Hey, pssst - do you need some tips for dry skin? Summer is here, and we don't need to tell you that you'll need some! Whether you're enjoying yourself on a nice beach under the scorching sun or huddling away at home and chilling in the cool air from the AC, the heat - and the dryness - will get to you. Or, to be more specific, to your skin. And nobody wants dry skin, right?
Regardless of your skin type, dry skin can be a pain in the, uh, nether regions. Officially called xerosis by dermatologists, dry skin begins as a loss of moisture in the uppermost layer of your skin, called the stratum corneum. This layer of the skin forms the so-called natural skin barrier, which acts as a shield between the outer world and our (for lack of a better word) insides.
Our skin relies on our body's production of natural oils, called sebum - and there's a whole array of things that waste our skin's natural oils away. Heat, needless to say, makes everything worse! Very dry skin feels rough, itchy, and uncomfortable!
So let us help you - here are the very best tips to treat dry skin.
1. Showering Can Either Dry Your Skin or Moisturize It
To keep your skin hydrated, you should rethink your bathing and showering habits.
The important thing to remember is the water's temperature. For the love of young, fresh looking skin, please avoid hot showers! If the water is too hot, it can heat up your skin and evaporate your skin's natural moisture. Not only that, but hot water can dissolve your skin's oil, which will only worsen dry skin.
So, what to do?
Well, if you really need to feel some warmth, use warm (not hot!) water. Additionally, look at your shampoos, soaps, and shower gels. Could you replace them with milder and gentler variants? Using moisturizing shampoos or shower gels can make all the difference. Look for hair and skin products that contain coconut oil, olive oil, or aloe vera gel.
Finally, if you want to avoid dry skin, it's wise to cut down on showering time. Having hot, long showers feels good, but if you want to avoid dry skin, you better steer clear of them.
2. Take Proper Care After Showering
There are a number of changes you can make after showering that can severely affect the humidity of your skin. For example, rubbing your body with a towel after bathing is one of the main risk factors. It can actually whisk away what little moisture has remained and contribute to making your skin dry. It can also further increase the temperature of your skin, making those precious water molecules evaporate even faster.
A good method to retain moisture is using a towel to pat any excess water. This will help you avoid skin irritation.
Make sure to use a moisturizer after showering. A high-quality, moisturizing body lotion will add moisture to your skin and, needless to say, treat dry skin. Besides, your skin will feel silky smooth and smell extra nice!
3. Moisturize - But Pick the Best Moisturizer
Time for a short and sweet shopping guide to moisturizers!
Nobody wants to slather themselves with tons of body lotion right after showering, only to have their skin dry out. Sadly, this happens often - and we all know the feeling of buyer's remorse.
However, you can easily avoid this if you take the time to perform a patch test first. Patch tests are super simple and are great at showing you how your skin will react to a certain skin care product or ingredient. Patch tests will help you avoid irritated skin, itchy skin, and allergic reactions.
When shopping for moisturizers and body washes, check the ingredients listed on their label. To make the best of it, go for a moisturizing cream or a body lotion that contains hyaluronic acid, dimethicone, mineral oil, or petroleum jelly. Aloe vera, shea butter, and more can also help. These are some of the most skin-friendly ingredients on the market, so keep your eyes peeled for them.
Want a lightweight moisturizer that feels good on the skin? Try Misumi's Wrinkle-Free All Day Moisturizer to help relieve dry skin and get that glowing feeling.
4. Be Careful Not to Overuse Anti-Aging Products
But wait, why? What's the deal with anti-aging products and dry skin? It's a bit counterintuitive, isn't it? You'd think that anti-aging creams, gels, lotions, and serums would be an ally in helping your skin retain moisture.
And yes - that's largely true since most anti-aging products contain emollients and other soothing ingredients. However, it's not always the case. The dangers of overusing anti-aging products lie in the fact that companies often use formulas that contain BHA, AHAs, retinoids, and other irritating substances.
While those substances are excellent at peeling off the top layers of the skin, thereby ironing out wrinkles and bleaching a dark spot or two, they're not your friends when it comes to relieving dry skin. (This is why moisturizing after using an anti-aging product is so important.)
Due to the acidic ingredients that most anti-aging products contain, they can have a deleterious effect on your skin. We mentioned they peel off the top layers - they actually release all the moisture out in the environment, making your skin fresh but dry.
So, if you want to avoid dry skin, use skin care products that have exfoliating ingredients sparingly, or double down on moisturizing after using them.
5. Omega 3 Acids, AKA Fish Oil, Can Combat Dry Skin
The best things are natural, after all. Keeping a healthy, balanced diet can ensure your body receives all the precious ingredients that mother nature intended for it. Needless to say, this affects our skin health as well.
Some oils are only good if we ingest them. Fish oil, or more specifically, the Omega 3 Acids that constitute it, has been shown to soothe dry skin and make it fresher and more elastic. So, if you want to treat dry skin, the occasional fish on your menu will do wonders. Additionally, you can always purchase some Omega 3 Acid supplements over the counter.
6. Protect Your Hands And Feet To Prevent Dry Skin
It sort of goes without saying, but if we want to avoid extremely dry skin, we need to protect our skin from exposure to the elements. This is especially important during seasons that typically bring extreme temperature highs and lows with them, such as winter and summer. Environmental factors have just as much of an impact on the skin as the products we use.
