Written by Dr. Sanjana V.B Bhms,dbrm,cdn

Founder & medical director of siahmsr wellness.in

All rights reserved with siahmsr digital healthcare[siahmsr wellness]

Reviewed by SIAHMSR medical team.

Dryness of skin-Skin care & natural solutions

     Your skin looks supple, soft and glowing only if its moisture is retained well. Dryness of skin happens when skin loses its moisture content and it may result from various causes. Frequent  bathing, use of harsh soaps, aging, or certain medical conditions are some of the common causes of dryness.

    Age also plays a crucial role in the reduction of moisture content of skin. Dryness of skin increases with ageing due to depletion in hyaluronic acid. Certain genetic diseases like eczema and icthyosis make the skin dry and they need to be addressed by medications and creams. Similarly, some diseases of your body and treatments for some types of cancers also cause dryness of skin.

     To keep your skin hydrated and beautiful it is very important to lock its moisture content or add moisture from outside. We have sufficient skin care solutions to keep skin soft, healthy and moisturized. Both dermatological [medical solutions] and natural home remedies help to retain moisture of your skin. 

Causes

·       Climatic conditions

Skin dryness is one of the major concerns of winter season. Cold, dry winter air  cause dryness of skin. Cold winter air may have low humidity. The water content of the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin) is reduced in winter. A dry and itchy nose is one of the most irritating winter problems. Winter can also cause chapped lips due to low humidity in air. Chafing can also happen during winter when the air is dry and frequent friction on epidermis cause chafing. Moisturizing your skin is the best solution for managing winter problems. 

·       Hot bath

Taking long, hot showers can also dry your skin removing its oil content. So try to have your bath in lukewarm water in winters.

·     Chemicals

      Some types of soaps and harsh cleaning products, deodorants etc. can strip oils and fats from your skin of hands. Protect your hands while cleaning utensils and clothes. The soap you use over your body and face matters a lot as it can remove the natural oil secretion as well as water content from the skin. Use skin friendly moisturizing soaps or face wash or moisturizing natural lotions instead.

• Dry skin with ageing

Ageing is associated with less sebum production by your skin and sebum is the oil that keeps skin soft and youthful. After your 40s, the amount of sebum in your skin continues to decrease and you start losing the glow and suppleness. This is part of intrinsic causes of skin ageing .However, moisturizing your skin is an effective solution to regain the glow and plumpness. Addressing this cause of age related dryness with moisturizers also help to delay wrinkles and fine lines. 

• Certain treatment options

Dry skin with treatments like dialysis is common. Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation also result in dryness of skin.

·       Some drugs

Statins and diuretics can cause skin dryness.

• Vitamin deficiencies

   Vitamin D, vitamin A, niacin, zinc, or iron depletion can cause skin dryness. Ensure that your vitamins and mineral stores in the body is optimum.

• Smoking

Smoking causes skin dryness and other serious ailments.

·      Genes

   Atopic dermatitis, ichthyosis, perioral dermatitis, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis, can cause excessively dry skin and all these skin diseases are having   genetic inheritance.

•   Diseases

   Diabetes, thyroid disease, or kidney diseases are associated with dryness of skin.

•   Swimming

  Chlorine, a chemical that keeps some pools clean, can dry out your skin. So it is very essential to shower your body and hair with clean tap water.

How does dryness of skin appear?

Skin feels tight 

Itching

 Peeling, flaking, or scaling

Redness

Skin that feels rough or is gray and ashy

Cracked skin, sometimes bleeding

What can be done to prevent and manage dryness of skin?

· Use moisturizers

Moisturizers can rehydrate the epidermis or top layer of skin cells and seal in the moisture. This is the best option for bringing back the glow of your skin. There are different types of moisturizing agents.

 Moisturizers  contain three main types of ingredients.

A] Humectants : these hydrate the skin by attracting water molecules . Chemically speaking, humectants are hygroscopic substances that form hydrogen bonds with water molecules and moisturize the skin by drawing water from the lower cell layers. Humectants  may include ceramides , glycerin, sorbitol, hyaluronic acid, and lecithin.

B] petrolatum (petroleum jelly), silicone, lanolin, and mineral oil — helping to lock moisture within the skin.

C] Emollients, such as linoleic, linolenic, and lauric acids, smooth skin by filling in the spaces between skin cells.

·       Limit your bathing time of exposure to water to 5- to 10-minute bath or showering daily. If you bathe for a prolonged period of time, you may strip away much of the skin's oily layer and cause loss of moisture  also.

·       Avoid hot water bath. Use lukewarm rather than hot water, which can remove natural oils from your skin.

·       Minimize your use of soaps; Completely avoid harsh soaps. If necessary, choose moisturizing types of soaps with glycerine and emollients  as ingredients. Apply moisturizer immediately after bathing or washing your hands. This helps locking moisture within your skin layers. 

·       Dryness may cause itch and moisturizers can control the itch; use a cold pack or compress  also to relieve itchy spots. 

·       To take good care of skin of your hands, protect them from harsh chemicals of dish cleaners, detergents. Use non-latex rubber gloves when you use these cleaning agents.

·       As too much swimming and the chlorine of pool can cause dryness of skin, have a shower under normal water immediately with mild soap.

     Apply a moisturizer on your skin immediately after bathing to lock moisture. 

·       Drink adequate amount of water and keep your body hydrated always for a healthy moisturized, glowing supple skin.

·       Oil massage

Oil massage is a natural solution against dryness. Almond , jojoba and olive oils are great for your skin.

·       Hyaluronic acid

  Hyaluronic acid is very effective in retaining water as a topical agent. A quarter-teaspoon of hyaluronic acid holds about one and a half gallons of water. It is used chiefly for reducing the appearance of wrinkles and age lines on the skin, as creams, gels, ointments, patches and serums.

Home remedies for reducing dryness of skin

·      Coconut oil

·       Jojoba oil

·       Oat meal bath

·       Vegetable glycerin

·       Honey

·       Shea butter

Olive oil 

Applying these natural agents over your skin may help you retain moisture as well as hydrate it from outside. Acne prone skin is not suitable for applying various types of oils. These people, particularly with combination type of skin  may apply moisturizers suited for acne prone skin. 

Most of the oils mentioned here have anti-inflammatory properties also. The application of oils may help your skin glow with radiance as well as help to reduce wrinkles and fine lines.  Only a few  drops of oils are to be applied for removing the dryness of skin. Other ingredients such as oatmeal , vegetable glycerine may help to provide smooth and hydrated skin. You may wash out these later with plain water.

References

 

1.    https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/dry-skin-causes

2.    https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/9-ways-to-banish-dry-skin    

3.    https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000835.htm

4.    Sethi A, Kaur T, Malhotra SK, Gambhir ML. Moisturizers: The slippery road. Indian J Dermatol. 2016;61(3):279-87. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.182427