Yes, you probably heard about dry skin many times. Dry skin is a no-brainer issue but it remains as one of the most common skin conditions. Some people just neglect it, sometimes simply blaming the hot and dry weather. Honestly, I do not have dry skin. Mine is oily. That is another issue, however.
What causes dry skin?
What really causes dry skin? You need to identify these before even trying to treat dry skin. In some cases, it causes itchiness and swelling. Some may not sleep well. Your skin condition is a good indicator of your over all health status. It even reveals a lot about you to a trained eye. Knowing its causes will help you identify truly effective solutions. As I was implying earlier, though dry skin is not a relatively serious ailment, believe me, it is so bothersome. So take these pieces of information seriously.
The technical term for dry skin is xeroderma. It is a condition of the integumentary system that is responsible for the body's protection against damages, among many other functions. Dry skin mostly occurs on lower legs, scalp, knuckles, thighs and sides of the abdomen. Usually, red rashes develop, accompanied sometimes with scaling, itching and cracks on your skin. Scaling refers to the visible peel on the outer layer of your skin. This outer layer is called stratum corneum. It is also referred to as horny layer. Hmmmm... I wonder why.
The stratum corneum is composed primarily of large flat envelopes containing keratin, another type of protein. It mixes with the dead cells that do not have nuclei anymore. Keratin also helps keep the skin moist by trapping the liquid content and absorbing moisture. Blood supply is taken from the excesses of the capillaries on the dermis. Keratin, therefore, holds a critical role in keeping moisture in the body.
So, what causes dry skin?
Simple. It is the lack of moisture on your horny layer.
Here, we gathered most effective tips to help you get rid of your dry skin. The following are the most widely applied solutions so proven to be very effective.
1. Drink a lot of water. You need to drink at least eight glasses of water every day. This may include natural juice extracts. Do not count in your soda and coffee. In fact, these two beverages contribute to gradual loss of moisture on your skin. During hotter weather, you may add more glasses of water.
2. Avoid hot baths. Warm and hot baths are known to easily wash away the essential nutrients on your skin. It may be soothing to your senses, especially for people who have problems getting sleep easily. It may help you get rid of the dirty skin cells and other dirt, but hot baths only exacerbate your dry skin condition.
3. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Our body needs essential nutrients and elements for its optimum performance. Fluid retention is significantly improved if your body retains substantial amount of these helpful nutrients. Foremost is the critical role played by vitamin E on your skin's health.
4. Do not smoke. Smoking and caffeine largely contributes to dry skin. They inhibit your skin from retaining moisture.
5. Avoid harsh soap. Body soaps contain harmful chemicals that dry your skin further. Instead, use bath gels, moisture rich facial cleaners and hand wash. Just make sure they do not contain those chemicals too.
6. Use moisturizers. These are very effective in combating the early signs of dry skin. They are applied topically on the affected areas. Look for brands that are suited to your skin type. They must be gentle and should not contain chemicals, some being known to cause cancer. A good and highly effective moisturizer is one made of natural ingredients, notably plant extracts.
Taking care of skin remains an important factor in preventing dry skin. But once you have this condition, the above tips will help you a lot in getting rid of it.
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