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Dry Skin Care
Great glowing skin is a wonderful thing to have because it’s right there on your face, you cannot and need not hide it.
Only a counted lucky few are blessed with normal skin, the rest of us have a dry, oily or combination variety. Dark skins have a tendency towards greater extremes of dryness or oiliness as compared to lighter counterparts.
Symptoms
Dry skin looks dry, sometimes flaky, and often feels tight especially after washing it with soap. It reacts to very cold and very hot weather by tightening up and easily gets chapped. Chapping and cracking are signs of a dry, dehydrated skin.
Causes
Basically dry skin has a low level of the protective sebum (which is a natural lubricant) and is unable to retain moisture which gives it the dull, parched look. Internal causes such as an under-active thyroid gland or certain drugs such as antispasmodics, diuretics also at times lead to a dry skin.
Treatment
An important aspect to dry skin care is to identify and then tackle the contributing factorto a dry skin. To start with the basic, one must drink at least eight to ten glasses of water a day to keep the skin well hydrated, and along with it eat a high quality healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Few specific tips:
- Limit exposure to sun and to too much air conditioning.
- Reduce how often you bath or wash your face to maximum two times a day, and if possible use lukewarm water.
- Avoid using any standard commercial soap. Instead use non-detergent, neutral-pH products to cleanse your skin.
- Massage your face every night before sleeping with a moisturizer, and be generous in the areas surrounding the eyes.
- For cracked, dry skin on fingers and feet, use calendula cream or cream rich in vitamin E and aloe vera. Massage in well and do not forget to wear plastic gloves overnight.
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol as they cause dehydration. Also do not smoke, as smoking deprives the skin of oxygen and nutrients making it dry and flaky.
During winters, dry skin needs special care against the cold dry weather. Prevention is the best cure. All moisturizers and lotions cannot make the skin as healthy as preventing dryness and rashes. Go for a fortnightly facial to clean the skin and remove dull and dry surface skin cells. A lot of facials are available in beauty salons which take care of the dry skin type. If you are going in for a home mask then do remember to add honey, and herbs like lavender, peppermint or tea tree oil. These work miracles on dry skin.
Chocolate therapy for dry skin wherein chocolate is applied on the face is the latest in dry skin care and believe me it works wonders. The anti-oxidants present in chocolate are particularly good for dry skin conditions and also has anti-ageing properties. But yes, do not eat chocolates as they can be disastrous on your skin.
Last but not the least eat a well balanced healthy diet that contains lots of veggies, fruits nuts; and avoid fried foods, soft drinks, chocolates and other junk food. Follow a light exercise regime daily.
If these do not help you battle dry skin, then positively consult an allergist to find out if an allergic reaction is causing your dry skin.