What is dry skin? What is the cause it? How do you moisturize it naturally? Dryness is an uncomfortable condition marked by scaling, itching, and cracking. It can occur for a variety of reasons or causes and there is a wide variety of ways on how to smoothen and moisturize it naturally.
Why do you get a dry skin
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If you always have it, you deserve to know why. The reasons for it drying include:
Your health
If you happen to have a skin disease known as atopic dermatitis or psoriasis then you are susceptible to this problem since it affects sebaceous glands from secreting sebum that makes it to be smooth. It also can be major symptoms of diabetes or an underactive thyroid gland.
Note: if you have a dry skin that doesn’t go away easily, then it is advisable to seek medical treatment from a specialist.
Irritants
Some clothing materials can sometimes be the cause of its dryness n since there are some fabrics that could lead to itching. It is recommended to wear clothes that are made of soft and natural silk. Also, keep off from detergents that contain substances that can cause irritation it.
Age
Studies show that your skin appearance is directly proportional to your age since as individual age increases, the hormones also change over the year and in turn, it becomes thin and parched. Therefore, it is recommended to go for reputable moisturizers to help it from drying.
Excessive friction
According to Nanette Silverberg, scrubbing your body with a hard spongy could create friction that will result in friction that strips off its natural oils and enhances dryness. He again recommends that we should get rid of the old notion of scrubbing our body skin to make it clean.
Harsh detergent
According to some authoritative sites, it is advisable not to go for any soap since some of them can rob off its natural oil and moisture resulting in dryness. Stein Gold recommends the use of a mild, fragrance-free soap that moisturizes as it cleanses.
Hot or steamy showers
Although steamy showers or hot baths soothes our body especially after a vigorous exercise it won’t favor your skin since it can dry out the natural oils more quickly according to Stein Gold says.
Drip down the shower temperature to lukewarm, and keep showers short. Five minutes is enough to get clean without over-drying. Save the singing for your car.
Winter weather
When the temperatures drop, it makes the humidity to plunges resulting in dryness of the skin. If you go wintry weather areas, it is recommended to protect your most sensitive parts like lips, face, and hands with a scarf and gloves.
Treatment at home
This problem is caused by more of more of external factors than internal factors. Most of these external factors can be controlled and in most occasions, they can be treated. The following are the home remedies for dry skin:
Apply Olive Oil
Olive oil is majorly known for soothing and moisturizing the skin all over the body since it contains many antioxidants and healthy fatty acids that are good too. Therefore, it is recommended to use this olive oil to smoothen it.
Use milk cream
The presence of lactic acid in the milk helps to exfoliate dry skin. The soothing nature of milk cream also helps preserve its delicate pH levels. Milk cream is also an excellent moisturizer.
Apply honey
It contains antioxidant, antimicrobial, and humectant properties that helps to lock in moisture to make it extra soft and smooth. Also, honey has many essential vitamins and minerals that help improve your skin’s health.
Use of Yogurt
If you apply yogurt to it when it is dry, it helps to soothe dry and itchy skin since it contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Also, lactic acid present in the yogurt helps to get rid of any germs or bacteria that may cause dryness or itchiness.
Avocado
It is mostly loaded with fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants that help improve skin from the inside. The high vitamin A content also helps in maintenance and repair to restore its smooth and silky look.
Apply Aloe Vera gel
It is characterized by soothing, antiseptic and antifungal properties that can help combat dry, irritated skin and prevent flaking. This simple remedy will moisturize it and form a protective layer that will keep your it free from any kind of impurities.
Treatment after menopause
Menopause is a very unique and a complicated process especially for those women who reach middle age. This period does not only affect internal body but also the skin due to changes in hormones.
These hormones changes can cause hot flashes, which are intense feelings of warmth, particularly of the face, accompanied by profuse sweating thus resulting to dryness.
A female estrogen hormone plays a vital role in women skin since it helps keep it moisturized, limits the formation of wrinkles, and prevents collagen levels from declining. Collagen also helps to main protein in skin, and it keeps it flexible, provides structure and elasticity, and prevents invaders from permeating and spreading throughout it.
The following are some facts about dry skin during menopause:
- It is partly due to genetic inheritance
- Prolonged exposure to direct sunlight
- Smoking tobacco products
- Bathing with hard water
- Frequent flying or diving
Under beard treatment
This usually affects those men who are developing beards on the chin for the first time. However, this problem is simple to handle as the way you take care of your hair each day.
Take into consideration the following tips when handling dry skin under your chin:
- Take cold showers since warmer showers may rob off natural oils from the skin.
- Stop using facial soaps.
- Dry your chin beard with a smooth towel to remove excess moisture which can be problematic if left there for a long time.
During pregnancy
Most women experience dry skin especially during the first trimester since during this time your body releases more pregnancy hormones which can lead to higher production of sebaceous oils. When you try to wash this excess oil by extensive means, it ends up dry.
There are many different ways in which you can control dryness and achieve a healthy glowing skin. These include:
- Choose Proper skincare products mostly those that contain vitamin E.
- Always take bath with proper care.
- Use a humidifier filled with clean and fresh water in your room.
- Keep off from steamy showers.
- Moisturized your body frequently.
- Stick to a healthy diet.
Due to eczema
Dryness is among the major symptoms of eczema and it is easier to manage with a proper skincare routine. This includes bathing and moisturizing daily, sometimes in combination with prescription medications and/or alternative therapies.
Here are some things to consider when dealing with eczema:
- Establish a daily skincare routine of cleaning it.
- Recognize stressful situations and events by learning how to manage them.
- Be mindful of scratching and rubbing since it can worsen eczema
Treatment may include:
- Over-the-counter treatment such as gentle, non-soap cleansers, petroleum jelly, tar-based products and mineral oil
- Medications available only with a prescription from a doctor, such as topical corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs) and systemic oral drugs
- Phototherapy, which exposes the affected area to light under medical supervision
- Complementary and alternative therapies, including acupuncture, supplements and stress reduction techniques
References
- http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/whose-body/skin-dry.aspx
- http://www.antidandruff.net/how-to-deal-with-dry-skin-under-beard/
- http://www.healthline.com/symptom/dry-skin
- http://www.medicinenet.com/dry_skin/article.htm
- http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-skin/symptoms-causes/dxc-20248892