Everything You Need To Know: How To Treat and Prevent Dry Skin Naturally?
Xerosis, more commonly known as dry skin, is a common condition that can have many causes. It can be caused by too much sunlight exposure, too long showers with hot water, or unsuitable skin care products. Medical disorders such as eczema and psoriasis can also cause it.
What Are The Symptoms of Dry Skin?
As mentioned, dry skin can be a symptom that suggests a more serious skin condition. However, in most cases, dry skin is caused by environmental factors that strip moisture from the skin.
Symptoms of dry skin are as follows:
- A rough skin surface
- Cracked-looking skin
- Easily peeled off skim
The conditions mentioned above will certainly interfere with our appearance and self-confidence. Cracked skin areas can sometimes irritate and feel itchy. Thus, we often can’t stop the urge to scratch, which, in the end, results in a tear and causes infection!
How To Treat Dry Skin?
Regardless of the cause, there are some tips for treating dry skin. These tips will help you treat and prevent dry skin conditions, achieving healthy and soft-looking skin!
Drink sufficient water daily.
Drinking enough water is the ultimate way to treat and prevent dry skin. Keeping your body hydrated through sufficient water intake will moisturize your skin.
We should drink at least 2 liters or eight glasses of water daily to achieve the maximum result. To help you increase your water intake and prevent dehydration, you should buy personalized bottled water that you can easily carry anywhere. Thus, you can easily reach for it whenever you feel thirsty!
Avoid using hot water when taking a bath.
Though taking a bath in hot water can relax your body after a long and tiring day, it is not good for the skin. It will make the skin even drier because bathing in hot water can remove the natural oil in our body that keeps the skin moist.
Thus, to prevent and treat dry skin, you should avoid using hot water for bathing. If you want to relax your body, choose lukewarm water instead of too-hot water. You should also limit the duration of your warm bath to about 5 minutes. After you finish, dry your body with a patting motion using a soft towel.
Use mild soap ingredients.
When you experience dry skin, you should consider your current skin product. If you notice skin care products based on harsh ingredients, such as perfume and alcohol, you should immediately change them. The chemical content in these products can damage and irritate the skin, making it dry easily. If you have dry skin, you should opt for a mild oil-based soap.
Apply sunscreen and moisturizer.
For those of you who have dry skin, regular use of moisturizer is very important to keep the skin moist. Choose a moisturizer that contains ceramides, which can relieve dry skin, and hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which can keep the skin hydrated. In addition to regularly applying moisturizer, you should also apply sunscreen before doing any outdoor activities and getting exposed to direct sunlight.
Exfoliate once a week.
Exfoliation aims to remove dead skin. Thus, the moisturizer you use can penetrate better. Exfoliate only once a week because exfoliating too often can irritate the skin. When exfoliating, avoid scrubbing products with coarse grains. Try DIY-ing your scrub with natural ingredients such as Himalayan salt or oatmeal. These natural ingredients are gentler and safer to use for sensitive skin.
Proper skin nutrition from within
One of the most effective ways to treat dry skin is from within your body by eating healthy food that contains the proper nutrients. The perfect nutrition your body needs to combat dry skin is foods that contain antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Antioxidant-rich foods can minimize skin damage from toxins, help your body make healthy cells, and contribute to brighter skin.
These are the foods that can contribute to skin health and that you should consume regularly:
- Blueberries
- Tomatoes
- Carrot
- Nuts
- Green Vegetables
- Salmon
Apply coconut oil
One natural ingredient that can help treat dry skin is coconut oil. Coconut oil has an emollient that can help to fill in the spaces between skin cells and thus help to create a smooth surface. On top of that, another advantage of coconut oil is that you don’t need to mix it with anything else; it is also gentle enough for daily use.
These are some effective and natural ways to overcome dry skin problems. If we have moist skin, we definitely will look younger and healthier. Thus, it can help to improve self-confidence!