Skin that has a low level of sebum (the natural oil produced by skin glands) is called dry skin. It cannot retain moisture and looks parched, feels uncomfortably tight after washing, and in extreme cases, shows chapping and cracking. Wind and very high or low temperature robs the skin of its natural moisture and the skin feels tightly drawn over bones. Dry skin also sometimes flakes. A distinguishing mark of dry skin is a dull appearance that shows clearly on cheeks and around the eyes. However, dry skin may also occur on the shins, hands and sides of the abdomen.
The most obvious cause of dry skin is lack of sufficient lubrication from sebum. In some cases, this can be due to genetic conditions. Environmental causes like exposure to sun, cold, cosmetics, chemicals (including harsh soaps), and wind can cause dry skin as well. Another main cause responsible for dry skin is poor nutrition. A diet deficient in vitamin A and the B is more likely to rob the skin of its natural moisture. Skin diseases like dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, or seborrhea are other causes of dry skin. Finally, it can result from some abnormal conditions like diabetes and hypothyroidism, and use of certain drugs like diuretics, antispasmodics, and antihistamines.
Dry skin needs a lot of gentle cleansing, massage (to stimulate the natural sebum production), and ample quantity of moisture and oil. When you wash your skin with soap, it removes natural protective oil along with the dirt. Use of a moisturizer returns lost water content to the skin. Use neutral (neither acidic nor alkaline) products for washing the skin, and abstain from using commercial soaps. After the second cleansing, treat the skin lightly with moisturizing cream.
After taking a bath or shower, apply baby oil mildly over the skin. The area surrounding the eyes needs a more generous application of the oil. You can also massage your face or apply homemade remedies, as suggested by a doctor.
Every morning, treat your skin with a spray of mineral water (sprayed from a new sprayer never used before for other purposes). To apply a beauty mask for dry skin, mix together one egg, one teaspoon of honey, half teaspoon of olive oil, and a few drops of rose water. Use it as a mask.
Eat a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals. Include sulfur-containing food species like onion, garlic, asparagus, and eggs as part of regular diet. Use more carrots and yellow and orange vegetables. Keep away from alcohol, caffeine (coffee, tea), sugary drinks, French fries, and other junk food. This will keep you skin healthy and prevent it from drying out.
Dry Skin can be potentially serious if left untreated. It can become itchy, flaky and damn right annoying! So how would you feel if your lifestyle was actually contributing towards the condition? What if you knew that what you do in your everyday life could potentially be causing your dry, flaky skin? Well unfortunately it may be true!
Dry Skin and Some Potential Risk Factors
Your lifestyle and who you are may be contributing to your dry skin problem, and whilst you cannot change some aspects of your life, others can be worked on. Some things which may increase your risk of dry skin include:
Sun Exposure
When you think of the sun, you think of developing a nice, healthy looking tan. You do not expect the sun to cause your skin to dry out, if anything, you would think it would make the skin oily! However, as the sun produces an awful lot of heat, it does dry the skin out and unfortunately it can not only damage the epidermis (the outer layers of skin), but it can penetrate deep into the dermis (the inner layers) of the skin and that can cause a collagen breakdown. This causes the skin to not only dry out, but it can also cause premature ageing.
A Man or a Woman?
Your sex can also be a contributing factor and generally a mans skin tends to stay a little moister than a womans skin. As you get older this becomes more apparent as men tend to stay fairly moist until well into their 80s, whereas women tend to gain dryer skin once they have gone through the menopause.
Do You Smoke?
If you smoke you will notice that the tobacco causes the skin to wrinkle and it does cause the skin to become dryer than usual. Generally the longer you smoke the more damage it will do to your body. The dangers of smoking are well known, and it could be a contributor to your dry, damaged skin.
Hot Baths
Hot water can strip the body of its natural oils and this can leave the skin extremely dry. Bath water should always be warm, not hot and it can also cause problems with your circulation. Also, using soap in the bath or shower can also be contributing to dry skin, as most of them are too harsh for the skin and again, they strip away the natural oils.
Health Problems
If you are suffering from a health problem such as diabetes, it can seriously affect your dry skin. This is because the small blood vessels and nerves tend to get damaged because of the condition and they in turn, damage the skin.
Winter Weather
If you spend too long in the cold, blustery winds, without proper protection on the skin, you do risk getting extremely dry skin! You should always wear gloves and a scarf to protect the hands and the neck, and before putting on your gloves, apply a little moisturiser to lock in moisture.
Diet and exercise are two other factors and are probably the most obvious ones. Whilst there is no link between diet and dry skin, many people do notice that if they eat a poor diet their skin tends to suffer. The best thing you can possibly do for your dry skin is to eat healthy, exercise regularly, and apply moisturizer at least twice daily. Dry skin can b a problem but it can be treated with the right amount of time and care. There are a lot of products out there designed especially for dry skin so you should not find it hard finding something to suit you. If you are ever in doubt about how serious your dry skin is, you should always consult your doctor. They will be able to prescribe stronger treatments which you may find useful.
Both Stephen Campbell & Louise Forrest are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Stephen Campbell has sinced written about articles on various topics from Psychology, Email Advertising and Personal Development Plan. Stephen C Campbell (MBA, MSc, MCIM) is a Business Consultant & Internet Marketer, he has produced a wide range of topical subjects In Audio including this one at