How to Improve Dry Skin

A lack of adequate moisture in the outer most layer of the epidermis (stratum corneum) results in dry skin. This can occur for a couple of reasons -

1) When your oil glands do not produce enough sebum.

2) Something is disrupting the production of the structural lipids in the epidermis.

Both sebum and lipids are essential to the skin’s barrier function.  They keep the skin feeling moist, flexible, and protected from infection.  When either or both of these skin elements are inadequate, the skin will feel dry, tight, and look scaly.

Dry skin is also more fragile than other skin types. Due to its’ compromised barrier function, dry skin is open to more inflammation and more susceptible to irritants.

So what brings about dry, scaly skin?

• Inherited factors
• Natural skin aging which reduces sebum and lipid production
• Over washing of skin
• Harsh soaps
• Bathing in hot water
• Low humidity – cold weather
• Wind exposure
• Certain chemicals
• Diuretic medications
• Skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis
• An underactive thyroid gland
• Any mixture of the above factors

To help dry skin, you should first try to retain as much of your natural oils as possible.

To retain natural oils :

• Only wash skin once a day (can wash twice a day for face if not too drying)
• Bathe in lukewarm (never hot) water
• Use mild cleansers made for dry skin (avoid anti-bacterial & deodorant soaps)
• Avoid any cleansing product that “foams"
• Avoid products with acetone or alcohol
• If you live in a dry environment, try a humidifier and house plants
• Limit wind exposure when skin is feeling dry

Then add moisture into the skin with products that contain humectants and occlusives. 

Humectants help add water to the stratum corneum from the dermis and the atmosphere. Occlusives provide a layer of oil on the skin that reduces the skin’s water loss from evaporation.  Lessening evaporation helps to increase the moisture content in the stratum corneum.

To add moisture back into your skin:

• Choose products with humectants such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, urea, alpha hydroxy acids.
• Choose products with occlusives such as castor oil, mineral oil, soybean oil, stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, lanolin acid, squalene, dimethicone, petrolatum, & olive oil.

Dry Skin Products from DERMAdoctor.com

If your skin is NOT sensitive, only dry, then using a moisturizer with an alpha hydroxy acid such as lactic or glycolic acid is a good choice. These acids not only work to moisturize; but also exfoliate the scaly skin cells.  Oil-based AHA lotions are more helpful than water-based since they hold the moisture stored in the skin.

The choice of an occlusive moisturizer depends upon what thickness you will need to see results.

Lotions are the lightest weight. Lotion thickness is good for mild skin dryness, hairy areas of skin, and if you need something lighter for your face.

 

Creams are the middle weight when it comes to occlusive moisturizers. They are good more severe dryness providing a thicker barrier for the skin.

 Ointments are the most occlusive. Ointments are good for acute skin dryness – the areas of skin that are extremely dried, thicker and very scaly. Most people won’t like using an ointment during the day, so for your bad spots, just use at night. Try a cream for day use. Or you might try a bath oil which will leave a thin layer of oil on your skin as you leave the bath.

Dietary changes can also help with dry skin. Eating foods rich in healthy fats known as Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s) can improve dry skin. Foods high in EFA’s include fresh tuna, salmon, flaxseed oil, fats from plants like nuts, seeds, canola, sunflower, soybean, avocado, olives, and safflower oil. These good fats also raise the level of good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol. However, there are 2 bad plant fats to avoid – palm kernel and coconut oil. A note of caution – do not over eat fats to try to improve dry skin. Eating the goods fats in moderation will be enough to help.

Other ways to improve dry skin are:

• Apply moisturizing products to damp skin
• Use oil-based foundations and creamy blushes to soften skin lines
• Always use a sun screen to prevent more damage
• Drink plenty of water
• Make sure to take a good multi-vitamin
• You might also want to try a fish oil supplement if you don't get enough EFA's in your diet

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