Does your skin itch? Does it flake? If so, you likely have dry skin. It’s a relatively harmless condition, but it can be unsightly and put you at risk of more serious health concerns. This article will cover everything you need to know about dry skin.
Dry Skin: What Is It?
Dry skin is when your skin lacks moisture in the outer layer. When your skin is properly hydrated, it will hold water in the peripheral aspect of the skin.
Is Dry Skin Bad?
Dry skin itself is relatively harmless, but if left untreated it could lead to more serious health issues. For example, dry skin could encourage infections from bacteria and potentially lead to the disease known as eczema.
Dry Skin Symptoms
Dry skin might seemingly be easy to notice, but you might not even realize that you have it. There are several symptoms that you need to keep an eye out for. Dry skin is a condition that can follow seasons and be temporary.
In general, if your skin feels tight and feels rough and perhaps itchy, you’ve probably got dry skin. If it flakes, scales, peels, or looks ashy, this could be an indication of dry skin.
Causes of Dry Skin
In the simplest sense, dry skin is caused by a lack of water in the peripheral skin layer. Healthy, hydrated skin has water in the outer layer. More specifically, water loss in the skin can be caused by several things.
Heat can dry out the skin; if the temperature in your house is too hot, that could be a factor. On the other hand, if it’s too cold and windy, your skin could become dehydrated. If you shower a lot and scrub too much, that can dry out the skin.
Certain types of chemicals found in products can cause dry skin. For instance, soaps, shampoos, and detergents can strip moisture from your skin. If you have a skin condition like eczema that can predispose you towards dry skin.
If you take medications they could potentially dry out your skin. It depends specifically on what you’re taking, so read the labels. Aging is also a cause of dry skin.
How to Treat and Prevent Dry Skin
So, how do you treat and prevent dry skin? There are many strategies that you could implement. The first and most obvious is to moisturize. The right moisturizer will help hydrate your skin, keeping water within your skin and its protective barrier.
If you go outside in the sun a lot, make sure to use a sunscreen that has a good SPF rating and includes a moisturizer. Reapplying every 2 hours should protect you from sunburn and dehydrated skin.
Did you know that too much exposure to water can dry your skin? Avoid taking long showers and baths as they can dry out your skin. Also, avoid showering and bathing in water that’s too hot; colder water is better for the skin.
One way to remedy dry skin is to use dry skin cream. A moisturizing gel cleanser will clean your pores while keeping your skin hydrated. Concerning shaving, use a lubricant and a sharp razor that’s washed with hot water.
If you’re outside and the weather is cold and/or windy, cover up as much as possible. The weather can affect your skin. Swimming in the ocean or a pool that has chlorine is also a concern. Lastly, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.