Dry Skin is no laughing matter
Dry facial skin, while often not "serious" can be unsightly, creates
fine lines and wrinkles, and is uncomfortable, it may even hurt to
smile! However, dry skin can also be attributed to serious disorders
such as psoriasis, eczema, etc and can sometimes be severe enough to
cause psychological and emotional distress. Natural clay therapies may
be the perfect solution as clay has a healing and beautifying action in
a face mask, where it softens, smoothes, refines, firms and revitalizes
the skin. It is also makes the ideal base to add natural skin softeners
such as honey, cream, and avocado.
Dry skin is often a temporary condition and generally at its worst in
winter, when temperatures and humidity levels drop significantly.
Air-conditioning and central heating also can have an adverse effect on
skin as they also reduce humidity. Avoid frequent showering or bathing,
especially long, hot baths/showers as this can break down the skin's
lipid barriers. Frequent swimming, particularly in heavily chlorinated
pools may also aggravate the condition. Be aware also that many
conventional cleansers and soaps also strip lipids and water from your
skin. Avoid skin care products containing alcohol.
Other factors that can significantly alter the function and appearance of your skin may be attributed to:
* Psoriasis - build-up of rough, dry, dead skin cells that form thick
scales * Thyroid disorders - your thyroid produces too little thyroid
hormones, reducing the activity of your sweat and oil glands, leading
to rough, dry skin
* Alcohol and drugs - alcohol and caffeine can visibly dry your skin.
Prescription drugs such as diuretics, antihistamines and isotretinoin
(Accutane) also have a drying effect
* Dehydration - severe diarrhoea and vomiting, fevers, profuse sweating
during exercise, or not drinking enough water may cause your body to
lose more fluid than your intake. One of the first signs of dehydration
is that skin loses its elasticity
* Age - as you age, oil-producing glands become less active resulting in flaky, scaly, skin resulting in a dull complexion
* Your gender - male skin tends to stay moist longer than females. Men
experience a relatively small decrease in oil production until well
into their 80s, whereas women's skin tends to become much drier after
menopause * Sun exposure - ultraviolet (UV) radiation penetrates far
beyond the top layer of skin. The most significant damage occurs deep
in the dermis (skin), where collagen and elastin fibres break down more
quickly than they should. This results in deep wrinkles and loose,
sagging skin. (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
If the condition is severe, you may need to seek the advice of a
medical practitioner, however there are many home-care and natural
remedies available that will help alleviate the condition:
* Increase skin and body moisture - use bath oils and moisturizers daily
* Limit daily bathing/showering times and use warm water - avoid hot water
* Towel pat dry - avoid harsh rubbing
* Apply totally natural mud masks, as these will get rid of dead-skin
cells, soften, and revitalise and aids in absorption of your
moisturizer. Alternatively, add natural skin moisturizers to your mask,
such as cream, honey, avocado
* Use a humidifier if the air is dry
* Drink plenty of water throughout the day. |
