What to do for dry skin

What

Dry skin, medically known as xerosis cutis, is a disruption of the skin's protective barrier due to a reduced or absent presence of lipid molecules. This results in an insufficient ability to retain water, resulting in dehydration. Dry skin is very common, affecting one in four people, and it worsens significantly with age.

Symptoms

The main way dry skin manifests itself is in its tone. Dry skin has a very specific appearance: it's dull, dry, and rough to the touch. It's skin that tends to crack and flake, giving off that sensation known in skincare jargon as "tightness." It also causes itching and redness, and can lead to the appearance of furrows and wrinkles . The "tightness" sensation is particularly noticeable after a bath or shower. Symptoms such as exfoliation also appear, and even small cracks in the skin may appear.

Cause

Among the main causes of dry skin are:

• Aging which causes less sebum production
• Reduction of estrogen, in the case of women, due to of menopause
• Genetic predisposition, also linked to skin conditions affected by dry skin
• Excessive exposure to the sun without protection
• Aggressive cleaners
• Showers that are too long and too hot
• Cold and dry climate
• Excessive wind
• Air conditioning or excessive heating
• Diet poor in essential nutrients
• Continued and excessive use of cortisone

Associated diseases

Dry skin can be associated with some diseases, such as:

• Diabetes
• Intestinal diseases
• Psoriasis
• Hypothyroidism
• Kidney failure
  
• Sunburn
• Ichthyosis
• atopic dermatitis
• Skin infections

Remedies

Don't waste money on products that promise to eliminate dry skin: natural remedies that help solve the problem are almost always sufficient. For example:

• Drink a lot, especially when the air is dry
• Have a diet with lots of fruits and vegetables
• Eat foods rich in Vitamin A. And rich in unsaturated fatty acids, proteins and amino acids
• Avoid treatments exfoliants which make the skin even drier 
• In case of pruritus, try cold water compresses
• After showering, pat your skin dry with moisturizing oil or cream

What not to do with dry skin

• Sunbathing without adequate sunscreen
• Use rough towels; with dry skin, soft ones are needed.
• Do not use soaps and body hygiene products that are too aggressive; they must be very gentle instead.
• Washing your face too often and rinsing it with hot water is also not recommended.
• Applying creams without first cleansing the skin
• Excessive fried foods and foods rich in fat 
• Eating too much salt or foods rich in salt

When to see a doctor

You should see a doctor for dry skin when natural remedies aren't enough to soothe it. And when the discomfort and itching worsen, preventing you from sleeping and affecting your quality of life. Or worse, if ulcers or infections form , and a large area of ​​skin begins to flake and peel.

Prevention

Some very simple preventative measures are very effective against dry skin.

• After showering, dry yourself so as to leave the skin slightly moisturize and, if necessary, apply an emollient or moisturizing cream all over the body. A moisturizing cream may also be useful. wrinkle cream natural, to be applied in the evening.
• Protect your skin from the sun, both in summer and winter.
• Use only cleansers and moisturizers intended for dry skin.
• For personal hygiene, do not use overly aggressive products containing alcohol, dyes and perfumes.
• Do not use creams with Vaseline which complicate and hinder the evaporation of water.
• Do not scratch the skin with the horsehair glove.
• Always prefer natural fabrics, from cotton silk, and do not wear clothing made of tight-fitting synthetic fabrics. 

Read also:

• How to protect your skin at night
• What to do for chapped facial skin
• Red skin: what causes it and how to treat it