How to Combat Dry Skin

The winter months can be hard on the skin. Between the cold, dry air outside and the forced heated air inside, skin can easily become dry, red, and itchy. 

While some people are born with dry skin, other people will become more dry during the winter due to the lack of moisture and humidity in the air.  Proper moisture is vital to keeping the outer layer, known as the barrier layer, functioning properly.  If the barrier can’t do its job of keeping moisture in and irritants out, the skin becomes dry and more susceptible to feeling rough and sensitive. 

During winter or anytime you’re feeling dry, here are some tips for keeping your skin soft, supple and healthy:

More Hydration, please

Load up on humectants to help attract and bind moisture to the skin.  Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, or glycerin to help your skin look plump and hydrated.  Emollients such as linoleic acid, lipids or fatty acids found in argan oil or hemp oil help smooth and soften the skin while relieving discomfort and redness. If you are particularly dry and uncomfortable, look for moisturizers that have occlusive ingredients like beeswax, candelilla wax, or different kinds of butters like shea or coconut.  Occlusives help create a physical barrier on the skin that helps seal moisture within the skin and soothe rough skin. Each of these types of hydrators will go a long way towards decreasing the inflammation that contributes to red, itchy and flaky skin.

What’s old is new again

Seek out products formulated with plant extracts like ashwagandha, chinaberry or turmeric. These ingredients have been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine.  When topically applied, they can offer superior antioxidant protection and unrivaled skin calming results. 

Protect and Prevent

One category of ingredients that should be incorporated into your routine all year long are antioxidants.  Antioxidants protect your skin from free radicals that are triggered by environmental stressors like sun exposure and pollution.  Free radicals are unstable molecules that interfere with the proper functioning of healthy cells.  If the skin is left unprotected, free radicals can lead to damage like premature wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, decreased moisture and disruption to the moisture barrier to name a few. While there are a wide variety of antioxidants to choose from, there are a few that you should be sure to add to your regimen to help prevent dry, irritated skin.  To soothe and support the skin’s barrier, Vitamin E is one of the best antioxidants you can use. Pair it with Vitamin C to help boost brightening and for protecting the skin from free-radical damage. If you’re looking for one antioxidant that can seemingly do it all – try using a product with niacinamide. According to a study by the National Institute of Health, the results of applying niacinamide to the face showed significant improvement in fine lines, wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.  Additionally, it is thought to decrease redness and blotchiness as it increases the skin’s barrier function.  But, for ultimate protection, it can’t be stated enough – never go out of the house without sunscreen – no matter what time of year it is!

Be gentle

Dry skin is often accompanied by rough patches that are made up of dried, dead skin cells.  Unfortunately, these dehydrated, flaky areas prevent moisturizers and serums from absorbing properly, which only makes the dry areas worse. To combat this condition, you will need to exfoliate the skin – gently. Your best bet for gentle exfoliation is to use a mild glycolic or lactic acid cleanser or toner. Either of these ingredients will not only cleanse the skin but will gently lift off the dead skin cells to reveal brighter, smoother skin. Another gentle yet effective exfoliating choice would be to use a fruit enzyme mask once a week. Fruit enzymes, which are chemical exfoliators, are more gentle than physical exfoliators. So rather than scrubbing away the dry patches, fruit enzymes dissolve and remove the flaky, dead skin cells leaving your skin soft and ready to receive hydration again. It may seem counterintuitive to exfoliate dry skin but the truth is, this skin type needs it the most. Just don’t overdo it.

Home Remedies

There are a few things that you can do in your home to help dry skin. The first thing you should do is adjust the temperature of the water you use for showers or baths. Very hot water may get rid of the chill of a cold day but it is not good for your skin. Hot water can strip your skin of its natural oils it needs to keep the barrier strong. And, don’t forget to apply moisturizer while skin is still slightly damp after you’ve bathed to lock in moisture quickly.

Use a humidifier in your home office or at night while you sleep. Humidifiers add moisture back into the air and help replenish hydration to the top layer of the skin. And, don’t forget to drink plenty of water. Not drinking enough fluids can affect the appearance of your skin and leave it more susceptible to dryness.