You're deficient in certain nutrients Stubborn dryness may occur if your body is low in vitamin A, vitamin D, iron, niacin or zinc, all of which are a must for healthy skin. Talk to your doctor about whether you might be deficient in one of these nutrients, and if you are, whether or not to take supplements.
This could mean that your skin is actually crying out for oil, not water! However, it could also just mean you're using the wrong moisturiser (or, the wrong amount), and it's too heavy for your skin. If you use active skincare products like retinol, this could also be the cause of your dry skin.
When skin loses water too quickly, it becomes dry. This can happen for many reasons. Everyday things, such as using deodorant soaps and harsh cleaning products, can strip oils and fats from our skin. Taking long, hot showers can also dry your skin.
“The best practice is to avoid over-scrubbing because you want to maintain a healthy and intact skin barrier,” Dr. Khalifian notes. Going too hard can leave your skin red and irritated. Use it after cleansing, and always follow with moisturizer to lock in hydration.
Creams are best applied by patting them gently into the skin, notes Dr. Mack. Gel or water-based moisturizers should be applied in circular motions until they are completely absorbed.
Twice a day is an excellent rule of thumb but there's no rule saying you can't moisturize your face more often! Figure out what works best for your skin and make it a regular part of your beauty routine.
The “fingertip unit” is used to measure the amount of cream or ointment to be used in dermatology: it is a strip of product squeezed on to the index finger, from the distal crease to the fingertip. With the rule of nines, the body's surface area is divided into 11 areas, each representing roughly 9% of the total (box).
Use an ointment or cream rather than a lotion.
Ointments and creams are more effective and less irritating than lotions. Look for a cream or ointment that contains one or more of the following ingredients: Jojoba oil. Dimethicone.
Drinking water does promote skin health because it helps you “retain normal blood volume and circulation,” Kibbi explained. But continuous water consumption won't impact the skin barrier's ability to seal in moisture.
You need to exfoliate
If you never exfoliate, a pile-up of dead skin cells may be preventing your moisturizer from penetrating. The solution to your dry skin could be as simple as regularly sloughing off those dead cells with a mild chemical exfoliant.
Those with dry, sensitive or acne-prone skin may prefer just a washcloth and a mild chemical exfoliator, as mechanical exfoliation may be too irritating for this skin type. Those with oily, thicker skin may want to use stronger chemical treatments or mechanical exfoliation.
Another reason Dr Obagi is against moisturiser: He believes that if you use it daily over time, it can change your skin's natural balance of water, lipids, and proteins. The result? Your body will stop delivering the skin's normal, natural method of hydration from within.
Your skin will certainly tell you in subliminal ways, such as clogged pores or acne breakouts on your shoulders or other areas of your body, small bumps and more. It's easy to think that over moisturising is a good thing as 'it's just providing your skin with extra hydration' – however, this isn't true.
Unless you apply additional serums, the morning requires a moisturizer with antioxidants and SPF, whereas the nighttime focuses on skin repairing. "Personally, I recommend using a combo moisturizer with SPF 30 in the morning and a thicker, more hydrating lotion at night," says Dr. Puza.
In contrast to rubbing in your skincare products, patting is supposedly more gentle and it helps skin care products penetrate the skin better.
The “black stuff” when you rub your skin is nothing but dead cells, dirt and surface grime. It comes off due to friction caused by rubbing your skin.
The grey stuff that comes off after rubbing your skin is a mixture of dead skin cells and dirt. The body sheds around 500 million particles of skin every day as the epidermis produces a new layer.
Seeing dead skin when you wipe, or having other vaginal symptoms like itchiness, can be distressing. However, these symptoms can usually be explained by a common underlying cause, such as a yeast infection or eczema. Most vaginal skin infections can be resolved with medications.