Why is my skin so dry even when I moisturize? – Heal it now!

Once you catch the base reason for your stubborn Dry Skin, this condition is easily solvable.

 

Let’s pin down all the reasons that could be the contributing factors to your dry skin even after moisturizing.

Reasons for Dry Skin even when I moisturize

1. Skin type- People with dry skin or combination (oily T zone) skin type or skin conditions like Psoriasis, Eczema & type-2 diabetes, are more prone to having dry skin type.
2. Skincare products- Over-exfoliation, using essential oils, wrong products for your skin type, harsh soaps, fragrances, sulfates, polysorbate 20 & alcohol-based moisturizers create dry problematic skin.
3. Weather- Dry & Cold weather mostly leads to dry skin problems
4. Hot water- Long hot water showers & chlorinated water can contribute to skin dryness
5. Dehydration – not to mention, we all know drinking less water has countless drawbacks for our bodies, including skin dryness
6. Allergies & cold- Allergy which can make you sneeze a lot & cold, where you must wipe & rub your nose constantly, both conditions can lead to a peeled red nose
7. Nutritional Deficiency- Severe dry skin can be caused by some nutritional deficiencies of Biotin, Zinc, protein, fatty acids, B3, and B6.
8. Age- Older age leads to thinner skin & no moisture. 8/10 aged people complain about having itchy flaky skin esp. in winter.
9. Medicinal side effects- Dry skin could sometimes be a side effect of a few medicines you are taking e.g., oral acne retinoid called Isotretinoin, other birth control pills, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins or blood pressure drugs known as Diuretics, etc.
10. Washing your face too much can contribute a lot towards dry dehydrated skin.

Tips for preventing Dry skin

1. Gentle facial cleansers- Avoid cleansers with alcohol, fragrance, or sulfate which disturb the natural oils of the skin. If you have dry skin, wash your face once a day, preferably at night with a non-comedogenic cleanser.
2. You are not gonna like this tip, but it works wonders for dry skin. Take a cold shower every single day. Your dry skin condition will be a past tense if you follow this one tip religiously.
3. Moisturize- Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, shea butter, oats & ceramides in your moisturizer for hydrated skin. Applying moisturizer/cream when the skin is a bit damp results in better absorption.
4. Humidifier- If you live in a dry cold place, invest in a humidifier for moist hydrated air around you. Low humidity can increase skin dryness & make the sinus dry too.
5. Noncomedogenic makeup- Buy cosmetics that don’t block your pores or look for hypoallergenic products that are best suited for sensitive skin types.
6. Increase hydration level – Have 2-3 liters of water every day. Try and sip fluids like coconut water, watermelon juice, or anything of your choice. You might be very dehydrated from the inside.
7. Warm showers- Not hot! Warm showers, around 5 minutes add moisture to the skin & exfoliates dead skin cells.
8. Diet – add antioxidants, omega 3 & hydrating food to your everyday diet for healthy skin. Like blueberries & all kinds of berries, watermelons, cucumbers, kidney beans, carrots, dark chocolate, pecans, kale, spinach, artichoke, etc.
9. Don’t pick the flaky skin- You’d have this utmost urge of picking your flaky dried, don’t do that & spread the fungus.
10. Natural Remedies- Coconut oil, vitamin E, mineral oil, glycerin, cica, jojoba oil shea butter, petroleum jelly, Aloe Vera, Oatmeal face mask, rosewater, honey, avocado face mask, all the ingredients are very nourishing.
11. Fabric- Wear clothes made more of natural fabrics like cotton, linen, and bamboo rather than polyester or synthetic.
12. Sun Block- Sun damage can make that dry patchy nose worse, always use sunscreen in your skincare routine when stepping in daylight.
13. For Oily skin type- wash your face twice a day, Dry skin type- wash your face once a day
14. Don’t rub your face after washing, rather gently pat it dry with facial tissues
15. Use a small amount of petroleum jelly mixed with your moisturizer & apply it everywhere you feel dryness. This mixture is so hydrating.
16. If nothing works get a blood test done- Serious nutritional deficiencies I mentioned above can only be known by getting the blood work done. It is an important diagnostic tool & can lead to appropriate treatment.
17. Exfoliation- Don’t over-exfoliate the skin by vigorously scrubbing away dry flaky skin! Rather see the following methods to exfoliate safely.

2 kinds of exfoliation- Manual & Chemical Exfoliation, to add to your skincare routine.

Manual Exfoliation – Uses a tool, brush, or scrub to remove dead cells physically.

1. Washcloth- Very safe method esp. for delicate skin types. Use a muslin or a cotton cloth, dip it in warm water & gently wipe your face in small circles to remove the dead skin cells.
2. Charcoal or a natural sponge- Dip it in warm water & light strokes on your face in a circular motion. It will loosen up all the dirt & clogged pores. Don’t put too much pressure on the skin.
3. Face scrubs- Not suitable for hyperreactive skin types. There are scrubs containing microbeads that are too damaging & can cause micro tears on the skin surface which weakens the skin barrier & invites more skin troubles. Common culprits are fruit pit scrubs, like the apricot ones we all have used! Ugh, grain & gritty materials like grounded nuts. Personal suggestion- stay away from physical scrubs.

