With the end of summer approaching, we're asking ourselves: How did our skin get so dry?
The answer to this question isn’t simple. Dry skin (xerosis) is often a temporary condition, related to external factors like weather and personal habits. But having dry skin can also be a lifelong condition. Mayo Clinic writes that “signs and symptoms of dry skin depend on your age, your health, where you live, time spent outdoors and the cause of the problem.” Here are some of the factors that can affect your skin and the simple solutions that can reverse their effects.
- Weather: Skin tends to be driest in winter when temperatures and humidity levels decrease. But heat of many kinds, from wood-burning stoves to desert-like conditions, all reduce humidity and dry your skin out.
Solution: In the winter, cover up your skin as much as possible to protect your skin from the elements. Make sure to stay hydrated by drinking water and beverages that aren’t dehydrating (such as limiting caffeine intake).
- Hot baths and showers. Taking hot showers or baths, and frequent swimming in chlorinated pools, can dry your skin.
Solution: Limit your shower time and turn down that temperature dial. Not only can you prevent your skin from drying, but you can also save water! After bathing, apply a moisturizer or serum to seal your skin and keep water from escaping.
- Harsh soaps and detergents. Many soaps and shampoos strip moisture from your skin because their formulas are made to remove oils.
Solution: Read the labels on the products you use daily. What are they made out of? By applying awareness, you may start to become more mindful about the products your body comes in contact with daily.
These, of course, are only some of the factors that can affect your skin. If you have chronic dry skin, visit your dermatologist to see if it is a symptom of an underlying medical condition.
We hope that these simple solutions help as you continue to nourish yourself and your skin.
