Top Causes of Dry Skin
Dry skin on the face and hands is quite common. It is important to take care of it since your skin is your body’s major protection. If you allow your skin to get dried and broken, you may be putting yourself at risk for all kinds of issues.
A dry face is not an indication of an underlying disease but the result of habits such as using harsh soaps or detergents, a sensitivity to certain fabrics, and long and hot showers which remove the top layer of the skin exposing it to heat.
Well-balanced skin is covered in a thin and delicate coating of organic materials, such as natural oils and skin cells locking the moisture beneath them, and allowing the face to stay supple and hydrated.
1. Over-Washing
Yes! You can be too clean! What triggers dry skin is when you remove these oils and protective covering, leaving your skin vulnerable. The cause is internal, such as a health and wellness problem or even hereditary issues.
While areas of dry, scratchy skin may appear anywhere, the majority of it can be found on the upper arms, hands, lower legs, and the face.
If neglected, dry skin can easily often cause more serious problems like dermatitis, irritation, and puffiness. Since many of the causes are from external factors, this makes treatment quite easy.
In the summertime, dry skin can be caused by spending a lot of time in chlorinated swimming pools. When exposed to heat, we tend to use a stronger antiperspirant and a harsher antibacterial hand soap. These are typically the most harmful.
2. Dry Air Leads To Dry Skin
Dry air is possibly one of the leading causes of dry skin, primarily in the course of the winter months when the humidity has been stripped from it, pulling the moisture right out of the skin.
Even though the cooler extreme climates take its toll on your face and making your skin dry, one of the biggest issues in the winter is what happens indoors. The dry heat energy that we use to warm up our homes and offices removes humidity from the air affecting our skin.
Armed with this new information, you are now able to target the exact cause of your dry skin and start making changes before you seek the help of a dermatologist.
Habits to Avoid to Prevent Dry Skin
Much of what we do promote dry skin. Until we become aware of what we are doing and just how harmful it is for us, our efforts to combat dry skin will be fruitless.
1. Smoking is a No-No
Besides increasing the creases around the lips, smoking thickens the blood which draws more water from your skin cells to maintain blood pressure. Caffeine has the same effect. By keeping these 2 habits to an absolute minimum or cutting them out completely, you could change the way your skin looks practically overnight.
2. Limit Exposure To The Elements
I am not saying stay out of the sun as it affects our mood and makes us happier in general. Remembering to wear sunscreen is the key, but overall limiting exposure to the sun’s heat and other types of heat is also something to bear in mind. When taking a long summer walk, wear a hat. It is not just the heat that can affect the delicate balance of the skin but also the exposure to the ice-cold. Wear a scarf and cover the face and neck with it.
3. Watch What You Drink
Coffee is a great get-up-and-go drink. Some people struggle without it in the morning. However, too much coffee can dehydrate you because caffeine is a diuretic, removes water from the blood. The same applies to tea and alcohol. Opt for drinks with minimal caffeine. One way to prevent yourself from becoming overly dehydrated is to drink an additional glass of water for every caffeinated or alcoholic drink.
Misdiagnosing Water Retention
When the body holds on to water, it does so out of fear for drought or because there is something drastically wrong with you. Diagnosing yourself with water retention and taking your steps to rid yourself of excess water can be harmful. Water retention should be diagnosed by a specialist.
Change of season is a time to be especially aware of your habits and adjust them too so that the effects of the weather don’t leave your skin feeling like a desert.
If you enjoyed these tips and natural treatments, please feel free to let me know. If you have anything to add, I would love to hear from you.
Organic Remedies for The Whole Body
Dry skin is first noticed on the face, but taking care of the symptoms all over the body can go a long way to making you feel a lot more comfortable. Treating only the face and ignoring the rest of the body’s scream for moisture can cause the body to drain the nutrients from the face. Treating the body as a whole can show results sooner.
Dry Scalp and Hair Solutions
The dry skin on your face and neck can extend into the scalp area which is not only uncomfortable but embarrassing.
Check out this homemade remedy for dealing with dry scalp: Mix an egg yolk with a teaspoon of olive oil into your normal shampoo. Leave on for up to 8 minutes before rinsing off to allow the egg yolk to soak into the hair root and scalp. This can also help to reduce the thinning of hair.
Hydration Also Comes From The Inside
Hydrating your skin from the outside is important. It is even more important that you complement this with hydration from the inside. Remember to add foods rich in magnesium, essential fatty acids, and vitamin C to your diet, such as delicious chocolate, salmon, as well as other types of oily fish.
Foods high in beta-carotene like oranges, mango, and carrots, normally supply your body from the inside with added moisture by helping to naturally combat dry skin.
An apple a day also helps with keeping the face moisturized. This is because foods high in fiber help to keep water in your intestinal tracts longer, allowing more time for it to be absorbed into your system. One more substitute is chia seeds. Add them to your daily smoothie and include whole grains and natural yogurt.
Don’t Let The Moisture Out
Losing moisture is inevitable, but there are ways that you can retain as much moisture as possible.
Water does not hydrate your body—it dehydrates it because of the low concentration of sodium in it. Limit your bath or shower times and turn down the heat. The hotter the water, the dryer your skin.
Seal the moisture in with a layer of oily moisturizer after a shower. You can use your favorite body butter or coat a thin layer of olive oil. For the hands and feet, rub a small amount of petroleum jelly into the hands until it is warm. Wring the hands to get a thin coating all over and repeat on the feet.
Paying attention to the whole body can make a very big difference in the appearance of dry skin especially on the face. The positive effects of moisture will leave you feeling more comfortable with a positively radiant glow.
Habits to Naturally Maintain Hydration
Many of your habits are the cause of dry skin. By making small changes in your daily routine, you can dramatically change the appearance of your skin.
Once you have hydrated your skin, it is important to go back to the reasons for dehydrated skin in the first place. Number one on that list is to avoid hot showers or anything that may remove the protective layer on your skin. Using oils in the bath or coating your body with oil after a shower when the body is still damp can help to keep the moisture locked in.
1. Moisturize All Over
By concentrating on moisturizing your entire body, you will create a general equilibrium and overall hydration in your body. For the rest of your body, you can go for heavier balms such as cocoa butter, or jojoba oil since they are easily absorbed. The absence of sweat pores on the rest of the body also prevents the over oily effect.
2. Drink Enough Water
The constant cleaning of the blood forces you to excrete water. You also excrete water when you perspire and even more so in the summer heat. Remember to not only replace this water but also to drink even more to help your body get rid of toxins from the blood. The extra water in the body is absorbed by the cells in the body and plumps them up, giving the skin a natural glow. Your moisturized body will thank you.
3. Exfoliating is Good, But Not Too Much
A normal once-a-week scrub is essential to remove the dead skin cells which are no longer useful and have accumulated on the skin. However, just below these dead skin cells is the ultra-thin layer of skin cells and oils that act as a barrier. When you exfoliate too much, you can be affecting this protective layer, damaging and possibly even removing it. Over exfoliation can also remove all of the oils from your skin, leaving your face feeling stretched and parched.
4. Vitamin C is Good for Collagen Production
I have already mentioned how it is a good thing to add vitamin C to your diet. You can go one step further by opting for products that contain vitamin C and other minerals. These include makeup, cleansing products as well as supplements. This highly effective antioxidant element adds an extra layer of defense when it comes to your body and also promotes the manufacture of collagen. Collagen also plumps up the skin cells and makes them look hydrated and healthy.
Before panicking about the state of your skin, it is helpful to know that there are simple remedies and steps you can take to manage it without the need for expensive products and appointments with specialists. Make these simple changes to your habits and watch your skin glow.
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