Skin dryness can affect people from an early age. It can appear anywhere on the body and it is more visible on the face.
Dry skin gives you a feeling of tightness, it can appear dull, flaky, and cracked. Some people will experience one or two symptoms whilst others, all of them.
Dry skin is unpleasant and uncomfortable. If left untreated can cause itchiness that will lead to broken skin open to infections.
What causes skin dryness?
Skin dryness can be triggered by multiple external factors as well as internal:
Each individual’s level of PH
Chronic skin condition such as dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis
Thyroiditis
Aging (loss of lipids)
Pollution
Humidity (low)
Long term sun exposure and sunburn
Climate (cold/ dry)
Chemicals used for cleaning
Washing detergents
Taking long hot showers/baths (dehydrates)
Makeup products out of date
Failing to remove makeup
Fragrance – some can cause skin irritation
Hand sanitizers when used too much
An unbalanced diet
Smoking (reduces collagen production)
Drinking alcohol dehydrates the body
Can be caused by some medication (diuretics)
To prevent skin dryness it’s really important to moisturize your skin daily and drink plenty of fluids. A good routine following dermatologists’ advice will help improve and prevent dry skin condition for the long term.
American Academy of Dermatology – How to treat dry skin: Tips for relief
7 skin care tips for dry skin
Changing your body care routine by following a few simple steps will improve your skin condition:
Change your soap for a gentle cleanser (for example CeraVe Hydrating Face Wash Fragrance-Free). Always remove your makeup before bedtime.
Moisturize your skin with a good facial/body cream daily. Choose natural, gentle ingredients that soothe the skin and improve elasticity.
Keep your body well hydrated by drinking plenty of water (antioxidant-infused drinks like BAI can aid the fight against free radicals). Give up drinking alcohol and fizzy drinks.
Reduce the time spent in shower/bath to 10 minutes maximum and use warm water instead of a hot one.
Consider the use of a good humidifier in your home especially during the winter months.
Apply sunscreen before sun exposure and use a good SPF cream daily.
Change your laundry detergent for one that is hypoallergenic. Du the same for your dishwasher liquid to protect your hands.
Remember to use gloves when cleaning.
Moisturizers for dry skin
If you suffer from severe skin dryness, your doctor may recommend you to use very specific skincare products that can be found in pharmacies:
Oilatum
Epaderm Cream/Ointment
QV Skin Lotion
Diprobase
E45
Hydromol Bath&Shower
In beauty shops, supermarkets, and online you can find products for each of your skin needs.
Dry skin hands cream/lotion
Neutrogena Hand Cream
Weleda Sea Buckthorn Hand Cream
L’Occitane Moisturizing Hand Lotion
O’Keeffe’s Working Hands
Gloves in a Bottle Shielding Lotion
Neutrogena Hand Cream
Body creams and lotions for dry skin
Eucerin Aquaphor Skin Repairing Balm
La Roche Posay Lipikar Balm
Medline Remedy Skin Repair Cream with Olivamine
Vaseline Intensive Care Body Lotion
Cetaphil Daily Advance Ultra Hydrating lotion
Eucerin Aquaphor Skin Repairing Balm
Dry skin face cream
Aveeno Absolutely Ageless
Neutrogena Hydro Boost gel cream
Burt’s Bees Intense Hydration
StriVectin Advanced Retinol Moisturizer
Juice Beauty Stem Cellular Moisturizer
Aveeno Absolutely Ageless
Take care of your skin by choosing non-fragranced or lightly fragranced gentle soaps and shower gels.
Inform yourself of their ingredients and effectiveness by reading their labels, asking for advice from the pharmacist, or reading reviews online on other websites. You can find more skincare tips on Molyrose.
A healthcare professional’s advice is the most suitable if you have very dry skin and you find that you can’t control your itchiness to avoid further complications.
