Tips On Healing Dry Skin
Dry skin can make you appear to be older than you really are and cause you to be self-conscious about showing your skin or wearing some of the latest fashion trends. It can make your skin look red, white, flakey and unhealthy. On top of all of this it can feel itchy and case a never ending burning sensation. Before we can get into how you can get your dry skin healthy again we have to start at the beginning: the causes. Dry skin can be caused by a series of things including:
· Dehydration
· Hypothyroid
· Dry Air
· Detergents and Soaps
· Heat
· Medical Conditions such as psoriasis
Now let’s discuss how you can turn your skin around and make it go from dry and uncomfortable to nourished and healthy.
Skip The Hot Shower– Lots of people like the feel of a hot shower because it’s soothing- especially after a long day. However hot showers strip your skin of its natural oils and makes your skin dry. Instead of hot showers take lukewarm showers so you’ll still feel the warmth of the water without feeling the damage.
No Perfume– When shopping for soaps and detergents, look for products that are unscented. The perfumes in some of the leading brands can strip your skin of moisture and cause it to dry out.
Moisturize Properly- For best results, apply moisturizer to your skin when it’s damp, right after the shower because your pores are open and will soak up the nourishment. Applying moisturizer on dry skin doesn’t work nearly as well in the long run.
Bundle Up- During the winter months you may be tempted to turn up the heat, but this is actually one of the most damaging things that you can do to your skin. Instead of turning up the heat, put your heat on 69 and put on some extra layers including knee length socks.
Go Sunless- Well not completely, but you shouldn’t be turning yourself into a walking patch of leather either. It’s important to get your Vitamin D but getting too much sun can eventually break down your skin can cause wrinkles and sagging earlier on in your life.
Hydrate- It’s imperative that you drink at least eight 8oz glasses of water and even more after a workout or on hot days. You need water to hydrate your skin and to move nutrients around your body.
Go Healthy- Besides green leafy veggies, you should load up on lots of fruits, veggies fish high in Omega 3 and dairy products. Your diet has a lot to do with how good your skin looks so eat right and skip the oily or needlessly fatty foods.
Exfoliate- Once a week (or twice if your body is super dry) use a gentle exfoliator in the shower. The exfoliating process removes dead skin cells and leaves glowing skin behind. Do Not do this if you have a medical condition unless you speak to your doctor first.
If your skin is dry and the cause is wither from a medical condition or the use of certain medications, you should talk to your doctor about options and treatments.
*This post was written by Aleya who writes the blog for a beauty school in New York that also has locations in Florida. You can follow her on twitter @AleyaBamdad