Causes, Symptoms, And Solutions of Dry Skin
Dry skin can be problematic to deal with. It is a common skin condition with many causes. There is no single cause for dry skin, it may reflect as an internal health issue in extreme conditions. At times, extremely dry skin is very annoying as it is a recurrent problem. If neglected, this can be painful and embarrassing.
Knowing about potential causes and triggers can help prevent dry skin and keep complications at bay. You can treat and manage dry skin with a proper skincare routine.
What is Dry Skin?
Dry skin is medically termed “Xerosis.” This occurs when there is a lack of moisture content in the skin. There is a loss of naturally occurring oils which helps keep the skin soft and supple. Dry skin may be mild, moderate, or severe.
Dry skin occurs when skin cells (melanocytes) produce less sebum or natural oils than required. This lack of sebum causes tight stretchy and dull-looking skin with a rough texture.
Your skin is at its best when it maintains a perfect balance of sebum and natural oil production. This helps maintain a healthy skin glow with perfect moisturization of the skin naturally.
Incidence of Dry Skin
Some people may have naturally dry skin. It can affect any age group but is commonly seen in elderly groups due to aging as they tend to lose moisture content from the skin. It is mostly seen in specific parts of the body and face which are as follows-
- Hands and legs
- Bony areas like elbows and knees
- Cheeks and lips
- Nose
- Knuckles
- Ankles and heels
Causes of Dry Skin
The causes of dry skin are as follows-
- Aging
- Genetics
- Vitamin deficiency
- Low humidity
- Cold and windy climate
- Hot and frequent showers
- Harsh soaps and detergents
- Long-term medications for high BP, high cholesterol
- Endocrine issues like diabetes and thyroid
- Skin issues like dermatitis, psoriasis, and eczema
- Lack of moisturization in the daily skincare routine
- Depleted hydration levels due to low intake of water
- Using drying skin care products like alcohol-based toners
- Using too much makeup or the wrong quality of makeup
Symptoms of Dry Skin
The symptoms of dry skin are as follows-
- Itching is also known as pruritus
- Dry and red patches
- Flaky skin
- Peeling of skin
- Roughness
- A stretchy tight feeling of skin
- Cuts and cracks
- Burning sensation on the skin
The severity of the symptoms depends on the causative factor of dry skin. It may vary from person to person.
Complications of Dry Skin
The 3 major complications of dry skin are as follows-
- Severe itching and scratching may lead to bleeding
- Deep cuts and cracks may lead to bacterial infection
- Burning sensation with tingling in case of excessive peeling of the skin
How To Prevent Dry Skin?
The best ways to prevent dry skin are as follows-
- Hydrate yourself by drinking plenty of water
- Ensure to moisturize your skin daily
- Avoid harsh cleansers for the face
- Switch to mild, gentle, and natural skincare products
- Choose hydrating skincare products like serums and moisturizers
- Wearing gloves while handling detergents and soaps
- Showering and applying moisturizer post-swimming is a must
- Limit over-exposure to the sun and apply sunscreen always before stepping out in the sun
- Pat dry instead of rubbing the skin
- Apply some moisturizer to damp skin
- Use lukewarm water to bathe and avoid hot showers
- Avoid scrubbing the face and use gentle natural exfoliants
- Use minimal makeup
- Use skincare products rich in natural elements of hyaluronic acid
- Use body lotion enriched with glycerine
- Consume a healthy diet enriched with seeds like flax seeds, pumpkin seeds
- Take an oatmeal bath
- Consume a healthy diet rich in vitamins A, & E along with omega-3 fatty acids
Awareness of dry skin is a must to eliminate it with the right solutions. Detecting your skin type and choosing the right preventive measure will help treat dry skin effectively. So, put an end to battling dry skin with effective natural skincare solutions and win healthy glowing beautiful skin forever.