Chemical Exfoliation- Exfoliates by dissolving the bonds between skin cells, revealing fresh, smooth skin cells underneath. Oily skin type can take the maximum benefits from this exfoliant. These are the few chemical exfoliators.

1. AHA’s- Best for Dry skin. These alpha hydroxy acids like Glycolic acid, lactic acid & mandelic acid are amazing exfoliators. The most popular is Glycolic acid. They come in peels, face washes & masks. They dissolve the top layer of the skin containing all the debris & reveal young skin cells underneath. AHAs have shown beautiful results.
2. BHA’s- Best for Oily skin. Salicylic acid is the most common form of Beta hydroxy acids. It penetrates the pores, breaks all the blockages & unclogs the pores.
3. Retinol– Best for Mature skin. Derivative of Vitamin A, Retinol is a strong exfoliator that can penetrate deep within the layers of the skin, exfoliates the dead skin cells & generates new ones. Not for people with Rosacea, eczema conditions or hyper-reactive skin type.
4. PHA’s- For sensitive skin types, Polyhydroxy acids are the mildest form of chemical exfoliation. Exfoliates the same way as AHA, just less irritating & does not increase the photosensitivity of the skin, unlike AHA & BHA & Retinol.

How much time does it take to treat Dry Skin?

While everybody has different skin & conditions, Results should start seeing in less than 2 weeks, though even after the following everything if you don’t cure the condition. You’d have to see your Dermatologist to see any underlying cause.

What are the symptoms of Dry Skin?

• Peeled/flaky skin
• Skin feels tight
• Cracked skin
• Skin burns/stings
• Itchy skin
• Rough texture

Is Dry Skin a serious symptom?

Apart from looking physically unaesthetic or dry feeling with mild irritation/pain, it’s rarely serious. Excess dryness can sometimes cause the skin’s surface to crack & bleed, but that’s not something to worry about. Your skin will be healed in a few weeks, just follow the above-mentioned tips. 

In rare cases though, if you’re not able to solve this condition even after following all these tips & trying for months, you should consult a board-certified dermatologist 

Natural face masks for Dry Skin

 

1. Almond face mask- make a paste of soaked almond, yogurt, honey & oats & apply for 20 mins on the face. wash it off with lukewarm water, pat your skin dry & spray some hydrating toner like pure rosewater. This face mask is very hydrating & gentle on the skin. You can do it 4 times a week.
2. Gram flour face mask- mix gram flour & yogurt. Apply for 15 min. wash it off. It is very mild & brightening. You can even use it every day.
3. Neem face mask- mix neem powder (or best if you have fresh neem paste) & turmeric. It is antibacterial & will leave your skin very fresh and clean.
4. Avocado face Mask- Take ½ avocado, 1 tsp honey & some yogurt, mix them & apply. It’s a pure hydration bomb for your skin.
5. Oatmeal- Oatmeal is very moisturizing. You can make a face mask of it by simply mixing it with rosewater or you can put some oat powder in the bathtub & soak your body in it completely for 20 minutes. Then Pat dry & apply a hypoallergenic moisturizer. If you’re low on time, just buy organic oatmeal soap.
6. Tee tree face mask– a few drops of tea tree oil, rose water, and fuller’s earth. Apply for 20 mins and rinse. Tee tree is anti-bacterial, rose water will hydrate your skin & fuller’s earth will clean the pores beautifully.
7. Banana face mask– Add ½ banana mashed, 2 tablespoons of plain cottage cheese, and 1 t-spoon of honey. It’s a very creamy hydrating mask.
8. Wheatgrass mask– It’s a cooling hydrating mask, add ¼ cup plain yogurt with 3 tsp of aloe vera gel & 2 tsp of wheatgrass juice. Mix them together & leave it on for 20 mins. Rinse off with warm water.

Types of Dry skin

Extremely Dry skin is medically termed Dermatitis. There are several types of Dermatitis:

 

1. Seborrheic Dermatitis– When the skin produces excess oil. It’s basically having dandruff on the face. White-yellowish scales form on sebaceous glands. Use topical anti-fungal creams or Ketoconazole shampoo as a face wash
2. Atopic Dermatitis- Known as Eczema, it’s a chronic skin condition causing dry scaly patches on the skin.
3. Contact Dermatitis– It happens when your skin reacts to something it touches, resulting in inflammation. There are 2 types
   •  Irritant Contact Dermatitis- When skin gets irritated from chemical agents like Bleach.
   • Allergic Contact Dermatitis- Itchy rash develops when you are in contact with a substance, you’re allergic to things like nickel, metal, fragrances, junk jewelry, plants.

A Few Products Suggestions for Dry dehydrated skin

• Cereve healing ointment is a great emollient
• Hydrating serum like Hyaluronic acid – The Ordinary
• Avene- Cicalfate + restorative protective cream
• Cereve – Hydrating facial cleanser
• Cetaphil moisturizing cream
• Aveeno Eczema relief balm with oatmeal
• Eucerin advanced repair cream

Hope you get some relief from the dry skin guys. Love ~ Beauty Stroll

References