No one—and we do mean absolutely no one—wants to have dull, dry skin. This condition often has mild to severe symptoms, which can include the following:
- Rough, flaky skin
- Cracked skin
- Spots of itchy or scaly skin
- Stinging or burning sensation
- Peeling
- Wrinkled, loose skin
If everyone had an ideal skin type, dry skin would most definitely not be it. Apart from making your skin look dull and lifeless, dry skin also tends to be uncomfortable and irritating. The condition’s symptoms may even hinder you from completing simple, daily tasks, which is definitely not a pleasant experience.
What Causes Dry Skin?
Dry skin can occur for a variety of reasons. Some have naturally dry skin, but sometimes the environment and even your lifestyle contribute to the condition. Here are just some of the top causes for dry skin:
Cold Weather
Cold weather can be pleasant and refreshing, but watch out, because when the temperature drops, the humidity level does as well. Due to this, the air becomes dry and can start drawing moisture from your skin, leaving it parched.
Hot Showers
After a long day, you often tend to crave the soothing comfort of a steamy shower. However, while it does relax the body, it doesn’t do any favors for your skin.
The hot temperatures dry out the skin’s natural oils. So, the longer you stay under the warm spray, the more your skin dries out.
To avoid drying out your skin when showering, keep the water temperature lukewarm and try to limit your shower time.
Harsh Soaps
Not all soaps are created equal. Some are made with mild, natural ingredients, while others contain harsh chemicals.
Using harsh soaps with strong fragrances can be harmful to your skin’s natural moisture barrier. Instead, go for a mild, moisturizing soap that is specially formulated to cleanse and moisturize dry skin.
Scrubbing
Go easy on the loofah. Scrubbing your skin won’t make it cleaner. In fact, the friction created by the rubbing strips the skin of moisture and just enhances the dryness.
Instead, just use your hands or a soft washcloth that won’t rough up your skin. This is also true for when you use a towel to dry off after a shower. Pat your skin gently instead of rubbing the towel on your skin so you don’t lose shower moisture.
Irritants
If your favorite shirt or bedspread is making you itch, it could be the fabric, your detergent, or your softener that is causing your reaction. Some of these materials can irritate the skin. For this, it’s best to go with fragrance-free or dye-free products, or products specially formulated for sensitive skin.
Dehydration
Aside from external conditions, dry skin can also be caused by underlying health problems. One of these is dehydration.
Dehydration occurs when your body is using more water than you are drinking. Because of this, your body might not be able to complete its various functions and processes, affecting your whole body, including your skin.
To prevent experiencing dry skin because of dehydration, make sure to drink adequate amounts of water every day. If the weather is hot or if you are engaging in strenuous activity, you should increase your water intake.
Eczema
Eczema refers to a group of conditions that cause dry, bumpy, and itchy patches on a person’s skin. This is caused by a mutation of the gene responsible for creating a protein called filaggrin. Filaggrin helps maintain your skin’s protective barrier to keep moisture in and bacteria, viruses, and others out. Without filaggrin, moisture can easily escape your skin, leaving you with dry patches.
Diabetes
Another health issue that can cause dry skin is diabetes—a condition where a person cannot properly regulate their blood sugar levels. When your blood sugar levels rise, you start to lose fluids from your body, including the moisture in your skin. Because of this, you are more prone to having dry skin than other people.
Kidney Disease
People who are undergoing dialysis for their kidney disease often experience having dry, itchy skin. This happens because of the following reasons:
- Inadequate fluid intake
- High levels of phosphorous in the blood
- Too much or too little dialysis
Medications
Certain medicines can cause your skin to dry out. Some of them are the following:
- Diuretics: This type of medication is used to lower an individual’s blood pressure or manage excess fluids in their body. Diuretics work by helping your kidneys filter out more fluids through your urine. This decreases the amount of fluid in your body, leaving you dehydrated and your skin dry.
- Statins: Statins is used to help people with high cholesterol. This medicine causes dryness by making your skin more porous. Because of this, more water escapes your skin, making it dry.
- Antihistamines: This type of medicine is used to address a variety of symptoms caused by an allergic reaction. It can make your skin drier by slowing down your skin’s oil production.
- Acne Medication: Oral and topical medications used to treat acne can cause your skin to dry out. Accutane, an oral acne medicine, works by decreasing the production of oil in your skin. On the other hand, Retin-A—a topical medicine—forces your skin to form new skin cells rapidly and replace the old ones. Because of this, you may experience dryness and peeling when you treat your acne topically.
How to Get Rid of Dry Skin
There are many things you can do to get rid of or treat your dry skin. You can change parts of your skin care routine or daily activities to address your skin problem.
Drink Plenty of Water
Keep yourself hydrated to maintain the moisture of your skin. Since one of the causes of dry skin is dehydration, it is logical that you should drink enough water to avoid it.
When you drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, you provide your body with enough fluids to keep it running properly. Doing this will also ensure that your skin remains supple and moisturized.
Limit Your Bath Time
Are you the type of person who spends a long time in the bath or shower? If you recently noticed that your skin is feeling a bit dry, then the amount of time you spend bathing may be the culprit.
To avoid drying out your skin when bathing, use warm instead of hot water. You should also try to limit your bath time to 5 to 10 minutes. Spending longer than that in a bath or under the shower can dry out your skin more.
After your bath, make sure to pat your skin dry. Remember not to rub on your skin with your towel as doing this may damage your skin further.
Use a Humidifier
When the humidity levels in the air drop, the air might feel drier. This can also cause your skin to dry out.
To address this, you can use a humidifier and place it in the room where you are staying. Doing this can help in adding moisture back to the environment.
Apply Moringa Skin Care Products
Moringa, also known locally as Malunggay, is a superfood that can provide you with various benefits when consumed. But did you know that this ingredient also offers several benefits for your dry skin?
One of the most popular skin care products derived from Moringa is Moringa oil, a great moisturizer for dry skin. This item is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, making it a great dry skin treatment. It also has vitamin B, a humectant that allows the skin to retain moisture.
When used regularly, Moringa oil can soothe and soften your dry skin. You can also use this product to protect your dry skin from dirt and debris from air pollution and harsh weather conditions.
Another Moringa skin care product you can use on your dry skin is the Moringa-O Herbal Moisturizing Soap. This is a mild herbal soap that will keep you feeling fresh and clean without drying out your skin.
After bathing, make sure to moisturize your skin with an herbal lotion made for dry skin. One of the products you can use is the Moringa-O² Herbal Moisturizing Lotion. This item is formulated to nourish your dry skin and renew it to reveal a glowing complexion.
Talk to a Professional
If your dry skin is caused by an underlying health condition or the medications you are taking, it is best if you talk to your doctor. They can help you in getting your issues under control. This might mean a switch in medications, additional supplements, or changes to your diet.
You should also talk to a professional if there is no apparent reason for your dry skin or you have tried several remedies to treat it, with no improvements. A dermatologist will examine your case and may prescribe treatments for your dry skin.
Remember that your dry skin cannot be treated overnight. You must put in the effort of changing your lifestyle, using the right products, and working with your doctor to resolve this skin issue.
In the meantime, you can use Moringa-O²’s skin care products to alleviate your symptoms and keep your skin nourished and moisturized.