Is Dry Skin Condition An Alarming Situation?

Our body has the largest organ which is called the skin. Skin gets damaged due to the extreme heat of the sun and dries up and cracks in severe cold conditions in chilly weather. If there are any uncomfortable conditions related to our largest exposed gland, we are sure to look for remedies. The skin conditions may vary from oily to normal to dry. But overexposure to moisture, heat, and cold are the reasons that one can develop dry skin.

If you have a question that if it is normal to have dry skin. Here are the answers to it. Yes, it is a natural and normal condition for our skin to lose its moisture content when it comes in contact with excessive water and dry weather. The natural oils in our body deplete to a certain extent and let the dry skin condition prevail. The hands, legs, and face are affected to a large extent.

What are the common causes of dry skin and how can it be prevented?

The loss of water from the skin is the causative agent of dry skin. So, dehydrated skin shows signs of flakes and an infected epidermal layer. There are many factors of dry skin conditions that can affect a person’s health.

1. Age factor

Our age factor is the first test to check the skin’s health and softness. With growing age, the skin decreases the production of natural oils and retains less water. Thus, there are patches of dry skin that appear with aging.

2. Weather and seasonal

Low humidity in summer may be the reason for skin dryness. The windy conditions and cold chilly weather also cause the skin to lose its water content. So, in summers and winters the skin gets infectious with dry weather conditions and gets dry. 

3. Cleaning Habits

The soap and scrubbing agents that are used while bathing and cleaning hands remove the topical layer of natural oil from the skin. It makes the skin dry and lifeless. So, keep using shampoos and body wash that are mild on the skin. Also, if the water temperature is too high, it will cause the skin to dehydrate while bathing. So, avoid frequent baths at any cost to save your skin from drying out easily.

4. Medical conditions

Medical conditions like psoriasis and eczema arise due to excess dryness on the skin. They may be hereditary or are caused due to side effects of other medical conditions like skin cancer or dermatitis.

5. Heat

Heating conditions in the surrounding areas like space heaters, burning wood in fireplaces, and central heating systems are responsible for drying up the skin. It reduces the humidity in the room and lets the skin lose its moisture.

6. Vitamin deficiency

Dry skin is a common cause of vitamin E, C, and A deficiency. Some people who suffer from eczema may have vitamin D deficiency also. Proper intake of vitamins in your daily diet is a good way to replenish your vitamin deficiencies.

7. Occupational problems

Some occupations make the skin flaky or peeling like being in the construction business, or in the cosmetology business that uses chemicals with bare hands or washing hands many times a day with harsh cleansing agents. 

How can a daily skincare routine be tailored to help combat dry skin and promote hydration?

All-day skincare routines can be tailored around your lifestyle. Your skin needs a lot of nourishment which can be provided by lotions and oily creams. They need a moisturizer at all times in the daytime. Also one can add nourishment of limbs and face to their night regimes.

Some quick skincare routines are listed here:

1. Moisturizing lotions must be smeared on the skin regularly or whenever the skin is dry. The moisturizer must be light in weight and cover the skin without forming a thick layer.
2. The cleansing agents that are applied to the skin must be very skin friendly and can’t make the skin dry. Scrubbing the skin with harsh soaps and scrubbers may rob the topical layer of the skin of its moisture. So, it is good to use moisturizing soap on the skin to keep the skin soft and supple.
3. Temperature of the water used to take bath or wash hands must be moderate. Hot long showers or steamed hot water must be avoided to keep the moisture content of the skin intact. Also, the time of shower must be reduced to only 10 minutes so that water doesn’t harm your skin.
4. Use a soft towel to scrub and dry the skin after the bath and even one can pat dry the skin to keep the skin moist.
5. Use of humidifiers inside your living rooms is a good way to keep the air humid. It helps to retain the moisture of the skin.
6. The cosmetic industry has developed such products that include shea butter, hyaluronic acid, glycerine, and allantoin that aid in the softness of your skin.
7. Use petroleum jelly to create a barrier between the skin and the outer environment. It is a light and super absorbing medium that makes the skin soft.
8. Fatty acids in natural items like jojoba, almond, and sunflower are extracted and their oils are used to create cosmetics and hand creams to moisturize dry skin conditions or lock in moisture content.
9. Drinking plenty of water in a day will keep up the moisture content of the person in good quantity. It keeps the skin hydrated and free from dryness.

Conclusion

When the skin gets at its worse due to dry skin problems like dermatitis or psoriasis, one must seek the help of a doctor. While there are many different ailments that may lead to dry skin, curing it with ointments and moisturisers is not difficult. The natural ingredients present in the good quality moisturising agents are a blessing for a dry skin.