Dry skin looks dull and life less due to lack of moisture. Well hydrated skin glows and exhibits a healthy look. Wrinkles develop at an early age due to prolonged dryness of skin. Dry, rough and wrinkled skin gives an aged appearance. Dry and cracked skin harbor microbes and cause fungal infections. Excess drying of skin leads to dry eczema.

Symptoms of Dry Skin:

?Delicate, dry, and prone to irritant or allergic reactions

?Easily damaged or irritated

?Intolerance to cold, heat, wind, temperature changes, or pollution?

?Regular breakouts of patchy blotches

?Red, itchy, swollen or dry

?A tingling or tightening of the skin without visible signs

?Overreaction" to skin care or cosmetic products

?Reactions to shaving, or other physical stress to the skin

Causes of Dry Skin:

1. The cold and dry weather of winter takes its own toll on the skin. The cold, dry weather of winter brings about drying of skin making it scaly. Lack of sufficient humidity out doors also leads to dry skin

2. Dry skin condition may occur due to genetic factors.

3. Dry skin condition may arise from nutritional deficiencies due to poor diet.

4. Unhealthy practices like exposure to extreme weather conditions, bathing for long time in very hot water, using harsh soaps, swimming in chlorinated water, chemicals and harsh cosmetics.

5. The skin loses its capacity to retain moisture, as we grow old. The extreme climatic conditions to which we get exposed, as we grow old worsen the condition and skin becomes more dry.

6. Few underlying diseases like hypothyroidism, diabetes, eczema, psoriasis or seborrhea may also lead to dry skin.

7. Dry skin may arise as an effect of medications like diuretics, antihistamines and anti spasmodics.

Treatment of Dry Skin:

1. Sieve barley or wheat flour and add one fourth teaspoonful of turmeric powder (in the thick part), one spoon of mustard or sesame oil and water to make a paste. Apply on the body and face before bathing. After drying or after 10 minutes rub it with the palms to remove the paste. After an hour bath with lukewarm water. Skin becomes soft, fair and silky.

2. Use cotton dipped in raw milk on the face, neck, hands etc for 5-10 minutes gently. Keep it for 20 minutes and then wash with fresh water.

3. Avoid using soap for bathing. It makes your skin dry and rough.

4. Apply small amount of raw milk on your face, neck and hands. It is very effective natural remedy for dry skin.

5. Do not wash your face very often. It takes away your natural skin moisture and natural oil.

6. Apply some moisturizer after face wash. It helps to remove unwanted dryness.

7. Gently massage with olive oil or almond oil. It is an effective remedy for dry skins.

8. Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily for dry skin cure and other skin ailments. Also include green vegetables and fruits in your diet.

9. A diet consisting of a lot of Vitamin A, Vitamin B, and Vitamin E can be taken for an inner glow in the skin. Leafy vegetables help the most in replenishing the moisture in the skin.

10. Rose water, almond oil, honey, olive oil, and beaten curd can all be used as good face packs.

11. Avoid alcohol-based cleansers.

12. Avoid junk food like chips, deep fried food etc.