Drying skin even with moisturizers? Folks, it's not you! It's your skin. The natural moisture on your skin dries out. Sounds crazy, right? Well, almost four million people like you are experiencing the same thing.
Dry skin is a condition that many people are afflicted with. Due to factors like the environment, this problem has become more common in recent years.
Using moisturizers and other external remedies can help, but more is needed.
Below are a few things you can do to improve your Moisturizer regimen. Get rid of your dry skin once and for all, and start making your skin feel supple and beautiful.
Dry Skin, the Bane of Our Existence!
Dry skin is a condition that affects many people, and it's not just because of the cold weather. There are many causes for dry skin. It can be attributable to a lack of natural oil or moisture in your skin that can result from aging, climate changes, cosmetics, or even certain medicines.
This skin problem is the most frequent one in the world. It's uncomfortable and can lead to other skin problems like eczema and dermatitis.
Here are some tips you can do to help your dry skin:
- Drink plenty of water.
- Stay away from harsh soaps and detergents.
- Use a humidifier if possible.
- Use moisturizer every day.
However, if you have tried all these things and the problem persists, continue scrolling to learn the essential facts about dry skin.
10 Important Facts to Know About Dry Skin
Dry skin is a prevalent condition that can make your skin feel tight, itchy, and uncomfortable. It can be due to several factors like dry air, cold weather, aging, sun damage, etc.
We will go over 10 essential facts about your skin type to give you some skincare tips, help you understand dry skin conditions better, and find the best skincare products for you.
Allergies or hormonal changes
Dry skin is a common skin condition all year round. Either allergies or hormonal changes can cause it.
In allergies, the skin becomes dry due to the decrease in oil production and the increase in water loss in the skin. While in hormonal changes, skin becomes dry due to the reduction in estrogen levels and increase in testosterone levels.
The wrong type of moisturizer
You must first know the skin type you have before purchasing a moisturizer. We understand that there are a bunch of holy grail moisturizer recommendations on TikTok that you want to try. However, something other than what works for them might give a different result for you. And that's all to the difference in your skin type.
Humectants, creams, and occlusives are the moisturizers you should look into. Continue reading, and we'll dig deep into these three categories of moisturizers and how they'll do magic on your skin.
Too much time in the pool or under the sun without protection
During hot summer, many of us like relaxing in the sun, but limiting the good things in life is crucial. The skin may become damaged from excessive ultraviolet (UV) light exposure and seem dry and rough. Premature wrinkles, freckles, and skin discoloration may start to appear.
Therefore, how can sun damage occur? UV radiation can harm and damage skin cells when they are exposed without protection. The top layer of skin, stratum corneum, thickens and gets dry due to UV damage, resulting in rough, flaky skin. The skin's elastin fibers, which keep the skin supple, smooth, and youthful-looking, can also be harmed by the sun's rays.
In the latter part of this article, we discuss further how UV can take away the moisture in your skin.
The wrong type of soap or cleanser
You typically have two options for cleansing your face: soap or face wash. Both can cleanse your face, but they do it in different ways. For example, a cleanser is softer on your skin than soap, which is more abrasive. Therefore, experts advise adding a quality face wash to your cleansing routine.
There is another thing to consider in addition to the soap vs. face wash argument. Even if you use the best, gentlest soap or face wash, you could still have skin problems. This can result from your excessive usage of cleansers during the day.
The ideal number of washings is two: once in the morning to remove dead skin and another in the evening to remove pollutants and contaminants. This is sufficient to maintain your skin's cleanliness and preserve the natural oils.
Wrong time of day to wash your face
When should you wash your face? Most dermatologists advise washing your face twice daily, once every morning and once before sleep. This is only sometimes the case, though. If you must skip, choose the morning vs night routine.
It would benefit if you cleaned up the dirt, grease, and particle matter accumulated over the day at night. Furthermore, missing a whole day is acceptable. Although it's crucial to wash frequently, skipping one day of face washing will only significantly impact your skin's overall health.
Not shaving with care
It can be drying to shave. Use a lubricating product before shaving if you do. If it doesn't itch, shave in the pattern of hair growth. To prevent irritation, use a razor-sharp blade, and rinse with warm water after each stroke. Apply moisturizer after to relieve your skin from dryness.
Water intake
For the sake of your general health, you should drink enough water.
