What Causes Extremely Dry Skin
Extremely dry skin, also called xerosis, has several potential causes including:
Lack of Oil Gland Production
The skin has oil glands that produce sebum, an oily substance that helps keep skin moisturized. People with extremely dry skin often don't produce enough sebum. This can happen naturally with age as oil gland production slows down. Certain medical conditions like psoriasis can also disrupt normal sebum production leading to very dry skin.
Harsh Soaps
Many bar soaps and body washes contain detergents that strip away natural skin oils. Frequent washing with harsh cleansers compromises the skin moisture barrier and allows more water to evaporate from the skin's surface. People with xerosis should choose gentle, fragrance-free cleansers.
Cold Dry Air
Environmental factors like low humidity, cold winter air, and blasting heaters or air conditioners can extract moisture from the skin. Skin left unprotected in dry air for extended periods of time becomes extremely parched. Using indoor humidifiers and limiting direct air duct exposure helps defend against overly dry air.
Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis (eczema) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that often causes extreme, recurrent skin dryness. People with atopic dermatitis have sensitive skin with an impaired moisture barrier that allows skin hydration to easily escape. Managing the inflammation and sensitivities of eczema is key to improving xerosis in these individuals.
Symptoms of Extremely Dry Skin
If you have extremely dry skin, there are several signs and symptoms you might notice, including:
* Tightness
Extremely dry skin often feels very tight and uncomfortable after bathing or washing your hands. When skin lacks moisture, it loses elasticity and feels stretched tight when moving your face or body.
* Scaling/flaking
With extreme dryness, your skin may start to flake and peel. Small flakes or dandruff-like scaling is common, especially on the scalp, hands, arms and legs.
* Cracking
As skin becomes tighter and less flexible, cracks or fissures can develop. This is most common on hands and feet. Deep cracks in the skin can be painful and lead to openings for germs to enter.
* Redness
The skin's protective barrier gets impaired with extreme dryness, which can make your skin look cracked, peel and become red and raw-looking. Sensitive areas like the cheeks, around the nostrils and corners of the mouth are especially prone.
* Itching
Very dry, flaking skin is extremely itchy. This can lead to discomfort and the urge to scratch, which further irritates and inflames the skin.
* Rough texture
With the loss of moisture, skin loses its smoothness and softness. Extremely dry skin feels rough and uneven to the touch instead of silky and supple.
Risk Factors for Extremely Dry Skin
Some key risk factors that can contribute to extremely dry skin include:
Age
As skin ages, it loses some of its natural oils and ability to retain moisture. People over age 60-65 often experience dryer skin that requires more intensive moisturization.
Genetics
Genetics play a role. Those with conditions like eczema, psoriasis, ichthyosis or diabetes often have drier skin.
Winter Months
Colder temperatures, low humidity, and harsh winds can dehydrate skin. The skin works harder in winter to maintain hydration.
Frequent Hand Washing
Frequent washing, especially with harsh soaps, strips away natural oils. Healthcare workers and those preparing food often battle very dry skin.
Long Hot Showers
Extended time in hot water washes away the skin's hydrolipid barrier designed to retain moisture. 5-10 minutes is recommended.
Complications of Extremely Dry Skin
Extremely dry skin can lead to complications such as cracks and fissures in the skin, bleeding, risks of infection, and visible thickening of the skin.
When skin lacks sufficient moisture, it can become fragile. Cracks and fissures develop more readily and cuts or wounds are slower to heal. These openings in the protective outer layer of skin provide a route for bacteria to enter and raise the risk of infections.
In severe cases, the skin can split open and bleed. Repeated bleeding episodes can lead to anemia or low red blood cell counts over time. The immune system also gets overtaxed trying to heal the wounds and fight infections.
As the skin works hard to repair damage, this kickstarts the production of extra skin cells. Over time, visible thickening and hardening of areas of skin can occur. The technical names for this skin thickening are lichen simplex chronicus or prurigo nodularis.
Left untreated, the complications can negatively impact physical health as well as emotional wellbeing for those suffering from extremely dry skin conditions. Seeking appropriate medical care is important.
Key Ingredients to Look for in Moisturizers
When choosing a moisturizer for extremely dry skin, it's important to look for products that contain ingredients that can help nourish, hydrate and protect dry, compromised skin barriers. Some of the key ingredients to look for include:
Ceramides - Skin-identical lipids that help strengthen the skin barrier and lock in moisture. Ceramides help replenish ceramides lost in dry skin conditions. Look for products containing ceramides derived from plant sources. Novaskins skincare has to offer you the best ceramide moisturizer.
