Anti Aging Skin Care » Skin Types » Dry Skin

Skin Types : Dry Skin

Dry skin has a thin and papery texture. It feels dry to touch. The pores are very fine. Not drinking enough water, certain types of heating in winter, so if you think that your skin is not dry, then look to environmental factors can bring on sometimes dryness.

In India, the harsh sun, with its increased intensity of the ultra violet as well as infrared rays, and the alarming levels of pollution dry the skin much more. Even teenagers with acne, who basically have oily skin, often complain of superficially dry skin especially in winter - not only in the non-oily areas, but even in the T-zone area which is loaded with oil glands. It dry skin leads the list of you beauty woes, take heart: your complexion may not be as dry as you think.

You probably have dry skin if your skin shows signs of:

• Roughness to the touch
• Flakiness
• Stretchy, tight feeling
• Occasional itchiness
• Rare breakouts

While that tight, parched feeling can be due to the elements, remember dry skin may also be caused by a cleanser that's too harsh, a moisturizer that's not rich enough for your skin's needs or rough treatment, like over-scrubbing with a grainy facial cleanser. But relief is possible: an extra-gentle cleansing routine teamed with the right moisturizer can help make even the thirstiest, most parched skin lovelier and more supple.

If you are the sort who loves long baths and you have dry skin, resist. The long, leisurely bath that relaxes you could dry out your skin completely. Avoid soap and use a soap-addict, choose soaps that are mild and moisturizing; preferably use super fatted moisturizing bars, which have added emollients. Avoid soaps with deodorants, which can be harsh. If you are concerned about the body odor though, use a deodorant soap in strategic sweat spots on your body, e.g., underarms, groin, etc. Better still; use a separate deodorant after your bath. Avoid loofahs. If you must scrub too hard you may damage your skin leading to pigmentation.

Pat on a rich moisturizer immediately after your bath to lock in the moisture. Choose a cold cream to suit your taste. To hydrate mildly dry skin, try a light moisturizer meant for normal skin. These light moisturizers penetrate the skin easily and don't leave a sticky, greasy feeling behind. Use a heavier product if your skin is moderately dry. Seriously dry skin requires an extremely heavy emollient like petroleum jelly or oil, like olive oil.

If you are like many women with dry skin, you may be moisturizing morning, soon and night in the hope of staving off further dryness. But this strategy can backfire. Moisturizing too often can trigger rashes or breakouts. So unless your skin is extremely dry, moisturizing once a day, either under make-up or at night after cleansing, may be enough. Even if you prefer to moisturize more often, it's a good idea to use the lightest product that relieves the dryness.

Dry skin tends to be thinner and more susceptible to rashes especially from harsh cleansers. It's important to find a cleanser that removes dirt and make-up thoroughly. Don't use soap on your face: many soaps, especially antibacterial or deodorant soaps, can chap dry skin, leaving it vulnerable to reactions caused by make-up or other skin care products. Your eyelids are particularly vulnerable, especially if your skin is sensitive as well as dry. Opt for a gel or liquid face wash and cleansing milk instead of soap.

When cleansing dry skin, remember:

• If you are using a lathering cleanser, make suds in the palm of your hand, then transfer the lather to your fingertips.
• Massage the cleanser into your skin, moving fingers in a circular motion.
• Rinse or tissue off the cleanser as directed on the label.
• Gently blot your face dry with a soft towel. Never rub.

The most important thing that will take care of your dryness is the use of a sunscreen on all the exposed areas, i.e., face, neck, hands and forearms. Use a sunscreen, which has UVA as well as UVB blocking properties. Both rays are equally harmful and drying. Use a sunscreen even if you are indoors. Most sunscreens work only for about two or three hours; hence it is important to use it at least twice a day - in the morning as well as in the afternoon.

If your skin is so severely dry that nothing you do seems to help, consider seeing a dermatologist. There's a chance that, without you realizing it, an underlying medical condition or internal disorder is at the root of your problem, in which case medical advice is the answer. One of the commonest medical reasons for dry skin is a relative protein deficiency. Many current fad diets advocate avoiding milk and proteins, which can lead to dull, and dry skin. Although water is important for the skin, a reduced intake very rarely causes dry skin, unless the person is medically dehydrated. Other uncommon internal causes of dry skin are hormonal problems like hypothyroidism, some drugs like roaccutane which are used to treat acne and, rarely, some internal cancers like lymphomas.