One of the most important facets of skincare you must always keep in mind is that your choice of products and the routine that you do every day should be suited specifically to your skin’s individual needs. Many of these fit within the broad categories of skin, such as oily, combination, sensitive, and the type we’ll be looking at here: dry skin. Dry skin can be very prone to irritation, dead skin, and other issues that can make it look and feel dull, so here, we’re going to look at some tips that can help you better manage it.
Moisturize Right After Washing
Although it might sound contrary, the truth is that washing your skin can cause it to dry out even more when you’re done. However, with the help of the right moisturizer, you can ensure that your skin is able to lock in hydration while it’s still slightly damp. This effectively uses the moisturizer as a way to lock in the extra hydration your skin should normally absorb as a result of washing, trapping water before it evaporates. Be sure to avoid fragrance or other ingredients in moisturizers that can be more bothersome on dry skin, as well. A daily habit of moisturizing after showering can greatly improve your skin’s hydration in general.
Be Gentle With Your Cleaners
Just as you should avoid fragrance and other harsh chemicals in your moisturizers, you should be mindful of the same in any soaps and cleansers that you use, as well. These can often strip the natural oils from your skin, worsening your dryness and removing the skin’s protective barrier. Keep an eye out for ingredients like strong detergents, alcohol, and fragrances, which can be highly irritating. You should also cleanse using lukewarm water when possible, as water that’s too hot can also remove those oils from the skin. In general, you don’t need to cleanse too often, either. Only do it when your skin really needs it, and not for too long.
Exfoliate Carefully To Stop Dead Skin
People with dry skin are also a lot more prone to finding dead skin, as well. Due to a lack of moisture, the natural shedding process doesn’t happen as smoothly, so dead skin cells build up, flake, and linger, which can result in a rougher texture, as well as duller skin across the board. Exfoliating gloves can be highly helpful for removing those dead skin cells, which also allows moisturizers to reach deeper into the skin. Be sure to do it in moderation and avoid harsh chemical exfoliators, which can damage the skin barrier instead. You don’t need to do it more than once or twice a week, and be sure to switch up your method if there’s any redness or discomfort after the fact.
Consider Getting A Humidifier
While direct skincare will do a lot of good, you should also be mindful of the environment that you’re in as well. Dry air will strip the moisture from your skin much more quickly than others, especially during the colder months. Using a humidifier, you can moisten the air, creating an environment that’s much friendlier to your skin. If you don’t want to use a humidifier all day, it’s recommended that you keep it on at night, specifically, when the skin repairs itself and needs more moisture to do so. Be sure to clean your humidifier to prevent mold or bacteria buildup, as well. Exterior air quality can do just as much for your dry skin as the products that you use.
Be Mindfulf Of Irritants In Your Clothing
Just as irritants in the skin products you use can worsen your skin, so too can irritants in everyday products like your laundry detergents and clothing fabrics. With detergents, you should look at the ingredients to make sure they don’t have any fragrances, dyes, or other harsh chemicals. Those that leave residues tend to be the most frustrating. Milder ones tend to be much better for dry skin. Similarly, the fabric of your clothing matters, too. Rough or synthetic fabrics tend to cause more friction on the skin, which worsens dryness, while lighter and breathable materials like cotton tend to be gentler. What’s more, you should make sure that you wash any new clothes upon buying them, removing the chemical finishes that often linger from the manufacturing process.
Protect Your Skin From The Sun Daily
There are few things that are worse for your skin than consistent sun exposure. It both damages the skin’s barrier and accelerates moisture loss. As such, you should ensure that you always have a bottle of full-spectrum sunscreen on hand, specifically those that are formulated for dry or sensitive skin, and even better if they have added moisturizing ingredients. You should make it a part of your daily routine, putting it on after the rest of your skincare workflow, even when it’s cloudy or you’re spending time indoors, as you’re still likely to be exposed to UV rays by the natural light coming in through the windows. Sunscreen does a lot more than prevent sunburn; it maintains the overall health of your skin.
Know When To See A Doctor
The usual case of dry skin can typically be managed at home, but there are times when a little outside help might be necessary. For instance, if your skin becomes extremely itchy, cracked, painful, or is bleeding, then there could be an underlying cause or condition that is exacerbated by the dryness, or even at the root of it. A lot of people mistake regular dryness for conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or even infections, and putting off treating these can cause them to become worse over time. Seeking the help of a dermatologist early can put you on the right path to better skin.
With the pointers above, hopefully, you should be able to give your dry skin the care that it needs. You may find your own more specific individual preferences, but working with your skin type, first and foremost, can remove a lot of the trial-and-error that comes with uncovering your skincare routine.
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