Dry skin can be itchy and flaky. Excessive dryness can increase your
risk of wrinkles as time goes by. Here are the 5 best ways to get rid of
too dry skin. You can try one or all of them. They are all safe and
natural.
Drink More Water
Water is the skin's natural
moisturizer but there are no blood vessels in the skin's outer layers.
It gets moisture from the air and through osmosis from the deeper skin
layers. It can lose moisture quickly, especially if the air is dry.
You
should be drinking at least 8 eight ounce glasses of water every day.
It is not a good idea to rely on thirst to tell you when to drink. Get
in the habit of keeping a bottle of water with you and sipping from it
throughout the day. Mild dehydration precedes thirst and one of the
symptoms of mild dehydration is dry skin.
Use a Humidifier
In
the wintertime, it is a good idea to use a humidifier in your home.
Humidifiers help to keep the air moist. Dry skin is more common in the
wintertime because of the low relative humidity. The cold air outside
combined with the warm air inside leads to dry air and dry skin.
Take Fish Oil
Fish
oil contains essential fatty acids that are a component of the skin's
sebum. Sebum works to hold moisture inside of the skin's cells. One of
the symptoms of fatty acid deficiency is dry skin. Fish oil has been
shown in several studies to improve the skin's moisture content.
Avoid Using Cleansers
Cleansers
strip away sebum and cause dryness because of the ingredients they
contain. Unless you are removing dirt, it is not necessary to use a
cleanser, especially on your face. Warm water and a soft cloth will do
the job.
When you do need a facial cleanser, choose a gentle one
containing manuka honey and kiwifruit extract. The ingredients keep your
face clean but do not cause excessive dryness.
Use a Good Moisturizer
Most
of the moisturizers on the market are junk. They contain nasty
ingredients that do not really work. Petrolatum and mineral oil are the
main ingredients in most moisturizers. They don't work because they are
not compatible with the skin's sebum. They can actually cause dryness if
used on a regular basis.
There are excellent ingredients that
really do moisturize the skin. Most manufacturers don't choose to use
those ingredients because they are more expensive.
Grape seed oil
is an example of a good ingredient. It has a dual moisturizing effect.
It dries to a lightweight film that helps to lock moisture into the
skin's cells. It's best to use it right after you shower. Babassu oil is
another excellent moisturizer.
Xtend-TK is a proprietary formula
that has proven to be an effective moisturizer and even improves your
skin's ability to retain moisture. You can find grape seed oil, Babassu
oil and Xtend-TK, along with antioxidants and other active ingredients,
in some of the best anti-aging moisturizers.
