When our skin doesn’t have enough protective oils, moisture escapes away. And when there isn’t enough water in the outermost layer of our skin, it becomes dry. This effect may increase during the winter when humidity of atmosphere is low.
Most common dry skin areas are:
- the lower legs,
- hands,
- arms,
Constantly scratching or rubbing the skin may cause the skin to become thick, hard and leathery. For others, small red, raised bumps may appear on skin and these bumpy spots can be irritated, opened and infected if scratched. Many causes of dry skin are within control, with some effort we can prevent it from coming back, makes skin softer, smoother and more beautiful.
Here are the main causes of dry skin and their solutions:
1) Winter weather:
Dry skin is common in the winter months, when the humidity level outside drops. The air outside is cold and dry, the water in your skin evaporates quickly; this makes skin feel dry and tight, and makes it look flaky.
Solution
Protect your skin by wearing protective clothing, gloves. Be sure to apply a moisturizing lotion that contains ingredients like glycerin that help hold moisture in skin, your hands, feet, elbows, and knees.
2) Indoor heating:
Many of us spend more time inside in the winter and use indoor heating. Dry indoor air not only dries out skin, it also dries out your mucous membranes, leading to dry, chapped lips, dry noses, and dry throat (hoarseness, sore throat).
Solution:
Set your heater to the lowest setting that’s comfortable, and use a humidifier, especially at night. The humidifier helps hydrate dry skin and soothes chapped lips, dry throat, and nasal passages.
3) Long duration hot showers and baths:
A long hot bath may sound great after being out in the cold, but the combination of hot water and soaking can strip your skin of its protective oils and leave you looking.
Solution:
Try to bathe in warm, not hot water, and limit showers and baths to 10 minutes, just enough to clean the dirty bits. Pat dry, don’t rub, with a soft towel.
4) Not using body lotion:
Its just as important to moisturize in the winter as it is in the summer, even if your arms and legs aren’t on display. Dry skin can get itchy, and uncomfortable if you don’t use the right lotion.
Solution:
Apply a rich body lotion after showering to lock in moisture. Also apply before going outside and before going to bed. Look for glycerin, which holds moisture in your skin and fights dehydration.
5) Frequent hand washing:
Dry, chapped hands are often caused by frequent hand washing, as well as use of hand sanitizers, which often have a high concentration of alcohol. Although it’s important to keep your hands clean to avoid spreading germs, the exposure to soap and water and alcohol can strip your skin of its natural oils, leading to dry chapped hands, splits, and cracks that can bleed or get infected.
Solution:
Carry your own moisturizing liquid hand soap. Rub on a rich hand cream after each washing or after using sanitizer, and cover moisturized hands with gloves at bedtime. When gardening, washing dishes, or working in the house, wear protective gloves.
6) Harsh soap bars:
Many bar soaps, especially deodorant soaps, contain detergents that remove your skin’s natural oils, leaving it dry and may be more sensitive.
Solution:
Switch to a moisturizing, fragrance-free body wash that leaves your skin soft, not stripped. Save your soap for your feet and armpits.
7) Be dehydrated:
You might not be as thirsty in the winter as you are in summer months when you’re hot and sweaty. However, you lose water through your skin each day, in any season even when it’s cold and even if you don’t feel like you’re sweating. This is true if you spend a lot of time in dry indoor heat. Our bodies are made of 70 percent water, which keeps our cells healthy. If you’re not drinking enough, your skin gets dehydrated, which can make you look and feel shriveled.
Solution:
Make sure you’re getting plenty of fluids in the winter season, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid caffeinated drinks, which will make you lose even more water. Instead, stick to water, soup, coffee and herbal tea.
8) Not eating the right foods:
Your skin cells are wrapped in a protective bubble of lipids (fats) that help keep them soft and flexible. If you don’t eat enough fatty acids in your diet, your body won’t have building blocks to maintain protective wrap.
Solution:
Eating foods that contain “good fats” (especially omega-3 fatty acids) can help replenish skin’s natural fats and keep it looking supple. Make sure to include plenty of omega-3-rich foods in your diet, including oily fish (such as salmon, sardines, and mackerel). If you’re allergic or can’t stand the taste of fish, try incorporating tofu, walnuts, flaxseeds, soybeans, or omega-3-fortified foods (like orange juice) into your diet every day.
9) Wearing the wrong clothes:
Scratchy fibers like wool can cause dry skin, especially for those who have sensitive skin/ eczema rashes. In fact, if you look under the microscope, these fibers look like little pieces of steel wool that can irritate your skin, leaving it irritated and itchy.
Solution:
Wear cotton, silk, or soft, smooth fabrics to your skin to protect it from wool fibers. These natural fibers help your skin “breathe” and wick away sweat. You must wear a wool sweater, layer a soft cotton shirt or turtleneck underneath. This way you can also peel off the sweater if it gets warm indoors, so you don’t cause sweat.
10) Licking your lips:
Frequent lip licking may feel pleasant temporarily, but eventually it dries out your lips as the saliva evaporates. In addition, using matte or long-wearing lipsticks can also leave your lips dry and cracked.
Solution:
Look for lip ointment or lip butter in a pot, which is more emollient than a waxy lip balm stick. Apply under lipstick, throughout the day, and before bedtime to protect against dry heat.
