Dry skin is not something you have to tolerate! You can fix it by using simple, cost-effective treatments that will restore your skin to its prime beauty.
Environmental factors, medication choices and even DNA determine the severity of the dryness, and leaving dry skin untreated can become a serious problem.
Like any porous surface, you have to treat it to maintain its quality and lifespan. If you don’t take care of your skin the way you should, you’ll find your skin aging before its time, and create easy access for unwanted bacteria.
Here are a few ways to ensure this does not happen.
1. Mild cleansers
Avoid soap-based cleansers, which will damage your skin by stripping the lipid layer—the layer in your skin that retains moisture.
Use mild cleansers, especially if you have sensitive skin. Harsh, soap-based cleansers will only cause more damage to your skin leaving you completely confused and clueless as to what to do next.
2. Prescription products
If your skin is severely dry, you might need to use a prescription product that contains salicylic acid. Consult your GP for a prescription, and avoid prescription products without consulting a professional first.
You may end up using a product that’s completely wrong for your skin type, thinking you’re making a good choice.
3. Lactic acid
Products with lactic acid will not only exfoliate your skin, but moisturize it at the same time. It’s a great combination to maintain healthy skin without using a harsh exfoliator, which will only damage your skin and dry it out even more.
Exfoliation is important to ensure healthy cell growth, but not when you’re stripping more skin than you should.
4. Gentle cleansers
Avoid products with an alcohol base, which will dry out your skin. Always check the label if you have problem skin to avoid worsening the problem!
In my opinion, anything with an alcohol base should be avoided—unless it’s a glass of wine. In that case, enjoy!
5. Lukewarm showers
Hot and steamy showers or baths strip the skin of its natural oils, which is the opposite of what you want. Instead, try lukewarm water to retain your natural oils.
The last thing you want is to get rid of the natural oils and replace them with man-made ones, which will never really restore the balance fully.
6. Fragrance-free products
Using fragranced products will only worsen your dry skin. The milder you can go, the better! This tip applies to everything from shower gels to moisturizers and everything in between.
7. Moisturizer
After taking your lukewarm shower or bath, apply moisturizer while your pores are still open. Your moisturizer will soak into your skin much more easily and last longer.
Remember that each moisturizer serves a different purpose. One that’s meant for your face may not necessary work well on your legs due to the oil content.
If you have dry skin in particular, the moisturizer for your body will be a lot richer than the one for your face.
8. Humidifier
Especially during winter months and dry climates, using a humidifier will put moisture back into the air instead of drying out your skin completely.
This will also ensure clearer sinuses and less itching. If you’re like me, my skin starts itching when it’s dry. Help your skin out a by placing a humidifier in your room before bed.
9. Move to the beach
It may not be as simple as that, but that’s the best and most natural way to heal dry skin. The moisture in the air is much higher along the coast.
Just be sure to wash off the salt water after taking a swim, as salt tends to dry out anything it touches, which is exactly not what you’re after!
10. Dry or dehydrated
Often, dehydrated skin is confused with dry skin. Dehydrated skin, however, needs a deeper treatment than just applying moisturizer since the deeper layer of the skin is affected and dried out, making the application of moisturizer to the surface of the skin pointless.
Visit a reputable dermatologist for a special type of face wash and moisturizer that will target the deeper layers of the skin.
Taking care of your skin should be your number one priority, since your skin is the largest organ in the body.
It’s constantly replenishing itself and healing, but if you have problem skin to begin with, it’s a good idea to help it out by adding a few extra care strategies to ensure healthy skin for a long time still to come.
Even though the skin is an amazing organ with amazing healing properties, sometimes it needs a little bit of help. Your skin is precious and should be protected as much as you can.
It’s the only one you have. Treat your skin like gold!
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