The three skin layers are the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue. Skin loses suppleness and feels harsh if the epidermis' top layer of water is insufficient.
According to the United States National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, an appropriate daily fluid consumption for men is approximately 15.5 cups (3.7 liters), and for women, about 11.5 cups (2.7 liters). These suggestions include fluids from food, beverages, and water. Typically, beverage accounts for around 80% of daily fluid intake and food for the remaining 20%.
Medical treatments
Some patients experience dry and thick skin after receiving dialysis while undergoing cancer treatment or taking certain drugs. If you're one of them, ask your doctor what could reduce the dehydration you've been feeling. And if you're not, try going to your doctor.
Aging
It is typical for skin to thin and produce fewer of the oils necessary for the skin to conserve water as people age. A moisturizer would be beneficial in this situation to help you make up for what aging is stripping away from you.
Other skin conditions
Eczema and psoriasis are two skin disorders that are more common in those who have dry skin. If you've used every moisturizer available for a while and the dryness persists, it might be time to see a dermatologist.
Understanding UV Radiation
The sun's rays can cause skin cancer, premature aging, and other effects on the body. The sun's rays are the primary source of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that reaches the Earth's surface.
UV radiation is a form of ionizing radiation classified as a carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
UV-A: Roughly 95% of UV radiation reaching Earth's surface is in this wavelength range. It penetrates thoroughly into the layers of the skin, where it alters cells and causes an immune response that may lead to skin cancer.
UV-B: Roughly 5% of UV radiation reaching Earth's surface is in this wavelength range. It does not penetrate as deeply into the layers of the skin but still causes an immune response that may lead to skin cancer.
It will help if you spend less time in the pool, so minimize your sun exposure. If you can't help it, be sure to protect yourself by wearing sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses when exposed to sunlight for long periods.
Three Types of Moisturizers
Humectants, creams, and occlusives are the three main categories to consider when selecting a moisturizer. Learn the difference between them, and you be the judge to assess what's best for you and your glorious skin.
-
Creams
Creams are the most popular kind of moisturizer. They fill in the gaps in your skin's protective layer to give you a smooth, silky complexion.
-
Humectants
Humectant types of moisturizers pull the moisture to the topmost layer of your skin and are frequently present in gel form.
-
Occlusives
Lastly, occlusives provide the most vital sort of moisturization. It acts as a profuse protective barrier that can reduce water loss in the skin.
For optimum hydration, several face moisturizers mix emollients and humectants. Similarly, occlusives are frequently used in anti-aging treatments and applied to thicker skin parts like the hands, feet, knees, and elbows.
How to Choose the Right Skin Moisturizer
Your skin will benefit most from each form of moisturizer if you know when to use them.
Humectants are well known for their excellent moisturizing properties. They are typically administered alone or in formulations, including hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and more. Humectants work best with additional moisturizers like emollients and occlusives to provide optimal hydration. If you have oily skin, you must try this one.
Emollients, one of the essential categories of moisturizers, work to repair skin barrier cracks to help smooth and soften the skin. Restoring these cracks reduces water loss and is used in many skincare products as a lubricant. Emollients are suitable for most skin types; however, they should only be applied sparingly to inherently oily skin.
Occlusives are one form of moisturizer that can't be easily replaced. Occlusives have a thick and dense consistency, which makes them great for dry, dehydrated, or even aging skin. They also have a long shelf life due to their low water content.
Choose your moisturizer according to your skin type. If you still need to learn what skin type you have, there are a lot of compelling videos on YouTube that can teach you how in just a matter of time. However, if you can't get what they're saying, you better consult a dermatologist who knows how to handle your issue.
Trust Me - You're Going to Want To Read Every Word Of This
Most of us think we know how to keep our skin soft and smooth, but often we do the opposite. Moisturizers are a topic that gets a lot of discussion in the blogosphere but very little in real life.
At a skincare counter, dozens of moisturizers are available, which are supposed to do everything from making your skin firm to anti-aging. First, however, you need to know the right moisturizer for your type of skin based on the topics we research for you.
It's also important to remember that many different things can contribute to dry skin issues. For example, if you live in a humid area or suffer from allergies, these can worsen the problem by dehydrating your skin even further. Plus, many people use the same moisturizers repeatedly, leading to even worse problems since they contain chemicals that can aggravate sensitive skin.
In the end, it’s you and your skin against the world. So, take good care of it!
