Dry skin can be unpleasant and irritating, but having a clue about its care can greatly improve the situation. Whether one is experiencing winter dryness or a chronic one, the appropriate treatment can restore the softness, smoothness, and suppleness of one’s skin.
The Role of Emollients in Healing Dry Skin
Emollients are the key active ingredients in a variety of cleansers and moisturizers, ensuring the skin is moist and pliable. They achieve this by closing the gaps between cells in the skin, filling them and easing the rough surface, thus lowering water loss. Emollients are particularly useful for such conditions as eczema, psoriasis, and ichthyosis, but can also relieve wrinkles, fine lines, and stinging caused by contact dermatitis.
When choosing an emollient, it helps to know the difference between occlusives and humectants. Occlusives form a barrier over your skin, sealing in moisture, while humectants pull water into the outer layer of your skin. Both types are useful—it comes down to what feels best for you.
Certain popular occlusive emollients include oils such as olive, argan, and jojoba, as well as creams, lotions, and ointments that are formulated using ingredients such as lanolin, coconut oil, shea butter, or petroleum jelly. Delicate areas such as the face and scalp are best treated with lighter lotions, whereas heavier ointments and creams are best for extremely dry or rough patches.
Humectants, in contrast, assist in drawing water into the outer layer of the skin. Some examples of such ingredients include glycerin, urea, and alpha hydroxy acids (lactic and glycolic acid). Just remember that a few humectants sting when your skin is cracked or inflamed, so select carefully.
Tips for Treating Dry Skin
To maximize your skincare routine and maintain hydrated skin, try a few simple tips:
- Take showers and baths briefly—10 minutes—and use warm water rather than hot.
- Select mild, fragrance-free cleansers to prevent irritation.
- After bath time, blot the skin with a towel rather than rubbing and put on your moisturizer immediately to seal in moisture.
- Use a humidifier to put moisture into the air, particularly in the winter.
- Avoid using harsh soaps, alcohol-based products, and strong detergents that dry out your skin.
- Drink lots of water during the day to keep yourself hydrated from the inside out.
Learning About the Causes of Dry Skin
Dry skin occurs when the top layer of your skin—the stratum corneum—dries out. This layer relies on water sucked up from beneath, combined with a thin film of natural oils and dead skin cells, to remain healthy. When this balance is disrupted, your skin can become rough, tight, and less pliable.
There are several reasons dry skin may occur:
- Environmental conditions such as cold temperatures, wind, and indoor heat can dry out your skin.
- Aging normally decreases your skin’s capacity to produce oils and retain moisture, typically beginning around age 50.
- Some medications, such as diuretics, statins, antihistamines, and antidepressants, have dryness as a side effect.
- Over-washing, particularly with hot water and abrasive soaps, can remove your skin’s natural protective oils.
Special Considerations for Feet
Feet tend to experience more dryness than other areas of the body due to their thicker skin and constant wear and tear throughout the day. To maintain them soft and healthy, daily exfoliation is important. You can use physical exfoliants such as scrubs or pumice stones, or opt for chemical exfoliants with AHAs or BHAs, which dissolve dead skin cells mildly.
Following exfoliation, moisturizing is essential. Search for products that blend humectants such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid with occlusives such as petroleum jelly and emollients such as shea butter. You may need to apply lighter moisturizers during the summer and change to more rich ones during the cold season, depending on how dry your skin is.
The Importance of Ceramides
Ceramides are lipids that occur naturally and constitute approximately half of the external layer of your skin, and they play a key role in maintaining the integrity of your skin barrier and retaining moisture. If your skin lacks ceramides, dryness and ailments such as eczema and psoriasis may result.
Applying moisturizers that include ceramides can assist in restoring your skin’s natural barrier, so it becomes more efficient at retaining moisture. This is particularly useful as we age, as our skin naturally loses ceramides over time.
By knowing what makes dry skin and using the proper products to suit your skin’s requirements, you can better control dryness and have healthier, more comfortable skin throughout the year.
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