Having dry, flaky, and itchy skin irritates you all day. Even after applying tons of moisturizer on your face, there is a feeling of dryness on your face, throughout the day. People with dry skin know all too well that getting rid of it is not that easy and it is important that you know that it is not just what you put on your skin but also how you clean your skin, what ingredients that contain, and even the climate around you.
Winter is especially the season the people with this skin type dread the most. As if the weather was not enough, the constant use of alcohol-based sanitizers has escalated the problem.
Dry skin can be caused by anything, be it weather or genetics or over-scrubbing of skin, and many more factors.
Dry skin has clear symptoms and there will be no problem in diagnosing this problem.
If your skin feels tight, dehydrated, rough, appears red, and there is constant itching, then you have dry skin.
Now the question comes, how do you treat this particular problem?
To deal with dry skin, you have to make sure that the barrier of your skin is not dehydrated and flaky as this can lead to cracks and irritation. You need to opt for a skincare regimen that is suitable to your dry skin type and keeps it healthy, especially in the winter.
You can take up the following measures to lower the effects of dry skin –
- Say No To Hot Water And Yes To Warm Water
Yes, a steamy hot shower feels good, especially in winter but however good it might feel, it is not a good idea for your dry skin. The hot water can strip your body of the natural barrier and that barrier is responsible for trapping the moisturizer in your skin and keeping it smooth.
Try to dial down the temperature of your shower and don’t stay for a long time.
It is not that you stop taking warm showers, you just need to minimize the temperature in which you bathe.
- Gentle Soaps And Cleansers Are The Way To Go
Firstly, put aside your sweet-smelling soaps because soaps have an alkaline pH which can damage the skin. Though you can choose soaps that are free from any kind of fragrances or antibacterial additives but still try to remove soaps from your daily use.
Try choosing a cleanser that contains ceramides. Ceramides are molecules that are responsible for making the outer barrier of your skin. They help the skin in retaining moisture.
Restrain yourself from using too many toners, peels, and astringents, especially which have alcohol. Alcohol is an ingredient that can dry your skin and you do not want that. While scrubbing, don’t scrub too much or too hard.
- Avoid Retinol
Retinol is an anti-aging ingredient used by many that stimulate collagen to strengthen the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. This ingredient can be found in the best face whitening cream. But this ingredient can irritate your skin and make it dry. You can replace this ingredient with a botanical extract called bakuchiol also known as bio-retinoid.
This ingredient has the same effects as retinol minus the sin irritation and dryness.
- Shaving
Shaving is an act that can irritate dry skin. As you are shaving the hair, you are also sweeping the skin of the natural oils. The best time to shave is after a bathe as the hair is softer and easier to shave.
Remember to use shaving cream and always shave in the direction the hair is growing. The razor should be sharp as a dull razor blade can cause more irritation. Keep changing your blades and if you are reusing a blade then soak it in rubbing alcohol before using it.
- Moisturiser
For dry skin, a moisturizer is a godsend and it can’t be better than this. Use creams that contain ceramides and squalenes. These creams are useful when the level of the ceramide declines and the skin barrier is not strong enough to protect itself anymore.
Squalene is a naturally occurring oil in the body but its production decreases after the age of 30 and so products are required to keep up with the hydration of the skin.
- Block That Sun Damage
Sun is the highlight of all the causes related to dry skin, wrinkles, roughness, etc. an SPF 30 sunscreen is the way to go if you are willing to protect your skin from all this.
Dressing is another thing that can protect your body’s skin. In cool try to dress in layers as you can remove these layers when you start feeling hot. Overheating and perspiration can irritate your skin. Use an SPF 15 sunscreen lip balm on your lips to avoid chapped lips.
In summer, wear light, long-sleeved shirts and a hat to shade your neck, ears, and eyes.
- Humidifier
Cold and dry air is one of the most common reasons for dry and irritated skin. Heating the house will keep you warm but will also remove the moisture content from the house.
A humidifier will replenish moisture content in the house. Try setting the level of the humidifier to around 60%.
- Hand sanitizer
As if all the other problems were not enough, the pandemic brought the need for using sanitizers, that too alcohol-based, in our life. But there is something that you can do to reduce this problem.
Leave some water on your hands after washing, and apply moisturizer while the hands are still damp. While using a sanitizer, apply a moisturizer after the hand sanitizer has dried.
The fingertips and nails are often overlooked, so keep in mind to moisturize those areas.
Wrapping Up
If you have dry skin, try to use fewer skin lightening vitamin and the best face whitening cream as they may irritate your skin. It is not easy to keep up with dry skin but the above-mentioned ways are some of the best.
