower at a gym, bring a mild soap with you because the gym soap could be too strong for your skin.
- After bathing, pat your skin dry and apply moisturizer to maintain the moisture in your skin.
- Guard your skin while outdoors by wearing protective clothing or using a sunscreens that contains a moisturizer.
- If the air inside your home (or any indoor place you spend prolonged amounts of time), use a humidifier to raise the humidity level – I’ve even placed a pot of water in front of my heater vent during winter months.
- Ty not overuse your antiperspirants, perfumes, and scented body sprays. These products can dry out your skin.
- Use moisturizers throughout the day.
What Kind of Moisturizer?
Make sure the moisturizer you use containts glycerine, urea, sorbitol, lactic acid, pyroglutamic acid, alpha hydroxyl acids, or lactate salts.
What Eliminates Dry Skin?
You can fight those dry skin flakes by exfoliating your skin once or twice a week, but be sure not to over-exfoliate which can harm your skin. You can use a physical exfoliant or a chemical exfoliant. Physical exfoliations involve facial scrubs and buffer pads—exfoliating beads are a great gentle choice. Chemical exfoliations use alpha and beta hydroxyl acids. These acids loosen and get rid of dead cells on your skin.
After exfoliating, be sure to apply a light moisturizer that will not clog your pores.
You can also try some of the methods that help prevent dry skin.
When to Call the Doctor?
If none of the at home tips from above help improve your dry skin, you should call your doctor. As well, contact the doctor if your skin itches excessively or begins to crack, bleed, swell, or becomes painful.
Summer Skin Tip
If you use a gel to moisturize, keep it in the fridge before using. This will nicely cool and soothe your skin on those hot summer days.
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Excellent article on dry skin...I struggle with that all the time...Thanks for the suggestions!
this is always a problem for me by the end of winter. thanks for sharing some pointers.
Excellent article on dry skin. I like using organic apricot oil.
I struggle with dry skin year round. Thanks for the great advice.
Allergies also cause dry skin, and only treating the allergy can remove the dry skin. All potions and lotions for skin, only give fleeting temporary relief, if they work at all.
Don't forget that skin grows from the inside out. If you want healthy, soft skin then essential fatty acids and adequate water intake are the trick. Udo Erasmus has a great oil called Udo's Blend and plain, filtered (No RO) water with no additives is the best choice.
I get this problem in the winter. The frigid cold takes its toll on my skin. Then summer hits and the mosquitos take over.
I hadn't thought to put my skin cream in the fridge :) good tip :)
We all need to read more concisely written and to the point articles like yours. I like it that you provided subheadings to pace the reading experience. Unlike other hubs whose authors dwell on themselves, or extend paragraphs with clichés, yours forward your point and you walk away, so to speak. This makes your tips all the more memorable. I'm into skin care myself, which is why I found your hub.
my skin is dry.
i have dry skin.
u dont have dry skin but ill be sure to pass the word along! (=
*I* dont..
If you have dry skin it can also be a medical condition. Poor circulation will cause dry skin. Some medications will also cause your skin to become dry. You have given some really great tips here. I would add drink plenty of water and get in some exercise that increase circulation.
This information is timely, thanks for highlighting the dry skin problem, it affects my son earlier in life and I tried different medication which worked sometimes.
Stacie, here's another tip. After showering, BEFORE toweling dry, rub Neutrogena Sesame oil all over your body, then towel dry. It's not greasy and has the most wonderful LIGHT aroma. You can buy the Equate version in Walmart which works just as well.
A great hub, my skin gets dry during the winter months, I use a little of my wifes skin cream, works pretty good and smells wonderful.
Robert Ballard
RiaMorrison says:
6 months ago
Aloe also does wonders for keeping skin moisteurized, and is something you can get access to just by getting an aloe plant and squeezing the juicy leaves. I tend to use aloe extract a lot for dry skin and sunburned areas.