Home Remedies Series – Dry Skin

So how do you determine if you have dry skin? Here are some things to look out for:

• Your skin feels tight and stretched, especially after washing.

• You get a frequent urge to itch your skin.

• Your skin has visible white marks on it, or these white marks appear when you itch your skin.

Causes of Dry Skin

Dry skin is primarily caused due to a lack of natural oils (sebum) being secreted by the pores of the skin. It may also be caused due to an insufficient intake of water and other fluids. Prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures or harsh chmilk bath, emicals can also result in dry skin. An improper or insufficient diet may also lead to dry skin. Prolonged exposure to the sun or prolonged submersion in water, especially sea water, can also dry out your skin.

There are a number of simple home remedies that can be used to combat dry skin. Let us take a look at some of them.

• The best way to ensure that your skin doesn’t become dry is to keep it moisturized. Use a moisturizing cream and apply it liberally over the affected areas of your skin, especially after you bathe.

• A hot water bath may feel wonderful in the winters, but it also dries out your skin more than normal water. Keep these hot water baths to a minimum or apply some body oil before you bathe so that your skin doesn’t lose all its precious moisture.

• An occasional bath in milk is a royal treat and also does wonders for dry skin.

Diet for Dry Skin

Here are some dietary tips that will help to keep your skin moisturized in these cold winter months.

• Drink plenty of water and fluids. This is the best thing you can do to keep dry skin at bay.

• Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol. Although alcohol might make you feel all warm during these cold winter months, it doesn’t do good for the rest of your body, including your skin.

• Vitamins A,D, and E can do wonders for your skin. Consume them in the form of capsules or through your diet.

 Other Suggestions for Dry Skin

These tips will ensure that your skin stays moist and supple in the coldest of days.

• Smoking is an absolute no-no when you’ve got dry skin. Smoking further dries out the skin and makes it parched and leathery.

• Avoid keeping the temperature setting in your room too high. Also use a humidifier to keep the air moist.

• Harsh chemicals such as those used in detergents and soaps can really play havoc with your skin. Use natural soaps to bathe and wear gloves when you’re washing dishes or clothes.