Are you struggling with dry skin? Don’t worry, there are ways to deal with dry skin, as you shall soon learn. But first, there are a few things that you need to understand about dry skin. Most people see dry skin as a skin condition or disease. But that’s not the case. Though there are cases where dry skin is a genetic trait, most of the time the dry skin is due to itchy clothing, harsh soaps, using wrong moisturizers, diabetes medication, hypothyroidism, psoriasis, and malnutrition.

Why does dry skin develop?

Normal skin contains a small layer of natural lipids containing fatty substances. The fatty layer helps absorb water and maintain the smoothness and suppleness of the skin. But when this layer of lipids is stripped away, your skin becomes dry. This is known as Xerosis. Most of the time, dry skin is very subtle; but in some cases, it can be very conspicuous.

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Why should you care about dry skin?

Having dry skin, over a prolonged period of time, will lead to inflammation of the skin – referred to as dermatitis. This, in turn, affects the confidence of the person. If left unattended, it leads to depression . Moreover, some cases of dry skin might be due to psychological problems, that get reflected in the psycho-somatic axis. Read on to learn about the factors that commonly contribute to dry skin, and changes you can make in order to avoid it:

Misusing moisturiser

Most people use moisturizer on dry skin. But this serves no useful purpose. Rather, you should apply moisturizer when your skin is still damp. However, you should not overdo this by applying the moisturizer when you are soaking wet.

Furthermore, people often buy a moisturizer that doesn’t suit their skin type. Experts say that you should ideally choose a mild moisturizer that doesn’t contain any perfume or alcohol. Don’t get misled into believing that expensive moisturizers are more effective. Sometimes a simple moisturizer can prove to be more useful. Get a thick moisturizer, as it will help retain the moisture content of your skin. Check for the consistency of the moisturizer by dropping few drops on the back of your hand, and see if it drips or stays in place.

Dry air

Dry skin is common during winter, owing to dry air. This is popularly known as winter itch. The air during winter takes the moisture out of your skin. Sometimes the dry air from the central heating system tends to contribute to this effect.

Considering these facts, you must make sure that you protect your skin adequately during winter with a moisturizer. Reduce the temperature of the central heating system during winter, and increase the temperature of the air conditioner during summer. Further protect yourself with gloves, hats, and scarves to avoid water loss.

Avoid long and hot showers

Taking a long hot shower leads to the washing away of the natural lipids from the surface of the skin. Especially when it is hot water, the lipids of the skin are washed completely. That’s why you feel so light after a hot water bath.
If you are someone prone to this, you must avoid taking long baths, or shower in hot water. After the bath, use a soft towel to pat yourself dry.

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Soap

Most people lose the lipid layer from their skin due to soap. Use the right soap for your skin, and use soap only in selected areas of the body like face, hands, groin, feet, and underarms.
Don’t use soap excessively, as this will lead to your losing the lipid layer. Use mild soaps, and that too judiciously. The mantra of “less is more” definitely applies here.

Itchy clothing

Sometimes certain clothes tend to make your skin dry, Find out if you are wearing any such fabrics, and then avoid them. If your clothes cause itching, then they might cause dry skin as well. Try to buy cashmere clothes, instead of wool, to help with this. Also, avoid wearing very tight clothing.

Medical conditions and side-effects of medications can also cause dry skin. If this is the case, then you must visit a dermatologist to get proper treatment. But for dry skin caused by any of the aforementioned causes, the tips were given here shall prove to be effective remedies.

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