Dry skin - Complete guide to taking care of your skin: causes and remedies
Posted by NADEJDA ALIOHINA
The skin is the largest organ of the body and the one that always requires increased attention for care. When it comes to taking care of it, the skin must be permanently hydrated and clean. The skin needs special care, especially if it is dry or with acne tendencies. Do you want a perfect complexion, but you have the impression that it is extremely difficult to achieve? Don't want to spend a fortune on painful procedures at the salon? It's time to take care of your skin right at home, because this is not difficult at all, if you have the necessary information and know which products to opt for.
What is dry skin?
The skin is considered the mirror of a lady, so many women pay extremely high attention to its health. Dry skin is one of the most difficult and very difficult to care for. The most important aspect, however, is to realize that you have such a complexion. It has certain characteristics that help you realize that you are facing this situation. Dry skin occurs when the skin is dehydrated due to the lack of a protective fatty film. It represents the ultimate protection against bacteria in the environment.
Dry skin - characteristics
Dry skin is not extremely difficult to identify, as it has certain special characteristics, which you cannot find in other types of skin. You will notice, first of all, that your skin is very matte, of a faded color. Sometimes you will also see an exfoliation of the skin, which is characterized by the appearance of small granules that resemble flour, that is, the skin has an abrasive texture. Also, the pores will be very small, and superficial wrinkles will appear. You can also have small red spots, mainly in the cheeks, with hints of itching. The complexion is totally lacking in brightness, and the skin is no longer elastic.
Dry skin - causes
It is important to know how to identify the type of skin you have. If you have noticed that your skin is dry, it is necessary to find out what are the causes that lead to this situation, in order to know how you could avoid this in the future:
- genetic inheritance - is the most common cause of dry skin;
- skin aging - due to hormonal and normal aging causes, the skin loses its elasticity;
- external environmental factors - wind, cold or prolonged exposure to the sun without SPF protection;
- the use of inappropriate products - hot water, products containing alcohol, hard soap, etc.
The difference between genetic causes and those that appear over time is given by the number of sebaceous glands that provide the necessary lipids. In the case of genetically acquired dry skin, this number is reduced, while in the situation where your skin becomes dry throughout your life, the number of these glands is sufficient, but the secretion is reduced.
Dry skin care
Caring for dry skin is the most important step for healthy and beautiful skin. Dry skin requires special care, which involves a lot of hydration, because it shows much fewer imperfections, spots and blackheads, compared to other types of skin, but it is much more prone to the appearance of fine wrinkles. It is necessary to opt for mild cleaning products, which do not affect your skin and treat it as delicately as possible. Try to create a skin care ritual , at least twice a day, in which you apply cleaning and moisturizing products. Because, in the case of dry skin, water is not retained by the skin, its care is extremely important and should not be overlooked. Another necessary step is skin toning. This step must be done with the help of an alcohol-free lotion to remove impurities and dead cells.
Cleaning dry skin at home
Among the most important things you can do for your skin is to clean it thoroughly. This is valid for any type of skin, but especially for dry skin, as it requires a special treatment. Cleansing the skin is a step that you should never ignore, because it is the basis of smooth, clean and healthy skin. This procedure must be included in your daily skin care routine, before applying any other product. It is recommended that this cleaning be carried out twice a day, in the morning immediately after waking up and in the evening before going to bed, to avoid falling asleep with a skin loaded with grease, makeup or dust.
Cleansing is the step by which you remove all the impurities that your skin can retain - sweat, grease or make-up residues. Removing make-up is very important, but it is not enough, as it removes approximately 90% of make-up. The rest must be cleaned as part of a slightly more extensive treatment, which contains several procedures. The good news is that you can do this right at your home, easily and with a low budget. Opt for cleansing foams with a light formula, enriched with hyaluronic acid, which will clean, hydrate and calm your skin. These will remove your dead cells, to deeply clean your pores. After removing your make-up, apply an appropriate amount of cleansing gel, which you massage in a circular motion until it is absorbed by the skin.