Don't let the winter cold fool you, as you're just as likely to develop dry skin. The extremely low temperatures during winter mean that whatever moisture you have in your skin will become frozen. After all, moisture is just water molecules, and once the temperature drops below zero, those water molecules freeze.
This means that your skin becomes rigid and damaged by the ice crystals. If you're wondering why your hands become dry, red, sore, and chapped in winter, now you know. All the microscopic amounts of water trapped in your skin turn into sharp crystals and wreak havoc on your skin's uppermost layers.
So, what to do?
Well, protecting yourself is step number one. Always try to wear a nice pair of gloves in those winter days of biting cold. The same goes for your feet - a warm pair of socks (or two) can go a long way. If none of this works, there is additional protection available to you. Whether you're getting dry skin during winter or summer, apply moisturizer to help your skin retain its moisture.
There is also a range of home remedies you can try (involving delicious ingredients like coconut oil) to help treat dry skin.
7. Wanna Get Rid of Dry Skin? Protect Your Lips Too
We are all familiar with the annoying phenomenon of chapped lips. And since the lips are a part of the skin, any tips on treating cracked skin apply to your lips too. You don't need us to tell you this, but the American Academy of Dermatology suggests that a lip balm is mandatory. If your lips feel dry or vulnerable, applying some quality lip balm will soothe them and protect them.
Additionally, you can help your dry lips with additional tools. The contemporary cosmetics and beauty industry offers a broad selection of lip treatment products. If a lip balm isn't enough, you can try out some of those lip scrubs that are fashionable nowadays.
Finally, we use the lips for - well, not the cleanest of activities. Whenever we smoke or vape (and both activities can sometimes lead to acne), we're putting our lips through it. Whenever we eat, our lips become slathered with grease, sticky sugars, or burning spices.
But wait, did we mention the biting cold during winter and the scorching summer sun - along with the sand from the beach and the salt from the sea?
And don't get us started on kissing beardy dudes! Our lips actually do a lot of heavy lifting.
But all of that can be avoided. A careful wash after a meal, avoiding cigarettes, and keeping a lip balm handy will prevent your lips from going dry.
8. Exfoliation Can Help With Dry Skin
Sure, we mentioned above that anti-aging products can actually dry your skin because they contain exfoliating acids. But exfoliation, if done right and not excessively, can actually reduce the dryness of your skin and help it retain its moisture. Harsh chemicals can also dry out your skin, so check all skin care products.
Dermatologists recommend exfoliating your skin once to two times a week. That is especially important if you have sensitive skin, because over-exfoliation can cause more problems than it solves.
However, exfoliation is very useful in refreshing our skin and removing all the dead skin cells. In fact, dead skin cells end up covering our skin with a thin layer that makes our skin dryer than it needs to be.
Besides, our skin goes through its own natural exfoliation cycle called desquamation. It lasts around 28 days, during which time the old, worn out, and dead cells on the outer layer become gradually replaced with new and fresh ones to replace them.
Exfoliation is good for keeping our skin moisturized instead of dry. However, you'll have to use it sparingly and always choose high-quality products. Use chemical exfoliants like alpha hydroxy acid and apply moisturizer immediately after.
9. Use a Good Sunscreen
We've already covered the plights of the winter cold and its negative, drying effects on our skin. But what about summer? Is the freezing cold really that much worse than the scorching sun? Well, not really. But you can't wear gloves and warm socks in summer, right?
When it comes to dry skin, it's not just the summer heat you need to worry about. It's the sun's rays, too - especially harmful UV radiation. This can make your skin age prematurely and develop wrinkles, dark spots, and all sorts of other kinds of discoloration. To prevent this, use a high-quality sunscreen with a high SPF factor.
However, be mindful of your type of skin when choosing sunscreen. If you have oily skin, it's best to avoid oil-based sunscreens that will clog your pores, so be on the lookout for the "non-comedogenic" label. If your pores become clogged, you risk ending up with whiteheads or blackheads, and, in turn, a fresh inflammation of acne. And who needs that? Not you!
Additionally, if you have sensitive skin, you should go for gentle, fragrance-free sunscreens that won't make your skin condition worse. (Those of you with sensitive skin will know that even using the wrong laundry detergent can cause a flare-up!) Consult with a board-certified dermatologist for the best option. They will definitely be able to point out some good solutions for you.
10. See a Dermatologist
At the end of the day, a thorough conversation with your dermatologist is the best way to get rid of dry and flaky skin. This is especially important if you suffer from severely dry skin.
After all, dermatologists are medical professionals specializing in skin conditions, skin diseases, and skin care, and they know all the science behind it. They'll be able to diagnose dry skin.
Regardless of your skin type, a good dermatologist will give you the best tips to relieve dry skin and provide the most thorough advice on how to deal with it and prevent it.
So, if you want the best tips to heal dry skin, see your dermatologist. But on your way to the beach, don't forget your sunscreen and moisturizer!
Bonus Tip - Invest in Good Skincare!
Tacking dry skin is not just about retaining enough moisture. Skin cleansing and toning are just as vital to ensure soft, glowing skin. Try Misumi's Complete Clear 3-Step System, complete with a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer to boot! Misumi is sure to calm your irritated skin. And if you don't like it? Get your money back. Try it now, risk-free.
References
American Academy of Dermatology
The Role of Moisturizers in Addressing Various Kinds of Dermatitis
This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances, and its goal is to offer a general view of the subject. In case you are suffering from a severe case of acne, you should consult with a dermatologist or a certified medical professional.
