HOW TO HYDRATE YOUR DRY SKIN

Table of Contents: 

• Dry Skin – Definition
• Dry Skin – Causes
• Dry Skin – Characteristics/Symptoms
• Dry Skin – Solutions
• Strategies for dealing with dry skin
• Dry Skin – Recommendations
• Dry Skin - Expert Tips

Dry Skin – Definition

Dry skin is a common skin condition in which the outermost layer of the skin is not able to retain an adequate amount of moisture. This leads to uncomfortable sensations of itchiness, and in some cases scaling and cracking too. 

This skin condition can affect any part of the body, however, the most common areas are the arms, hands, and legs. 

There can be many reasons why you may have dry skin. It could be that your skin is naturally dry, but some people with oily skin can also develop dry skin patches from time to time. 

Most people can easily treat dry skin with the right skincare products and better lifestyle choices. However, in some cases, it is better to seek a dermatologist’s advice treatment.

Dry Skin – Causes

Narrowing it down to one single cause for dry skin can be quite difficult. If you are developing dry skin, it is usually a result of multiple factors. 

Some of these are external and others internal. Internal factors are related to your genetics, age, and overall health status. External factors, on the other hand, are the external agents that are contributing to dry skin. These can be –

• low humidity and cold temperature
• over-washing with harsh chemicals
• overuse of alcohol and sanitizers

Addressing the external factors of dry skin is relatively easier, as internal factors also take into account an individual’s family history and other underlying health conditions. For instance, if you have any thyroid disease, you are more prone to developing dry skin. There is no way to address the dry skin problem until your thyroid treatment is complete.

Wrong Moisturizers: The next biggest reason for dry skin is the improper and inadequate use of moisturizers. If the moisturizers are not hydrating enough, the dry skin can develop fissures and cracks over time.

Rough Clothing: The type of clothing fabric you wear also affects the skin. It has been found that certain materials like synthetic fibers and wool tend to worsen dry skin conditions, leading to skin irritation.

Medical condition: Dry skin can be a symptom of a medical condition in many cases. These include hypothyroidism, eczema, diabetes, and psoriasis, among others.

Medications: If you are taking medications for high cholesterol, high blood pressure, acne, and allergy, it can also lead to a dry skin condition.

While occasional dry skin is common among people, in certain cases the skin can become severely dry, irritated, flaky, and inflamed. Common causes of chronic dry skin conditions are –

• Old age
• Medications
• Vitamin Deficiency
• Chemotherapy
• Anorexia
• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Thyroid disease
• Skin barrier dysfunction

Dry Skin – Characteristics/Symptoms

Itching is the main symptom of dry skin. People with dry skin often find patches of rough, red, dry skin which are quite itchy. Typically, the hands, arms, abdomen, lower legs, and other such areas of friction are affected by dry skin. If the severity of dryness increases, it can lead to the development of fissures, cracks, and nummular eczema in the skin too.

Depending on the severity of the dry skin condition, the itchy sensation can worsen, which leads to the development of the ‘itch-scratch’ cycle. An itch-scratch cycle is one in which a scratching of an itch exacerbates it even further. The itch-scratch cycle usually takes place during sleep, when a person does not have conscious control over scratching. When the skin is scratched and rubbed consistently, it can end up becoming leathery and thick. Sometimes, even small red bumps can appear, which can easily become infected if scratched further.

Strategies for Dealing with Dry Skin

If you want to prevent the worsening of the dry skin condition, it is important to practice the following things when you shower –

1. Cut down the shower time: Showering for a long time can increase the dryness of the skin. You should ideally bathe for around 5-10 minutes with cool or lukewarm water. Hot water should always be avoided as it strips the skin of natural oils, leaving your skin feeling drier than usual.

2. Opt for a gentle cleanser: When choosing a body wash, make sure it is free of harsh chemicals. Body washes and cleansers with harsh chemicals can strip the moisture from the skin.

3. Moisturize damp skin: After completing the shower, pat dry your skin lightly with a towel. Apply moisturizer while your skin is still damp to lock in the moisture.

Lastly, make sure that you apply sunscreen to all the exposed areas of your body. Always choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or more.

Dry Skin – Recommendations

When you are choosing products for dry skin, look for the following ingredients –

• Ceramides: Synthetic ceramides in products essentially mimic the natural substances found in the epidermis, which help in locking the moisture in the skin. Ceramide-containing products also help in soothing dry skin.
• Glycerin and dimethicones: These ingredients work by drawing water into the skin and keeping it in. Glycerin also helps in soothing inflammation and healing wounds.
• Hyaluronic acid: This is another ingredient that helps the skin in retaining moisture. It is a humectant that delivers moisture drawn from the surroundings to the skin cells.
• Shea Butter: This nourishing and rich ingredient is a great emollient that gets absorbed into the skin easily, keeping it hydrated.

Vitamin E: This helps in protecting the skin from the drying effects of free radicals. It boosts the moisture levels of the skin.

Dry Skin - Expert Tips

Here are some dermatologist-recommended tips for managing dry skin in a better way:

• Switch your harsh body and face cleansers with more gentle formulations that do not strip your skin of the natural oils. Gentle cleansers containing hydrating ingredients can help in removing impurities from the skin while still protecting the skin barrier.
• Use hydrating essences or toners to provide your skin with an extra boost of moisture. Unlike traditional alcohol-based toners, hydrating toners are infused with oils, humectants, and emollients to promote and preserve the skin’s moisture levels.
• After you are done with the shower, make sure not to tug and pull at your skin with a harsh towel. Pat dry your skin gently and apply products while the skin is still damp. This will help in locking in the skin moisture.
• Serums with humectant agents like glycerin and hyaluronic acid can be great for people with chronic dry skin. Serums contain a high concentration of actives that penetrate the skin deep to provide it with the moisture it needs.
• If you want to keep the skin hydrated, just adding humectants won’t do the job. You also need to add emollient creams that help in locking in the moisture. Emollients work by restoring the skin barrier, by filling in the microcracks in the skin with lipids.
• After moisturizing your skin, add an occlusive oil to lock in the hydration. Oils do not have hydrating properties by themselves. They work by amplifying the power of hydrators by preventing their evaporation from the skin.

• The best way to ensure that your skin stays hydrated is by keeping up with sufficient water intake. When you drink an adequate amount of water consistently, it certainly helps in improving the appearance of the skin.
• A great device that can help you, especially in the dry winter months, is a humidifier. This household tool helps in dispersing the necessary moisture back into the air, keeping the indoor humidity to adequate levels. This can greatly help in preventing dry, itchy, and cracked skin winters.
• The best way to keep your skin healthy is by eating a balanced diet containing high-fat, water-dense, hydrating foods. If your skin feels drier than usual, consider upping your intake of vibrant fruits and leafy greens.

With the tips provided in this article, you will now be able to manage your dry skin better. These recommendations and tips can help you in combating dry skin issues resulting from external factors. However, you should also consult a dermatologist if you suspect internal factors like a medical condition causing dry skin issues.