Treatment for Dry Skin

Dry skin is a common problem which can have any number of contributing factors, and an equal amount of solutions.

If dry skin is the result of eczema or another skin ‘condition' for instance, a specially formulated treatment which may tackle the root cause of dry skin may be necessary which can be bought over the counter from a pharmacist, or perhaps on prescription from your G.P.

Most of the time, dry skin is down to the following factors:

• Environmental factors such as cold, wind, rain and low humidity dry out the skin. Having central heating on inside your house also dehumidifies the air, causing skin to dry.
• Inadequate or improper skincare is perhaps the biggest culprit of dry skin. By washing too often – specially using harsh soaps – you wash away your skins protective oils making your skin more susceptible to drying. Skin should also be moisturised, particularly after shaving, where layers of skin and oil are ‘scraped' off, leaving the skin much more vulnerable to drying.
• Dietary insufficiencies, particularly a lack of Vitamin A, B and C can leave your skin under nourished and more susceptible to becoming dry.
• Diminished sebum (natural protective skin oil) production due to age or other factors means the skins natural protection is basically weakened.

Generally, treating dry skin requires both re-hydration of the skin and protection of the skin.

You may find some of the following tips useful in the treatment of dry skin:

• Don't bath excessively. Preferably bath only once a day, using lukewarm water instead of hot water, and be sure to moisturise after you have dried yourself off.
• Take some Vitamin A, B and C supplements which will help feed your skin with the nutrients it needs to keep it healthy.
• Use an air humidifier if you have one, particularly during winter when the air isn't so humid outside, and the central heating inside is making it even less humid.
• Use a good soap such as Olay or Dove, which is proven to moisturise skin when other soaps tend to dry skin.