How to Relieve Dry Skin and
The Factors Contributing to Dry Skin Conditions
Are you living in a dry climate, working in a heated or in an air-conditioned office?
Dry skin is a common skin condition haunting many of us. Healthy skin is coated in a thin layer of natural lipids, or fatty substances. These keep in the moisture, leaving the skin soft and supple.
Although, environmental factors play a major role in dry skin conditions your skin care routine may also be part of the problem.
Many skincare products and treatments actually strip away important fatty oils, leaving your skin unprotected.
1. Showers and Face Wash
We recommend using a moisturizer right after your shower or a brief face wash with warm water. The shower or face wash adds moisture to your skin and you want to lock it in. That’s the role of the moisturizer.
Hot showers feel good, but they strip the protective layer from your skin which leads to dryness. So avoid long hot water showers. Instead, choose warm water showers.
Moisturizers should be a bit thicker in consistency and contain known moisture holding ingredients like hyaluronic acid or the natural snow mushroom that we use in our HYDRATE Probiotic Moisturizing Day Cream.
2. Cleansers
Select a gentle cleanser that is PH balanced like our Cleanse. This goes a long way in aiding dry skin.
It is very important to avoid cleansers with fragrances, harsh chemicals or alcohol based ingredients. These additives strip your skin of its protective lipids and alter its bioderm. Research your moisturizers as they are not all created equal, inspect the ingredients.
3. Exfoliating Dead Cells
Exfoliation is essential for all skin, not just dry skin, as it helps to remove dead cells from the top layer of the skin and will trigger new skin development. Keep in mind that moderation is the name of the game in exfoliation. Typically, once a week works well for most skin types.
4. Nutrition
It is important to realize that moisturizing starts from inside your body.
Good nutrition is the best way to keep your skin hydrated, flexible and healthy. Essential oils provided by foods such as salmon, other seafood, avocado, coconut, nuts and seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds and others, supply the nutritional building blocks of a healthy functioning cell membrane that protects and regulates hydration in our skin.
A good tip to maximize the benefit from your chia seeds is to soak them in water for 20 minutes before consuming. This allows them to be more easily digested. Mix ¼ to ¾ cup of chia seeds (I keep mine in a Tupperware container in the fridge) to greek yogurt or mixed fruit each morning.
Also, it has been documented that dry skin will benefit from a healthy dose of vitamin C rich foods or supplements.
5. Protection
Other factors like dry air in your home or office can be regulated by managing the humidity of your living space.
Proper clothing during outdoor activities can help minimize the affects of wind or sun exposure. Sometimes dry skin can be a side effect of medication or an underlying medical condition and should be consulted about with your medical practitioner.
If left untreated dry skin can lead to issues like infections, swelling or dermatitis (inflammation of the skin). Other diseases can also cause dry skin problems. The best way to treat these cases of dry skin depends on the underlying condition. Sometimes, getting medication for the underlying condition will resolve the dry skin issue. But in other cases, you might still need to follow some of the basic dry skin care tips outlined above.
Key Recommendations to Help Relieve Your Dry Skin
Hydrating your skin is an important factor in a healthy skin care routine. It is as important as cleansing, nourishing and protecting which are the other factors of a sensible, healthy and effective skin care routine.
Follow these 5 key recommendations to help relieve your dry skin:
- Apply moisturizer immediately after a warm shower or face wash to lock in the moisture.
- Select a gentle, toxic free, PH balanced cleanser to avoid stripping your skin’s lipids.
- Exfoliate weekly to remove dead skin.
- Moisturize from within by eating healthy foods high in omegas and vitamins.
- Protect your skin from harsh environmental conditions.
