Skin as the largest organ of
the body is also one of the most
vulnerable to abuse.
The facts. Hydroxy acids stimulate production of collagen, a protein that
thickens skin and prevents water loss. Use of these acids may lead to modest
improvements in fine lines and wrinkles. Side effects may include burning,
itching, pain and possible scarring. Since hydroxy acids increase your
susceptibility to sun damage, apply sun protection during use and for at least
one week afterward
Approximately 30% of adults have dry skin which often appears
rough, tight, dull in color - with visible fine lines and
wrinkles. Although there are several factors that result in dry
skin - including the genetic ones - this can be greatly caused
by environmental factors (wind, sun, heat).
So, the question is how to treat dry skin properly to
significantly improve its look and its condition as well.
- Reduce the frequency of washing
Did you know that washing by its definition is actually - drying ?
Washing removes the surface lipid film, along with environmental
contaminants, sweat, sebum, peeled cells, and microorganisms.
Thus people with dry skin need to reduce the frequency of washing
and - lubricate the skin afterwards.
- Avoid soaps
The alkalinity of soaps disturbs the normal acidity (acid mantle) of
the skin thus leading to dryness.
Therefore people with dry and sensitive skin should use a soap-free
cleanser. There are a number of synthetic detergents available that
clean as well as soaps but are adjusted so that they do not alter the
skin surface pH.
Skin care moisturizer creams can sometimes leave skin dry because the moisture evaporates too quickly,
Some are combined with oils so that they lubricate the skin as
they wash. Nonetheless, if one washes too often, dryness can
also results with these products.
It is very important to have a dry skin cleanser moisturizer treatment
regime that you follow daily.
- Apply creamy cleansers
Accurate cleaning may increase the tenderness and smoothness of
your skin, so...
...choose a creamy cleanser and leave it on for at least ten
minutes when cleaning dry skin. Let your skin soak up some
nourishment before sweeping it away with cotton pad !
Splash your face with cool water to remove redundant cleanser
and to refresh your skin, then put on a nourishing cream to seal
moisture into the upper levels of your skin. Personally, I don't
recommend tonic for dry skin even if it doesn't content the alcohol.
Use a thick cream as this contains more oil than water and
will help seal in more moisture. Apply it to slightly wet skin
thus sealing in extra moisture. This results in softer and smoother skin.
- Change your products according to the seasons
Extremes of cold and hot weather as well as central heating
and air-conditioning can strip your skin of essential moisture,
leaving it dry and more prone to damage.
For this reason you should change your products according to
the seasons. Leave your moisturizing mask on skin for 5 -10 minutes.
It works quickly and it is a great treat, particularly after sunbathing, or
when your skin feels tight. Better yet - it can even remove dry patches,
flakiness and fine wrinkles.
Naturally, dry skin cleanser moisturizer treatment does not stop
at your neck. To maintain a beautiful body you should
lavish the same care on it as you do on your complexion.
Bring out the natural beauty of your skin
Dry Skin Care – How Not To Look Old
If you have a dry skin and not too keen on having it look like a withered apple,
then your only way out is to jump headlong into a dry skin care regimen. The dry
skin is basically a dehydrated skin, very sensitive to the weather elements. So
the dry skin care regimen is all about nourishing the skin and keeping it
protected from external ravages.
Dry skin care involves getting to the roots of the problem. Apart from the
intrinsically dry skin type, dryness can also be the result of taking drugs like
diuretics, antispasmodics, and antihistamines. Dry skin can also result from
medical conditions like hypothyroidism, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, seborrhea
and diabetes. Excessive exposure to harsh weather elements like snow, sun and
winds and the use of chemicals on the skin, Vitamin A and B deficiencies can
lead to conditions of dryness too.
The essentially dry skin has a dull look about it especially around the mouth
and the eyes and it feels taut and uncomfortable right after washing. Chapping
and cracking are its severest symptoms.
Dry skin care primarily involves nourishing it with baby oil, gentle
moisturizing creams and preferably, a non-detergent based, neutral-pH product to
clean it. Dry skin needs an out-and-out cleaning but not with a commercial soap.
After washing, always use a moisturizer to keep the skin looking and feeling
soft and supple. It’s good if you apply the moisturizer over a damp skin.
You can also use oil for hydrating your dry skin, however while massaging, take
care not to stretch your skin. Apply oil profusely around the eyes, because this
is the area most prone to wrinkles and crow’s feet.
