These tips for the care of dry skin are from Dr. Reginald Henry with Sentara Dermatology, who participated in a recent live Web chat on skin care:
Understanding Dry Skin: Normal, healthy skin is coated in a thin layer of natural lipids, or fatty substances. They keep in moisture, leaving the skin soft and supple.
Usually, something in the environment -- or something you're doing to your skin -- is stripping away these fatty oils, leaving your skin unprotected.
Just as most causes of dry skin are external, most help for dry skin is external. With careful dry skin care, you can usually help the problem. Obviously dry skin cannot be "cured".
Usually, something in the environment -- or something you're doing to your skin -- is stripping away these fatty oils, leaving your skin unprotected.
Just as most causes of dry skin are external, most help for dry skin is external. With careful dry skin care, you can usually help the problem. Obviously dry skin cannot be "cured".
Using moisturizers correctly:
If you have dry skin, you've probably already tried a moisturizer. But while moisturizers are a crucial part of dry skin care, we don't always use them correctly.
1. APPLY WHILE DAMP:The biggest mistake we make is to apply moisturizer to dry skin, when it's least likely to help. You have to put on moisturizer when your skin is still damp. That way, the moisturizer is trapping the moisture still on your skin. Your skin shouldn't be sopping wet -- just pat yourself dry with a towel and put it on. Let it soak in for a few minutes, and then towel off the excess.
2. USE RIGHT TYPE: You've also got to get the right type of moisturizer. People with dry skin need to use moisturizers that have no perfumes or alcohols.
3.CREAM NOT LOTION:The moisturizer must also be thick and greasy in order to seal in the moisture needed for good dry skin care. Creams (thicker) work better than lotions (thinner).
If you have dry skin, you've probably already tried a moisturizer. But while moisturizers are a crucial part of dry skin care, we don't always use them correctly.
1. APPLY WHILE DAMP:The biggest mistake we make is to apply moisturizer to dry skin, when it's least likely to help. You have to put on moisturizer when your skin is still damp. That way, the moisturizer is trapping the moisture still on your skin. Your skin shouldn't be sopping wet -- just pat yourself dry with a towel and put it on. Let it soak in for a few minutes, and then towel off the excess.
2. USE RIGHT TYPE: You've also got to get the right type of moisturizer. People with dry skin need to use moisturizers that have no perfumes or alcohols.
3.CREAM NOT LOTION:The moisturizer must also be thick and greasy in order to seal in the moisture needed for good dry skin care. Creams (thicker) work better than lotions (thinner).
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