Hyaluronic acid - A powerful humectant that can attract and bind up to 1,000 times its weight in water. Hyaluronic acid helps hydrate and plump extremely dry skin layers. Opt for products featuring different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid for deeper hydration at multiple skin levels. (The Powerhouse Hydra Gel Moisturizer)
Glycerin - Another humectant that pulls moisture into the skin to keep it smooth and supple, while preventing future moisture loss. Glycerin helps counteract dryness and damage in severely dehydrated skin. ( The Powerhouse Hydra Gel Moisturizer )
Shea butter - Has exceptional healing and moisturizing benefits thanks to its high concentration of fatty acids and vitamins. Shea butter forms an emollient film on the skin surface to restore suppleness and provide long-lasting hydration.
Dimethicone - A gentle, hydrating silicone ingredient that fills in uneven texture while forming a protective barrier on the skin. Dimethicone seals in the skin’s natural moisture and leaves an ultrasmooth finish, great for extremely dry skin.
Choosing the Right Moisturizer Format
When choosing a moisturizer for extremely dry skin, it's important to select the right format - lotion, cream or ointment. Each has pros and cons:
Lotions
- Lightweight and easy to spread over large areas
- Absorb quickly and don't leave skin feeling greasy
- Good for daytime use under makeup or sunscreen
- May not provide enough hydration for very dry skin
Creams
- Thicker than lotions for more moisturizing power
- Provide a protective barrier and seal in moisture
- Absorb within several minutes so skin doesn't feel sticky
- Works well for normal to very dry skin
Ointments
- Extremely thick and greasy
- Create an occlusive barrier to prevent water loss
- Best for preventing and healing cracked skin
- Too thick for daytime or use on wider areas of skin
- Often better for small, localized patches of very dry skin
In general, lotions are good for mild dryness, creams for moderate dryness, and ointments for severe dryness. The thicker the moisturizer, the better it will hydrate and protect damaged skin. However, thickness also determines absorbency and ease of use.
The best part about The powerhouse moisturizer is that we can help you with all kind of dryness, the formula is such that it can withstand all the levels of dryness and provide intense hydration with time. The results are visible within a week.
Focus on the most distressed areas rather than trying to use an ultra-thick moisturizer all over. For daytime application over large areas, lotions or lighter creams are best. Heavier creams and ointments can be saved for overnight when absorption time isn't an issue.
Tips for Applying Moisturizer
When applying moisturizer to extremely dry skin, follow these tips:
* Apply moisturizer within 5 minutes of bathing or washing when skin is still damp - this helps trap moisture.
* Use warm, not hot, water to rinse skin before applying moisturizer. Hot water further dehydrates skin.
* After rinsing, gently pat skin partially dry before applying moisturizer. Do not rub dry.
* Generously apply moisturizer all over the body, applying in upward strokes. Pay special attention to flakey or cracked areas.
Applying moisturizer to damp skin and applying generously helps provide long-lasting hydration. Be sure to apply moisturizer made for very dry skin with key hydrating ingredients daily. ( The Powerhouse Hydra Gel Moisturizer )
Other Tips for Managing Extremely Dry Skin
The following tips may also help mitigate symptoms and prevent skin dryness from worsening.
Limit bath time - Limit bath time to under 10 minutes and use warm, not hot, water. Hot water dehydrates the skin and strips natural oils. Long baths also lead to water loss from the skin.
Use gentle cleansers - Cleansers that are harsh and contain strong detergents or acids can irritate the skin and strip it of natural oils. Choose mild and gentle cleansers and minimize scrubbing and friction.
Use humidifier - Running a humidifier overnight in the bedroom may help maintain healthy moisture levels. The humidity keeps moisture in the skin to prevent it from drying out further.
Wear gloves for wet work - Wear rubber gloves for wet work like cleaning, doing the dishes, or gardening. Frequent exposure to water and harsh detergents remove natural oils and can lead to extra dryness. Gloves serve as a protective barrier to help keep the skin moist and protected.
Summary
Extremely dry skin, or xerosis, is a common skin condition that often arises due to age, climate, harsh skin care products, or underlying medical conditions. The main causes include aging, humidity changes, genetic predispositions, and certain medical treatments or diseases like eczema, psoriasis, etc.
Some key ingredients to look for in moisturizers are ceramides, glycerin, phospholipids, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, dimethicone, petrolatum, etc. These help to draw moisture into the skin and provide a protective barrier to seal it in. For format, ointments and balms tend to be most effective for extremely dry skin.
When applying moisturizers, apply within 5-10 minutes after bathing while the skin is still damp, use gentle circular motions, apply any medicated treatments before heavier creams, and reapply as needed throughout the day.
Additional management tips include avoiding harsh cleansers, long hot showers, and heavily fragranced products; using a humidifier; taking shorter showers or adding oils to bath water; and avoiding scratching or picking at any flaking skin to prevent further irritation and inflammation.
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