Dry Skin Type

WRITTEN BY TEAM: January 4, 2024

Knowing About Dry Skin

Insufficient moisture or oil in the skin causes dry skin, which is typified by symptoms including flakiness, tightness, itching, and a lacklustre appearance. The most common cause of dry skin is inadequate sebum production, which leaves the skin without the vital lipids needed to keep moisture in and shield it from outside allergens. People with dry skin are more prone to irritation, dehydration, and a higher chance of fine lines and wrinkles because of a compromised barrier function.

Dry skin can be brought on by a number of variables, including heredity, the environment, and lifestyle choices like using harsh skincare products or having hot showers. The best way to cure dry skin is to stay away from things that make it worse and use moisturising, mild skincare products that strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier.

How to Spot Dry Skin

Dry skin can be caused by a variety of factors, including lifestyle choices, environmental factors, and heredity. Look for common signs including tightness, pain, peeling, itching, and a dull appearance to see if you have dry skin. People who have dry skin may be more sensitive, irritable, and have a higher chance of developing fine lines and wrinkles, though the indicators of dry skin can vary depending on age and lifestyle. Due to inadequate natural oil production and water retention, dry skin may also feel less elastic and flexible to the touch. Using mild, hydrating skincare products and avoiding things like harsh soaps and detergents, extreme heat, and overwashing are some ways to manage and treat dry skin.

The features of dry skin

Dry skin can feel dry, flaky, or scaly to the touch, and it can also seem dull. Tightness or irritability are other typical signs of dry skin, which might be devoid of suppleness and plumpness as a result of insufficient sebum production and water loss. Additionally, the surface may have tiny lines, fractures, or cracks. The appearance of dry skin might differ based on an individual’s age, genetics, environment, and general state of health. It might be more prone to become inflamed, red, or itchy. Drier areas of the body include the hands, arms, legs, and face. Severe cases could cause painful cracks or bleeding.

Texture of Dry Skin

Due to insufficient oil production and poor moisture retention, dry skin often feels tight, flaking, and harsh. It could also appear cracked or scaly. The usage of topical skincare products, environmental circumstances, and underlying health concerns are some of the variables that might affect the texture. For instance, dead skin cells may accumulate on the skin’s surface, giving it a harsh feel and impeding the absorption of moisture. See a skincare expert for individualised advice and treatment options if you’re uncomfortable with the texture of your skin or if you’re worried about any other issues.

Reasons for Dry Skin

The normal moisture balance of the skin can be disrupted by various conditions that cause dry skin, which can result in a rough, flaky, or scaly texture. Genetics, the environment, lifestyle choices, hormonal fluctuations, underlying medical disorders, overexfoliation, and the use of irritating skincare products are all possible causes.

Dry skin is frequently caused by cold, windy, and low humidity weather, as well as pollution. Ageing and underlying medical diseases such as psoriasis, eczema, and thyroid issues can also result in dry skin.

Dryness can be caused by hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy or menopause, by living in dry or polluted settings, or by lifestyle choices like taking long, hot showers or getting little sleep. The first step in creating a successful treatment plan is figuring out the root reason. If you have irritation or dryness that doesn’t go away, see a dermatologist. They can help you determine the cause and offer tailored advice.

Exfoliating can help remove dead skin cells from the surface, even out the texture of the skin, and improve skin permeability for skincare products. However, exfoliating too regularly or using too strong of an active ingredient concentration might harm the skin’s intact barrier and make dryness worse. Consider how tolerable your skin is, and if using an exfoliating product causes redness, stinging, or irritation, reduce how often you use it or switch to a different, gentler product.

Taking Care of Dry Skin

To care for dry skin, you need to use a multimodal strategy that includes your dermatologist’s prescribed skincare products, lifestyle modifications, and other therapies. Avoid taking long baths or showers and being in hot water if you want to prevent exacerbating the symptoms of dry skin. Use skincare products that are delicate, taking into account the tolerance of your skin. To seal in moisture and stop transepidermal water loss, use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser and a fragrance-free moisturiser as soon as you get out of the shower or bath. Seek for moisturisers that have moisturising components like glycerin, fatty acids, and ceramides. While severe, ongoing dryness can necessitate seeing a doctor, the symptoms of dry skin can be lessened with the appropriate topical medicines and preventive lifestyle choices.

What Kind of Skin Care Routine Is Best for Someone with Dry Skin?

Cleanse: Use a gentle, moisturising cleanser to start and end each day. Seek for a cleanser with a cream or lotion basis, or one with hydration that has been clinically proved to eliminate pollutants without removing the skin’s natural oils. Use lukewarm water to rinse to prevent hot spots from aggravating dry, sensitive skin. If you use a lot of makeup or sunscreen, you might want to consider conducting a double cleanse. This would involve using an oil-based cleanser to remove debris, makeup, and sunscreen, and then using a water-based cleanser to ensure that the skin is well cleansed without losing its natural oils.

We like to use Gleanser, our non-drying, glycerin-based face and body cleanser, for a deep clean. Gleanser, which has a 50% glycerin formula, efficiently eliminates pollutants, oil, and makeup without affecting the vital moisture barrier of your skin. Aloe, arginine, and oat extract all contribute to the humectant-rich formula’s enhancing effects by soothing and comforting dry, parched skin.

Exfoliate: Once or twice a week, exfoliate your skin by using a chemical exfoliator that contains either beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs) or alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs). These components promote cell turnover and reveal a complexion that is softer, brighter, and more radiant by breaking the bond that holds skin cells together. Chemical exfoliation helps the moisturising, nourishing skincare products that come next to better integrate into the skin if done once or twice a week.

Moisturise: Use a mild, nourishing moisturiser during the day. Seek for components like ceramides, which improve the skin’s barrier function, or hyaluronic acid, which draws and holds moisture. To get deep hydration while you sleep, think about using a richer, more nourishing moisturiser in the evening. Slugging, or applying a product with a petrolatum base as a last resort, can assist to seal in moisture and lessen the signs of dry skin.

Prequel’s Barrier Therapy cream helps to nourish and moisturise skin while reducing dryness and irritation. This body and face skin protectant lotion is designed specifically to reduce dryness and eczema-related irritation and itching. Its powerful combination of adenosine, colloidal oatmeal, multi-ceramide blend, and allantoin guarantees rapid absorption and soothes dry, irritated skin.

A protective ointment such as Skin Utility Multi-Purpose Skin Protectant can be used in addition to your skincare routine to provide targeted relief on especially dry spots. This ointment provides a soothing, occlusive barrier to prevent dry, chapped, cracked, and irritated skin. Its formula contains 45% petrolatum and is specifically made to lock in moisture.

To fortify, use a reparative and nourishing serum with elements that calm, soothe, and restore moisture to the skin. They may include components such as oat extract, beta glucan, ectoin, or polyglutamic acid.

Protect: Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 during the day to shield your skin from UVA and UVB radiation. To add an additional layer of hydration, look for a moisturising sunscreen formulation.

DISCLAIMER: All articles about skin care are meant to provide information on particular ingredients and skin care subjects. We aim to provide interesting and educational content with our posts. Any allusion to a particular patient’s experience does not constitute a recommendation for medical care. Kindly take note that Prequel products containing mentioned substances are designed exclusively for cosmetic purposes and should not be used in place of medical advice or suggestions for pharmaceutical goods.