Dry skin is when your skin lacks enough moisture. It’s an uncomfortable skin condition that is hardly serious. It makes your skin appear and feel flaky, rough, scaly, or itchy. Some people have dry skin naturally. However, oily skin can turn dry and vice versa eventually due to a number of factors.
While dry skin can affect anybody in any weather, people aged above 30 years are more prone to it. Any part of your body can get dry. Experts believe that dry skin comes and goes on its own with very less impact on your overall health. This is something not to be worried about much. But, the signs that come along might be irritating.
The symptoms of dry skin can be different for all. But most probably when you feel your skin lacks moisture, you experience:
● Bleeding or deep cracks on the skin
● Severe itching
● Peeling or flaking
● Redness on the skin
● Rough skin
● Tight skin (especially after bathing)
Causes of Dry Skin
People ask big questions like how to manage skin problems at home. But, the bigger question is what causes them. When you know the cause, you can jump onto solutions better! Here are some reasons for your dry skin.
Heat
Several studies show the relation between heat and dryness. Heat can destroy moisture from the air. It can cause your skin to become tight and dry. Heat evaporates moisture from your body also. Thus, it can directly influence your skin.
Scrubbing too much
Most of you might use scrubs daily. Scrubs are fine until they leave patches or dryness on your body. Many of them are hard or rough on your skin and can make it peel off. Try using soft scrubs only once or twice a week.
Harsh detergents or soaps
Many harsh detergents and soaps strip moisture from your skin and cause irritation. Plus, when you wash clothes or clean utensils, the detergent removes oil from your hands. This is because such products are formulated to draw oils and excess moisture.
Aging
Aging, in general, has a lot to do with your skin and body. With time, you may see your skin becoming rough, a bit tighter, and dry. That’s probably because of decreased cell renewal, hormonal imbalance, menopause, and sun damage.
Genetics
Protein filaggrin is responsible for hydrating your skin barrier. The mutations in your genes control the production of this substance. Also, skin dryness that is genetic doesn’t have a permanent solution.
Hard water
The most common outcome of using hard water is skin dryness. It has minerals like magnesium, calcium, and iron that clog the pores. They can significantly lead to dry and flaky skin. It strips away your skin’s natural water.
Medicines
Taking certain medications can lead to dry skin. ***** that are known to cause skin problems may have a warning mentioned on the label. Usually, doctors recommend skin moisturizers and other measures to cope with the condition.
Exposure to chlorine
Swimming can be another cause of dry skin. This is because the swimming pool is kept filled with chlorine for cleaning purposes. Too much chlorine exposure can dry your skin out and lead to itching and irritation.
Easy Home Remedies
Dry skin is not a very serious problem. It is, in 90% of the cases, manageable. You can consider the following tips to treat or manage dry skin at home.
Moisturize your skin
Dry skin often gets better with moisturizers. A variety of moisturizers are available in the market that claim to be the best for all skin types. You can go for any of them as per your requirements. Studies show that gel-based moisturizers hydrate the skin better than oil-based ones though.
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