Dry skin care demands the application of only very gentle and preferably natural
beauty care products. Thus when you retire for the night, massage yourself with
a homemade nourishing cream. Or you can use a natural beauty mask consisting
egg, honey, olive oil and rose water to provide your skin with all the
nourishments.
A warm milk bath with a few drops of almond oil added to it will soften and
hydrate your skin like nothing else. Dry, cracked lips respond well to a little
milk cream mixed with rose water and lime juice, while style divas swear by the
raw-beetroot-application-before-the-lipstick routine. Just a dab of Vaseline
afterwards ensures that your lips remain pink and pretty.
Dry skin care also involves knowing what to stay away from. Overheated rooms,
beauty care treatments that use steam and sudden changes of temperatures wreck
havoc on a dry skin. While stepping out in the cold, liberally douse yourself
with some kind of moisturizer, and pile on the sunscreen when you go out in the
sun.
Your diet too plays an important role in containing the reverses of a dry skin.
While smoking and fatty, oily foods are a definite no-no, fresh fruits and
vegetables, along with copious quantities of water daily, improve the quality of
your skin and they have also been proven to contain anti-ageing properties. Thus
with such foods in your diet, you not only remain healthy, but look also good.
There are many herbs that can be directly applied to the skin or consumed to
help your condition of dryness. Thus chamomile, lavender, calendula, comfrey,
tea tree oil, aloe vera and peppermint used in herbal facials are good for dry
skin and borage, fennel, coltsfoot or calendula tea can be had daily for a
youthful looking skin.
Dry skin care actually means pampering your skin, for you have to always keep in
mind that you are dealing with something very fragile.
- Use oils for bathing
If your skin is naturally dry, the best way to re-hydrate your
dry skin is - bathing.
However, when the skin is toweled dry and left open to the
atmosphere, water exhales from the surface of the skin and your
skin becomes dry again. That's why bathing by itself is not
enough - the exogenous water introduced into the skin must stay
kept there.
Bath oils contain vegetable or mineral oils and can be very
useful for use in the bath or shower.
Thus either add to the bathwater as it is running an egg-cupful of
the oil or after taking the shower apply the oil directly to the skin
and then rinse it off before drying.
Also apply further moisturizers to the skin either before or
after drying after a bath.
The basic function of a facial moisturizer is to soothe and keep water in the
skin; reviews indicate most products do that pretty well. However, critics say
most manufacturers claim that their product will eliminate wrinkles or penetrate
several layers of skin. These claims are exaggerated, false or deceptive. One
popular misconception involves the relationship between dry skin and wrinkles.
Scientists say skin-care moisturizer creams will smooth skin to temporarily make
wrinkles less apparent, but unfortunately, moisturizing your skin will not have
any long-term effect on wrinkles.
Sunscreen is the one ingredient in facial moisturizers that lends credibility to
anti-aging claims. Skin-care experts say sun damage is the foremost cause of
early aging. Professionals advise that if your moisturizer doesn't have
sunscreen included in its formula, you should apply a separate sunscreen every
day. Research has shown that retinol and retinyl palmitate (both vitamin A
derivatives) may increase epidermal thickness, making skin look fuller and
younger, but experts say product packaging significantly influences how
effective these ingredients are. Retinol in particular is unstable when exposed
to light and air, and its efficacy can be greatly decreased in a see-through
container or after multiple openings.
Some dermatologists and other physicians have started their own beauty lines for
profit, but it's wise to assume these products are no better than the skin-care
moisturizer creams at your local drugstore. Paula Begoun, in her very revealing
book "Don't Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me," cites one such physician
who was quoted in the New York Times as saying, "Promise them an unlined face,
and you can sell them anything." The American Medical Association has issued
guidelines advising physicians not to sell health-related products for profit,
recognizing the conflict of interest this creates. Begoun also points out that
the phrases "Dermatologist Tested" and "Dermatologist Approved" are meaningless
since there's no standard for what these mean -- they often only indicate that
one or two dermatologists tried a product at the manufacturer's request and
liked how it felt.
This report focuses on the mass-market facial moisturizers commonly found in
supermarkets and drugstores. While there are dozens of high-end brands, experts
say many low-cost skin-care brands are just as effective. Moreover, many
cosmetic firms are owned by the same parent company, so the exclusive label that
makes high-end brands may be affiliated with the maker of more downscale
products. For example, L'Oreal owns Maybelline, Lancome and Biotherm; Estee
Lauder owns Clinique, Prescriptives and Origins; Almay is owned by Revlon.
Experts say there's little need to spend three or four times more for
department-store skin-care moisturizer creams unless you particularly like its
feel or scent.
