Dry Skin Remedies

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A skin is defined dry when the content of water and sebum present in the most superficial layer of the epidermis is significantly lower than the physiological parameters. At sight, dry skin appears dehydrated, dry and graying; to the touch, on the other hand, it is rough, irregular and fragile.

The dry skins are not all the same: the degree of dryness can in fact vary from a slight desquamation to an intense xerosis with profound reasonings.

Unlike oily skin, dry skin is much more subject to premature skin aging: not surprisingly, individuals with dry skin often complain of expression lines and crow's feet, especially on the face. Dry skin is caused by a series of factors, among other things very different and heterogeneous: climatic insults (excessive exposure to UV rays, cold, air conditioning, excessive heating and wind), genetic predisposition, age advanced, administration of some drugs for long periods (eg diuretics, hormones), pathologies (eg psoriasis, allergies, hypothyroidism, liver cirrhosis, ichthyosis), stress, aggressive cosmetic treatments or inadequate for one's skin type.

What to do

• Ensure an adequate water supply to the body: we recommend drinking at least 2 liters of water per day
• Protect the skin from UV rays (solar and artificial)
• Keep the skin soft with specific and delicate cosmetics
• Use room humidifiers: places that are too cold or too hot can adversely affect the elasticity and softness of the skin
• Often use specific cosmetics for dry skin, with moisturizing, nourishing, emollient and film-forming properties
• Always massage moisturizing / emollient creams with circular movements to facilitate the absorption of the functional substances enclosed in the product
• Chase away stress: even anxieties and tensions can negatively affect the appearance of the skin. For this reason, it is good to carve out a small space of time to dedicate to oneself, preferring light physical activities, pilates or yoga
• In the evening before bedtime, apply a generous layer of oily, nourishing and protective cream to dry skin
• To remove dead cells present in the superficial layer of dry, rough and wrinkled skin, periodic peels are particularly indicated. The scrubs most appreciated for this purpose are formulated with alpha-hydroxy acids: cogic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, etc.
• Cleanse the face with a specific cleansing milk for dry skin. To remove the product from the face, it is advisable to gently rub a cotton pad slightly moistened with low mineral salt mineral water. The thermal water is particularly indicated.

What NOT to do

• Expose yourself to the sun without sun protection
• Apply creams to the skin without first having thoroughly cleansed it: to benefit to the fullest from a cosmetic effect, it is good to gently cleanse the skin before applying any type of product
• Use products for body hygiene that are too aggressive and alcoholic: dry skin requires the use of delicate, alcohol-free and low-foaming detergents
• Dry yourself too much: according to some experts, it seems that applying a moisturizing cream on a dry skin that is still damp can promote the cutaneous absorption of the product
• Dry the skin with rough cloths: dry skin requires soft towels to avoid scratching it unnecessarily
• Beware of Vaseline and mineral oils: although their effect is surprisingly effective in the treatment of dry skin, it is good to pay attention to possible sensitization
• Use very aggressive soaps: prefer delicate detergents, embellished with emollient / nourishing ingredients (eg vegetable butters)
• Too frequent washing: too much soap tends to excessively "degrease" a skin that is already dry. It is therefore recommended to use detergents with moderation and common sense
• Rinse your face with very hot water: dry skin loves warm water

What to eat

• Take plenty of fruit and vegetables, as it is rich in antioxidants (vitamin C and E): we briefly recall that some vitamin deficiencies (especially vitamin A) can promote dry skin
• Follow an adequate nutrition, balanced from a nutritional point of view: sometimes, dry skin reflects a lack of certain nutrients
• Take foods rich in omega 3 (fish from the cold seas, oil and flaxseed) and omega 6 (borage oils, grapeseed oil, nuts and pulses)
• If necessary, supplement the diet with omega 3 and 6 fatty acid supplementation
• Drink a lot of water

What NOT to Eat

• Avoid eating hard-to-digest foods, such as dips, fries and fat-rich foods
• Limit the consumption of foods rich in salt: a massive consumption of salt can indeed promote dehydration

Natural Cures and Remedies

• Hydrate dry skin with the application of natural DIY masks prepared with liquid cream, cucumber and centrifuged courgettes: this home remedy - to be applied directly to the skin and kept there for 15-20 minutes - is a real cure for skins shallows
• Hydrate dry skin with the frequent application of emollient creams, prepared with vegetable oils (avocado, hemp, wheat germ, palm etc.) or jojoba liquid wax
• Nourish dry skin with creams prepared with vegetable butters (eg shea butter, cocoa butter)
• Apply natural cosmetic products made with bee products: due to its softening, emollient and soothing properties, honey is an exceptional remedy against dry skin
• An old folk remedy against dry skin is to add a handful of oatmeal to the bath water. The soothing properties of oats bring many benefits to dry skin. Not surprisingly, many natural cosmetics are formulated with oats

Pharmacological care

In the absence of pathologies, it is not necessary to take any medication to remedy dry skin. However, when skin dryness is related to various disorders it is necessary to intervene differently. For example:

• Dry skin dependent on ichthyosis: the skin, which must be nourished in depth, requires very frequent applications of specific moisturizing creams (based on propylene glycol), film-forming (vaseline) and chemical exfoliants (eg salicylic acid and alpha hydroxy acids in general )
• Dry skin dependent on metabolic alterations can only be healed by treating the underlying problem
• Dry psoriasis-dependent skin should be treated with cortisone drugs, vitamin D (and derivatives), vitamin A (and derivatives), immunosuppressants or biological drugs (eg Adalimumab, Infliximab)

Prevention

• Avoid excessive exposure to UV rays, solar or artificial (sun beds). Protect the skin with sunscreen products formulated with UV filters
• Drink a lot of water
• Moisturize and soften dry skin with specific creams
• Exfoliate the skin before applying an oil or a nourishing product
• Protect the face from unfavorable weather conditions, such as wind and sun: let's remember briefly that dry skin is an extremely sensitive skin and, when it is neglected or not adequately protected, the climatic conditions can strongly accelerate the skin aging process

Medical treatments

• Except for pathological cases, dry skin does not require any specific medical treatment. The only remedy to keep dry skin soft is the frequent application of creams, ointments or other nourishing, emollient, moisturizing and film-forming cosmetic formulas.