Dry Skin- Causes, Effects, Remedies & Diet

Dry skin has parched look caused by its inability to retain moisture. Dry skin has a low level of sebum and can be prone to sensitivity. It generally occurs on the shins, hands, sides of the abdomen, lower legs, arms, flanks, and thighs. Dry skin is more common during the winter months, when humidity is low. Elderly people tend to have more trouble with dry skin due to the natural changes in skin that occur with age.

Causes of Dry Skin

• Heredity
• Excessive bathing with harsh soaps.
• Use of harsh cosmetics
• Some Medications
• Use of extremely hot water for bathing or for face wash
• Complications with diabetes.
• Poor diet. Nutritional deficiencies, especially deficiencies of vitamin A and the B vitamins, can also contribute to dry skin.
• Environmental factors such as exposure to sun, wind, cold or chemicals
• Dryness is exacerbated by extremes of temperature and air-conditioning
• Conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, or seborrhea.

Effects of Dry Skin

• Dehydrated skin
• Flaking or scaling skin.
• Reddened, flaky, or peeling skin
• Tight skin
• Dull, colored skin
• Skin itching
• Flacking along with redness
• Creaks in Skin

Remedies for Dry Skin

Chemical Treatments

• Applying a moisturizer right after drying off from a shower or washing your hands, remember don’t scratch dry, itchy spots; apply more moisturizer instead.

• Avoid the over-use of soap. Use a moisturizing body soap and hand soap with a skin-friendly pH value.
• Use mild cleansers
• If you have winter itch, take short, lukewarm showers or baths and use non-irritating, non-detergent-based cleansers. Immediately after your shower or bath
• Use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or greater.
• Use lip bam for you lipsUse a humidifier, especially in the bedroom.
• Using heavier creams or ointments during the winter months and lighter lotions in the summer
• If you have winter itch, take short, lukewarm showers or baths and use non-irritating, non-detergent-based cleansers. Immediately after your shower or bath
• Use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or greater.
• Use lip bam for you lips

Home Treatment

• Blend banana and papaya to create a puree. Dab the puree on the skin and let it sit for half an hour.
• Blanch scented geranium leaves in boiling water, strain, cool and use as a face wash
• Apply baby oil on the dry skin

• Mix half teaspoon honey with the yolk of an egg and one table spoon dried milk powder. Mix into a paste and apply, remove after 20 minutes with water.
• You can substitute margarine or vegetable oil as moisturizer
• Smear honey on your body and wash after 5 minutes
• Rub coconut oil or avocado oil on the afflicted area
• Fill up a tub with milk and warm water and dip in.
• Grind a ripe papaya and rub the pulp on the face. It will make the facial skin smooth and soft and enhance the beauty.
• Apply glycerin oil on dry hands and feet
• Mix the powder of 10 corns of black pepper in a tea spoon of clarified butter. Take it daily in the morning for 2 months
• Rub oatmeal on hand, wash and put hand cream.
• Massage the face with almond oil or olive oil every night before going to bed.
• Use mineral water to wash your face instead of warm water
• Take the yolk of an egg and dab it on your face leave for 15 minutes. keep using this pack everyday till your face is clear
• After bathing applying Aloe Vera gel.

Diet for Dry Skin

• Eat a diet that includes vegetables, fruits, grains, seeds, nuts.
• Eat food rich in quality protein.
• Increase your intake of raw foods since they contain more naturally occurring water.
• Eat foods such as garlic, onions, eggs, and asparagus that are high in sulfur, which helps to keep the skin smooth and youthful.
• Consume plenty of yellow and orange vegetables. These are high in beta-carotene, an antioxidant.

• Drink the recommended 8 glasses of water a day to keep your skin hydrated.
• Avoid fried foods, animal fats, and heat-processed vegetable oils. Use cold- pressed oils only. Heating oils leads to the production of free radicals, which have a destructive effect on the skin.
• Avoid soft drinks, tea and coffee.
• Avoid eating sugar, chocolate, potato chips, or other junk foods.
• Try to ingest a lot of vitamins A and C. These vitamins help your skin hold onto available moisture in your system. Common foods including these vitamins are oranges, cantaloupes, and carrots.