If you want to experience a real pampering, you can include the steam cleaning treatment in your skin cleaning routine. For dry skin, this procedure should not be done several times a month, one steam bath is enough. After cleaning your skin very well, boil the water in a bowl and let it cool a little, only after it has reached the boiling temperature. Bend your head over the bowl, then put a towel to cover both the head and the bowl. You can also add some medicinal plants to the water, such as calendula or chamomile. If you have dry skin, do not stay under the steam for more than 3 minutes and be very careful that they are not very hot, to avoid irritation. After finishing the steam bath, wipe your face with a cotton or paper towel, then rinse with warm water and then cold water. Do not apply cold water from the beginning, because the skin can suffer a shock from the sudden change in temperature and your capillaries can break. After the face has been cleaned and washed with steam, you can move on to moisturizing the skin.
Moisturizing dry skin at home
Of all existing skin types, dry skin is the one that needs proper hydration the most. As health starts from the inside, try to keep yourself permanently hydrated, consuming at least 2 liters of water daily. Since it contributes to the elasticity of the skin, try to adopt a diet rich in vegetables and fruits. The ritual you have every day helps the health of your skin. That's why you have to make sure that you use face creams that are quite fatty, so that the hydroliptic level is optimal. The creams or serums you use for the face must be applied in fairly small quantities, using circular movements, until they are absorbed by the skin. Since the skin is dry and quite dehydrated, fine lines and superficial wrinkles are created, especially around the eyes or lips. For these areas, you can also try compresses with chamomile tea or special moisturizing creams. As much as possible, avoid using products that are not intended for your skin type, because they can dry it out even more.
Don't forget to apply moisturizing skin products at night. As there are many external factors that can affect your dry skin, the best hydration and cleaning is done at night, when it does not intersect with the environment. In the hot season, always apply sun protective lotions with SPF 50, because the sun can be your skin's worst enemy. It can dry your skin or even burn it. Regarding the cold season, the cold is also very hard on the skin, so in addition to the usual hydration that must be included in your daily ritual, you can also apply various face masks for increased protection.
Exfoliation of dry and sensitive skin
Exfoliation is the process by which, through chemical, mechanical or natural product-based methods, the upper layer of the skin is removed, which helps to eliminate dead cells. When you have dry and sensitive skin, you must first of all be very careful about the type of products you use. Definitely opt for products that do not contain alcohol, as they will only dehydrate your skin even more. You must choose nourishing products, as natural as possible, based on butter or oils. Since the skin of a dry complexion is very sensitive, do not include this process in your daily routine, because exfoliation can be a harsh process if done in excess. It is good to opt for this treatment at most twice a week.
Dry skin with acne - remedies
It seems a little impossible that dry skin can be acneic at the same time, but this is much more common than you might think. Acne is formed when excess sebum is secreted, and dry skin implies a lack of it. However, there are many people who face this condition. Acne is seen as a disease of teenagers, but this is not entirely true, because there are many adults who have acne-prone skin, regardless of age. Don't worry, there are solutions. Regarding dry acne skin, there are some remedies that you can try to apply and that will make your life easier.
- Choose a healthy lifestyle - nutrition greatly influences the way your body looks. This also applies to the skin. To treat dry skin acne, hydrate yourself a lot and opt for foods that contain probiotics and fiber, which will help you eliminate toxins through the digestive system. Otherwise, all the toxins in the body will be eliminated through the skin;
- Opt for steam baths - this treatment is extremely effective for any skin type, because the steam removes the top layer of the skin, so it helps to clean dead cells and pores;
- Rest and avoid as much as possible, stress - stress is a fairly common cause that favors the appearance of acne. When the level of stress hormones increases, this is visible on the skin, as inflammation, wrinkles or pimples may appear. Lack of sleep is another factor that causes acne;
- Exfoliate your skin with care - exfoliation is an important step in taking care of your skin, but when your skin is dry and prone to acne, this procedure can hurt it. This treatment can be quite harsh on the skin, so be very careful when applying it. Choose natural products, with light formulas, which will not harm them.
Therefore, dry skin requires additional care compared to other types. It is necessary to take into account the advice provided to permanently have clean and healthy skin. Don't skip a step, because the treatment of such a skin is a little more complex and it is recommended to follow it as per the book, if you want to always look perfect and enjoy a complete pampering all the time! Take care of yourself!
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