What Helps with Dry Skin on the Face?
The challenge of figuring out whether you had oily, combination or dry skin was an exciting mystery – the chance to finally invest in the correct skincare. If you fell in the bracket of dry skin, particularly xeroderma, we’re here to expand your knowledge and give you some tips on how to manage it! Xeroderma is a common condition where your skin lacks moisture leading it to feel rough, tight, and occasionally itchy. There’s plenty of reasons behind this condition such as weather, lifestyle and aging, but luckily it can be easier to manage with a few simple changes! If you stick with us, you might just find your holy grail of a new routine that’ll gently transform your skin for the better!
1. Causes of Dry Skin
It’s time to spill the tea on why you’re dealing with dry skin and nope, you’re not just cursed!
Our first culprit is environmental factors – feels only fair to keep blaming the world for our sufferings, right? As unfortunate as it is to live in such cold conditions, they’re also partly responsible for us forking out money for the top moisturizing products. Chilly weather and low humidity levels can strip your skin of its natural moisture – so unprovoked – and leave it prone to dryness and irritation. Add the winter wind into that and suddenly, your skin’s protective oil layer is disappearing and on the verge of some damage. If it isn’t enough to have Mother Nature being shady, indoor heating during the cold seasons gatekeeps your skin further from moisture in the air, going as far as causing flakiness – we really don’t want to be the bearer of bad news here! We can’t forget about the warm weather… With the little sun we see, even excessive sun exposure means a field day for skin damage and dehydration. Being aware of how the weather can affect your skin can help you to take proactive steps to combat the damage – think of moisturisers and sunscreen as your new best friends!
Next up, we’ve got lifestyle factors! Whatever you’re doing in your daily routine may also be contributing further to dry skin spells starting with hot showers – nobody wants to hear this, we know. Frequent exposure to hot water will, you guessed it, strip your skin of its natural oils too. The one soothing thing will occasionally be an enemy of progress! Using harsh soaps and detergents have the ability to disrupt your skin’s moisture barrier, adding to the flakiness that you’ve already been at war with unfortunately. Try switching it up to gentler formulas and see how your skin responds! Getting a new water bottle is always exciting, but make sure you’re getting your sips in because dehydration can exasperate your dry skin no matter what actions you’ve been taking. Couple that with a diet that lacks essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals, and your skin will be left vulnerable to worsened dryness. Saving the worst until last, excessive caffeine, smoking or alcohol aren’t on your side this time. They’re known to reduce your skin’s ability to retain moisture also, so it’s a good idea to switch to a cheeky mocktail from time to time or limit your coffee to a whopping one cup a day – don’t shoot the messenger!
Medical conditions can also have a hand at your skin’s dryness. Things such as eczema and psoriasis are common disorders that cause dryness, itching and inflammation to name a few. Whilst they’re not fun to deal with, there’s a ton of products tailored to supporting your skin and making it more manageable. There’s also hypothyroidism, which is an underactive thyroid gland that reduces oil production in the skin and diabetes with its dehydration and poor circulation. These conditions ultimately increase the risk of dryness, but with tips from your local healthcare team, you’ll get the correct approach to dealing with how it affects your skin! A few other conditions to note are Sjögren's syndrome, an autoimmune disorder and kidney disease. The ability to produce moisture and balance fluids are largely impacted causing them to manifest with tricky skin! The dear cherry on top – medications… Ones such as diuretics and retinoids can have extremely drying effects, so it’s always a good idea to go ahead and read those tiny, printed side effects before you jump headfirst into dry and irritated skin! Understanding your condition is the first step to finding a method that ultimately lets your skin breathe for a moment!
Last but not least, aging! Our favourite natural process, but it does come with some side effects… While it may be in your genes to age like fine wine, there’s also potentially a little room for skin moisture to do a runner. As the years go by, your skin produces less oil, meaning dryness and reduced elasticity. It’s a bummer we know, but the skin’s natural ability to retain moisture starts to wilt and you might experience rougher and more flaky textures. Essential skin proteins for firmness and suppleness like collagen and elastin, eventually decrease over time no matter how hard we pray that they don’t. Also, the skin’s renewal process will slow down and lead to a thinner outer later that struggles to maintain moisture. The concept of aging and retiring a hottie are lush, but staying on top of important skincare routines will have you looking decades younger while figuring out retirement! Unfortunately, it’s not a process we can slow down or avoid, but with the perfect moisturisers and products, you might just find yourself a little hack!