Tips for Keeping Skin From Drying Out
By Stephen R. Farris
Do you suffer from dry skin? If your answer is yes, then you are probably one of the vast number of humans on this planet who do. And it's probably why skin products have been and continue to be one of the largest industries we have. Don't believe me? Then take a look down any health and beauty aisle at your local grocery or big box store and see. Right there on the shelves are item after item of skincare products you can buy to help treat dryness and many other skin ailments as well.
Back to dry skin, most often it is due to the lack of moisture. This could be caused by a number of things from hard water to genetics or medical conditions, causing our skin to not be able to get the moisture it solely needs in order to look and feel healthy. Let's take a look at a few other conditions that might lead to dry skin.
Dry Air
Dry air can occur either indoors or out. During the winter months, it's not uncommon to switch on the furnace or turn on a portable heater to keep warm. But the heated air can cause a drop in humidity levels inside your home, causing what's normally tagged as "winter itch" to develop. That's because our skin can dry out due to lack of moisture in the air, causing itchiness and scaling. Investing in a humidifier can help reduce or eliminate skin dryness by restoring moisture into the air.
Hand Washing
If you wash your hands quite often, using hand soap, bar soap, etc., it can cause skin irritation and redness to appear, eventually leading to dryness. One way to resolve this is to use soaps that are not alcohol-based and keep ointment on hand to use after washing instead of moisturizing lotions. Also, try patting your hands dry when using a towel or those rough looking brown paper ones.
Hot, Hot Showers
Taking a long hot shower can be so relaxing after a hard workout or busy day at work. It can also rob your skin of moisture too, especially during cold weather. The best thing to do for your skin during colder weather is to limit your showers to 5-10 minutes. As soon as you get out and dry off, grab some moisturizing cream and put some on. According to research, moisturizing creams work the best when applied while your skin is still damp.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local Chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Fort Mill, S.C.