| A lack of adequate moisture in the outer most layer | | | | To add moisture back into your skin:o Choose |
| of the epidermis (stratum corneum) results in dry | | | | products with humectants such as glycerin, hyaluronic |
| skin. This can occur for a couple of reasons. | | | | acid, urea, alpha hydroxy acids.o Choose products |
| 1) When your oil glands do not produce enough | | | | with occlusives such as castor oil, mineral oil, soybean |
| sebum. | | | | oil, stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, lanolin acid, squalene, |
| 2) Something is disrupting the production of the | | | | dimethicone, petrolatum, & olive oil. |
| structural lipids in the epidermis. | | | | If your skin is NOT sensitive, only dry, then using a |
| Both sebum and lipids are essential to the skin's | | | | moisturizer with an alpha hydroxy acid such as lactic |
| barrier function. They keep the skin feeling moist, | | | | or glycolic acid is a good choice. These acids not only |
| flexible, and protected from infection. When either or | | | | work to moisturize; but also exfoliate the scaly skin |
| both of these skin elements are inadequate, the skin | | | | cells. Oil-based AHA lotions are more helpful than |
| will feel dry, tight, and look scaly. Dry skin is also | | | | water-based since they hold the moisture stored in |
| more fragile than other skin types. Due to its' | | | | the skin. |
| compromised barrier function, dry skin is open to | | | | The choice of an occlusive moisturizer depends upon |
| more inflammation and more susceptible to irritants. | | | | what thickness you will need to see results. |
| So what brings about dry, scaly skin?o Inherited | | | | Lotions are the lightest weight. Lotion thickness is |
| factorso Natural skin aging which reduces sebum and | | | | good for mild skin dryness, hairy areas of skin, and if |
| lipid productiono Over washing of skino Harsh soapso | | | | you need something lighter for your face. |
| Bathing in hot watero Low humidity - cold weathero | | | | Creams are the middle weight when it comes to |
| Wind exposureo Certain chemicalso Diuretic | | | | occlusive moisturizers. They are good more severe |
| medicationso Skin conditions such as eczema or | | | | dryness providing a thicker barrier for the skin. |
| psoriasiso An underactive thyroid glando Any mixture | | | | Ointments are the most occlusive. |
| of the above factors | | | | Ointments are good for acute skin dryness - the |
| To help dry skin, you should first try to retain as | | | | areas of skin that are extremely dried, thicker and |
| much of your natural oils as possible. | | | | very scaly. Most people won't like using an ointment |
| Do this by:o Only washing skin once a day (can do | | | | during the day, so for your bad spots, just use at |
| twice a day for face if not too drying)o Bathe in | | | | night. Try a cream for day use. Or you might try a |
| lukewarm (never hot) watero Use mild cleansers | | | | bath oil which will leave a thin layer of oil on your skin |
| made for dry skin (avoid anti-bacterial & | | | | as you leave the bath. |
| deodorant soaps)o Avoid any cleansing product that | | | | Dietary changes can also help with dry skin. Eating |
| "foams" when usedo Avoid products with acetone or | | | | foods rich in healthy fats known as Essential Fatty |
| alcoholo If you live in a dry environment, try a | | | | Acids (EFA's) can improve dry skin. Foods high in |
| humidifier and house plantso Limit wind exposure | | | | EFA's include fresh tuna, salmon, flaxseed oil, fats |
| when skin is feeling dry | | | | from plants like nuts, seeds, canola, sunflower, |
| Then add moisture into the skin with products that | | | | soybean, avocado, olives, and safflower oil. These |
| contain humectants and occlusives. Humectants help | | | | good fats also raise the level of good cholesterol and |
| add water to the stratum corneum from the dermis | | | | lower bad cholesterol. However, there are 2 bad plant |
| and the atmosphere. Occlusives provide a layer of oil | | | | fats to avoid - palm kernel and coconut oil. |
| on the skin that reduces the skin's water loss from | | | | A note of caution - do not over eat fats to try to |
| evaporation. Lessening evaporation helps to increase | | | | improve dry skin. Eating the goods fats in moderation |
| the moisture content in the stratum corneum. | | | | will be enough to help. |