Tips For Treating Dry Skin

        The cold days are finally here which means you may be dealing with dry skin. Dry skin occurs when skin does not retain sufficient moisture. Dry skin can stem from the cold, dry winter air. It can also be a result of frequent bathing, using harsh soaps, aging, or certain medical conditions. During the winter months, you may suffer from red, rough, raw, and itchy skin. The winter air means low humidity, indoors and outdoors, causing your dry skin. There are many easy and inexpensive ways to relieve your wintery dry skin.

        You need to keep moisture in your skin so, moisturize! This may sound easy and you probably do it already, but maybe you are not using the right skincare products. Skin moisturizers, which rehydrate the top layer of skin cells and seal in the moisture, are the first step in fighting dry skin. The thicker and greasier a moisturizer, the more effective it will be. To reduce the greasy feel of thick creams, rub a small amount into your hands and then rub it over the affected areas until neither your hands nor the area you moisturized feels greasy.

        Look for products that contain hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid can hold 1,000 times its weight in water. It acts like a sponge that pulls water in and blankets it over your complexion. You should also look for products that contain glycerin and ceramides. Glycerin attracts and locks in moisture on the skins surface. This skin replenishing ingredient can be found in many moisturizers. It can help hydrate skin to leave it feeling soft and smooth. Ceramides are long chains of skin lipids that are part of your skin’s outer layers. Ceramides are vital for helping to maintain and reinforce the skin’s natural moisture barrier.

        You should limit yourself to no more than a 10-minute shower per day. If you bathe more than that, you may strip away much of the skin’s oily layer and cause it to lose moisture. Keep your shower short and do not shower multiple times a day. Water exposure can lead to dry skin and hair, so the shorter the shower the better. Take a cool shower, hot water strips away naturals oils and damages the skin faster. Sticking with a lukewarm shower or cooler is the best option. Always moisturize after showering and washing your hands. This helps plug the spaces between your dead skin cells and seals in moisturize while your skin is still damp.

        Minimize your use of harsh soaps. Choose moisturizing products such as Dove, Olay, and Basis. Consider soap free cleansers like Cetaphil or Cerave. Stay away from deodorant soaps, perfumed soaps, and alcohol products which can strip away natural oils. To avoid damaging the skin you should also stay away from bath sponges, scrub brushes, and wash cloths. When drying your skin, use a towel and do not rub your skin. Use a light touch, like a pat or blot, to prevent damaging your skin.

        One last step you can take to minimize your dry skin is using fragrance free laundry detergents and avoiding fabric softeners. You should avoid wearing wool and other fabrics that can irritate the skin. When doing laundry, we tend to not realize how our laundry detergents and fabric softeners affect our skin. Switching to fragrance free will reverse some of the serious dry skin conditions you may be dealing with.

        These simple tips will have you relieved of your dry skin in no time. If your still not sure what products will work best for you, try out some of Dr. Kurzman’s signature skincare products. Dr. Kurzman has a full line of products and can recommend the perfect skincare regimen just for you. Call our office today to learn more about our products or for any other questions you may have!