The skin is the largest organ of our body, performing an extremely important barrier and protective function. Healthy skin easily protects us from harmful or dangerous environmental factors, such as adverse weather, chemicals, dangerous infectious agents.
Since the condition of our skin is very important to our overall appearance, it is very important to take care of it. Have you ever wondered why your skin is dry? And what should you do to change that?
Dry skin - what is it?
Dry skin is a condition characterized by flaky, itchy or cracked skin. This condition can occur for a variety of reasons. Maybe your skin is naturally dry, or the dryness only occurs occasionally.
Dry skin mostly lacks sebum, which is secreted by the glands in the skin, the lack of fatty substance leads to a constant feeling of dryness, it is felt even after applying a moisturizing cream. People with dry skin often face increased skin sensitivity, which complicates skin care, as products need to be chosen very carefully.
This type of skin is not prone to acne, and the pores are less clogged, but dry skin is prone to wrinkles, aging and sagging.
For those with dry skin, it is very important to constantly moisturize and nourish it, to pay attention not only to the right cosmetics, but also to nutrition, to drink enough fluids.
What happens when you have dry skin?
Dry skin changes the texture of the skin from soft to rough. This can cause the skin to become itchy or discolored. You may experience patches of dry skin, which are small areas of dry skin, or dry skin may cover a larger area of skin. Dry skin is usually harmless and only causes temporary discomfort until you can rehydrate your skin with a moisturizer.
Very dry skin is fragile and easily flakes or cracks, which can turn into a painful wound. In case of skin soreness due to dry skin, treat the skin as you would a cut or wound to prevent infection.
Risk factors
All of us can experience dry skin. However, there are several factors that can make this condition more realistic:
- Age. Older than a year, because the skin's ability to retain moisture has decreased with age.
- Climate. If you live in a cold, windy, or low-humidity climate, the odds increase.
- Work. Some occupations can cause dry skin, especially if you work outdoors, with chemicals, or frequently wash your hands.
- Swimming pool. You often swim in chlorinated pools.
- Diseases. You have certain diseases, such as diabetes or hypothyroidism.
Skin drying factors
Most often, we feel the dryness of the skin during the cold season, but the skin can become dry due to other factors as well.
Temperature differences
Snow, wind and cold can have a big impact on our skin, especially when it goes from cold weather to warm weather. Temperature differences cause the skin tissues and the blood vessels that feed them to expand and contract extremely quickly, resulting in redness, dryness, and flaking. Heat. Central heating, wood-burning stoves, heaters and fireplaces reduce humidity, which also increases the likelihood of dry skin.
Unbalanced diet
If you consume too little water, vegetables and fresh foods, the skin lacks the substances it needs, as a result, its protective barrier weakens and collagen disappears.
Improper skin care
It is very important to choose the skin care products you use responsibly. It is important not to choose products that have a lot of unnecessary fragrances and unnatural components in their composition: not only do they not help restore moisture to the skin, but they can even dry it out and irritate it even more.
Lack of vitamins and minerals
The skin, like other body organs, needs vitamins and minerals, and their deficiency often manifests itself in various ailments. Dry skin can be a signal that the body lacks some substances.
Hormonal changes, skin diseases
Dry skin can be caused by hormonal disorders (menopause), thyroid, various skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, etc., as well as diseases of the digestive or nervous system.
Dehydrated skin
Although dehydrated skin and dry skin are often confused, they are actually different skin problems. Dehydrated skin lacks water and is a temporary skin condition, while dry skin lacks natural oils and is a skin type.
Not taking care of your skin?
Dry skin usually does not have a major impact on your health. However, when left untreated, dry skin can cause:
- Atopic dermatitis (eczema). If you are prone to this condition, excessively dry skin can trigger the condition, causing a rash and cracking of the skin.
- Infections. Dry skin can be caused if the skin is very dry rather than damaged. Dry skin can crack, allowing bacteria to enter and cause infections.
These complications are most likely when your skin's defense mechanisms are severely compromised. For example, very dry skin can cause deep cracks or fissures that can open and bleed, allowing bacteria to enter.
How to improve skin condition?
Create a daily skin care routine. Do not rub the skin with rough towels, do not use sharp, unnatural products. Exfoliate your skin once a week. Use moisturizing and nourishing body care products.
Moisturize. Moisturizer retains water and helps maintain a healthy skin barrier. Use moisturizer throughout the day, especially on your hands.
Before going outside, even on cloudy days, use a moisturizer with sunscreen or a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. Apply sunscreen liberally and reapply every two hours, or more often if you're swimming or you sweat
Balance your diet. In order for the skin to have enough moisture, you need to drink a lot of water, consume food enriched with Omega-3 fatty acids: fatty fish, avocados, olive oil, chia and hemp seeds, flax seeds, nuts. Drink when you are thirsty. Drink caffeine-free beverages daily to keep all body tissues, including the skin, well hydrated.
Limit exposure to water. Avoid taking a long shower or lying in a hot bath - the washing water should be warm, because hot water dries the skin, and too cool - makes it rough. The optimal water temperature for swimming should be around 37-38 degrees, and the process itself should last no longer than ten minutes.
Use a mild cleanser or allergen-free soap. Try a soap-free cleansing cream or shower gel. Alternatively, use an unscented moisturizing soap without alcohol or allergens (hypoallergenic soap), especially if you wash your hands often. Rinse thoroughly and dry. Apply the moisturizer while the skin is still damp.
Choose cleansers that have an oil base, because such products will not only moisturize the skin, but also strengthen the skin barrier.
Protect skin. Cover up as much skin as possible in cold or windy weather. Harsh weather can be particularly drying to the skin. Scarves, hats, and gloves or mittens help protect skin when outdoors.
Bathe babies carefully. Usually, a detergent used every 1-2 weeks is enough to bathe babies. Otherwise, bathe them in water only. However, clean the diaper area after each diaper change. While the skin is still wet, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly.
If you notice very sudden dryness of the skin, sores or painful cracks, contact specialists who will help you discover the reasons for this: perhaps you are dealing with hormonal changes in the body or you have other problems that also affect the condition of the skin.
