Dry Skin 7 Surprising Causes and How To Prevent Them
Dry skin is a common problem that various factors can cause. While you might think the reason is only due to not moisturizing adequately, there are actually many other causes. In this article, we’ll go over seven surprising causes and how to prevent them!
Symptoms of Dry Skin
Dryness can be temporary to other people, and you can solve dryness after finding the solution to make the skin moist.
On the other hand, this condition may last for a long time. The signs and symptoms of dry skin depend on a person’s age, health condition, surroundings, and the period of staying outside. Symptoms include:
- The skin looks and feels rough.
- The skin is tight after it’s wet from swimming, washing, or taking a shower.
- Itchy and red
- The skin flakes, peels, or scales
- It has deep cracks that lead to bleeding.
Genes
Having dry skin can be hereditary, meaning you have a higher likelihood of inheriting it from anyone or both of your parents. The causes could be certain diseases, such as thyroid and hormone disorders, diabetes, kidney disease, and eczema.
So, dry skin is genetic; what can you do instead?
It is crucial to properly hydrate your skin by drinking enough water and wearing sunscreen every day. Drinking water helps transit the metabolism, and sunscreen stimulates the hydration process. Additionally, it’s essential to moisturize your skin at least twice a day — in the morning and before bed — with an SPF-15 moisturizer.
Hot Bath and Showers
A long hot bath and shower, primarily during winter, may lead to skin dehydration resulting in dry skin. Though it’s soothing to stay in the hot shower for an extended period, it’s not helpful to the skin because it dries out its moisture. Saunas/hot tubs/spa treatments also lead to dryness. Hence, taking a warm shower is better and moisturizing the skin after getting out of the shower is necessary.
Are cold showers helpful for dry skin?
Cold showers are believed to help, but cold water doesn’t hydrate or moisturize your skin. Instead, what happens is that cold water helps constrict blood vessels which reduces sebum production on the face. Hence, it’s helpful for acne-prone skin. However, if dryness is not caused by acne, there is no need to take a cold shower.
Aging
It’s normal for the skin to get drier as people age because the body produces less oil, and most people aging from 40 and above are prone to having dry skin. Though it can be a sign of aging, it’s not precisely unavoidable – keep reading to learn more!
What can you do to keep your skin’s moisture as you age?
Women should use anti-aging products and get facials, which help the skin improve in texture. In addition, skin with low moisture content is more prone to develop wrinkles, so we recommend moisturizers and retinoid creams for dry skin sufferers. Men are less likely to experience it because they produce oil on their faces naturally; however, if men over 40 have this condition that isn’t caused by acne or pollution, they should consider getting facial treatments.
Good Smell
Skincare products or deodorants with a fragrant smell can irritate dry skin. If you are aware that your skin is sensitive to strong fragrances, consider finding alternatives for products such as skincare or deodorant.
Frequent Washing
Frequent handwashing is not helpful to individuals with dry skin because it can result from cracking. They might not need to wash their hands often because it can aggravate the condition.
Therefore, if a person’s work requires washing hands from time to time, wash with lukewarm water (not hot), don’t use alcohol-based soaps, and avoid rubbing your hands when drying. Once your hands are clean and dry, apply an ointment right away to moisturize the skin. Don’t forget to apply an ointment every after wash to moisten the skin.
Will decreased showers help in dryness prevention?
Although extensive washings can cause dryness, it’s not encouraging to decrease the frequency of taking a shower because it may result in other problems like a staph infection. A more optimal solution would be to take quick warm showers and use two bath towels: one dry towel to dry yourself with after the shower and another clean dampened towel for applying moisturizer.
Cold Season
Chronic dry weather, freezing dry weather, is a common cause of dry skin. When exposed to dry weather for an extended period, the moisture in your body sweats out more than usual, resulting in dryness.
One way to prevent this is by wearing warm sweaters and jackets during winter because these will protect you from the cold, dry air while maintaining your body temperature at equilibrium. Also, you should avoid exposing your face directly into any draft (e.g., fans) as possible – any sudden temperature change can result in dehydration and consequently dry skin.
Medical Condition
For someone who has skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema, the skin can get dry. But on the other hand, dryness might indicate some medical conditions such as kidney failure, diabetes, malnutrition, or hypothyroidism. Therefore a consultation with a health care provider is crucial to receive the proper medication.
Key Takeaways For Keeping Your Dry Skin Healthy
Whether you are susceptible to dry skin or not, you have to remember to keep the skin moist to avoid it from getting dry. Make sure to buy a moisturizing product that is suitable for your skin.
Naturally, everyone’s different, so what works for some may not work for others. Therefore, if one method doesn’t solve all your problems, then try another until you find the solution that works best for you. Also, remember that prevention is always better than cure – take care of your skin now and reap the rewards later in life!
Suppose you want to pamper your skin, you can visit Derma-Aesthetic & Laser Center, and we will provide the treatments you desire for your skin rejuvenation.
Thanks a lot for taking the time to read about Dry Skin: 6 Surprising Causes. We hope that we’ve enlightened you about the factors causing dry skin.
Call Derma-Aesthetics at (214) 755-0958 and make an appointment today!
Derma-Aesthetic & Laser Center
c/o Healthcare At The Grove
8840 Cypress Waters Blvd Suite 150 Coppell, TX 75019
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