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Dry Skin

Common Causes Of Dry Skin And Its Solutions!

by Gorgeousgirl Staff, Updated February 21, 2023
Common Causes Of Dry Skin And Its Solutions!

Skin dryness is a common condition presented to dermatologists and cosmetologists. It’s characterized by rough, scaly, and sometimes itchy skin. The hands are often the victim of skin dryness. The elbows and knees are also prone to dryness. The cheeks, nose, nape, and other bony prominence have a high tendency to get dry too.

 

Causes Of Dry Skin Problem

 

Many factors can be attributed to our environment and our habits. But aside from that, there are other skin conditions that lead to skin dryness. Here are the most common causes of dry skin.

1. Humidity And Weather

 

The amount of moisture in the air and the weather can greatly affect the total hydration of the body. During hot days, we may lose water by perspiring.

Cold weather doesn’t mean that we are not losing fluids at the cellular level. Cold and chilly days are accompanied by dry air which draws moisture from everything.

On top of all that, we are losing about 400ml of water daily even when we don’t feel it. This is termed as an insensible fluid loss.

2. Lack Of Proper Hydration

 

Skin Dryness

 

Another thing that many people tend to neglect and do not directly associate with skin dryness is the lack of hydration. Some other people (especially busy people) deliberately limit fluid intake for the convenience of not going to the toilet.
Low water intake coupled with moisture-sucking weather will lead to dry skin and probably other serious conditions too.

3. Alcohol Intake And Smoking

 

Alcohol is a potent diuretic. A diuretic draws the fluids inside the cell and excretes it as urine. Essentially, drinking too much of it will lead to too many intracellular fluid loss. This dehydrates not only the skin but all the cells in the body. The skin is the first to manifest dryness when the optimum amount of fluids is sucked from them. Dry and wrinkled skin is a common characteristic of chronic alcoholics.

Alcohol is commonly paired with smoking. And the combination of these two can render skin looking old and wrinkly. Smoking elevates blood pressure and constricts blood vessels. This cardiovascular condition hampers the blood flow especially to the periphery, and the skin is the furthest organ from the heart. Essentially, nutrients and nourishment become poorer in the skin.

4. Skin Health Condition

 

Dry And Itchy Rashes

 

Eczema is a skin condition characterized by blotches of inflamed, red, dry, and itchy rashes. The exact cause of eczema has not yet been discovered by researchers. Many theories suggest that the origin of this skin condition can be attributed to genetics. Thus, there is no cure for it.

Because there is no cure for it, the only treatment regimen for it is by carefully managing the symptoms as it presents.

5. Type II Diabetes Mellitus

 

Unfortunately, if you are suffering from diabetes mellitus, you are prone to having dry skin. Excess glucose seeps through the sweat and can make the skin itch. The accompanying viscosity of the blood results to elevated blood pressure and poor blood perfusion in the periphery of the body, especially the limbs.

 

Types Of Dry Skin

 

There are three classifications of skin dryness according to their presentation.

1. Irritant/Allergic Contact

 

Allergic Contact

 

This occurs when skin is overly exposed to irritating and allergenic chemicals. Soaps and beauty products can be a source of this. Some people may have varying tolerances for different chemicals.

 

2. Seborrheic Dermatitis

 

This type of skin dryness is characterized by scaly rashes that present redness. This happens due to our skins over production of sebum which may lead to clogged pores and aggravate symptoms. Commonly, this happens to the scalp and eyebrows.

 

3. Atopic Dermatitis

 

Redness Of Skin

 

Also known as eczema, is a skin condition of unknown origin that causes dryness, itching, redness, and inflammation.

 

How To Soothe Your Dry Skin?

 

Dry skin, when neglected, can lead to skin cracks, fissures, and brittleness that can lead to a breakage in the continuity of the skin. If not addressed, infections can easily enter the body through the open skin.

 

Here Are Some Ways To Alleviate Skin Dryness

 

Wear Protective Gloves When Dealing With Kitchen Chemicals

 

As we clean our house and do the laundry, our hands are exposed to kitchen-grade chemicals. These chemicals can leave skin dry and irritated. Simply wearing gloves[10] when working at home would not permit this to happen.

Drink Plenty Of Fluids

 

Hydrating the body from the inside effectively restores the fluids our skin cells loose in the dry weathers.

Minimize (Eliminate) Alcohol And (Quit) Smoking

 

More than the relaxing effect of alcohol consumption and smoking gives to us; it has far more negative effects on the body. These to effectively accelerate skin aging.

Moisturize Frequently Especially In Dry Days

 

Aside from consuming lots of fluids, one of the quickest and most effective way to restore skin moisture is through using skin moisturizing products.

There are plenty of moisturizers in the market today is a Serious Skincare Insta-Tox and from high-performance ingredients is one of them. This product contains glycerin which is a known moisturizing agent. In addition to that, it also has sun protection (SPF 30) that can protect your skin from sun damage. Since it is non greasy, it is also a good makeup base. The product also blends naturally with the color of the skin to conceal any blemishes.

How Alcohol Intake Affects The Skin Integrity

 

An extensive research study was done by Dr. Susan Simpkin, Dermatology Registrar, Auckland, New Zealand, illustrates how alcohol consumption can damage the skin in many ways. In her study, she found out that alcohol inhibits the absorption of vitamin A, B-vitamins, and vitamin C.

These are the top important vitamins our skin needs to maintain its glow and hydration. The liver degeneration can lead to jaundice (yellowish discoloration of the skin), and hyperpigmentation of the skin (around the eyes and legs).

Other than skin dryness, alcohol abuse to a wide range of skin anomalies that we may contract if we don’t stop. There are claims that alcohol consumption has its merits too. But the therapeutic amount ranges from very little to little.

Conclusion

Skin dryness is a normal thing we face every day. People experience varying degrees of skin dryness. Some medical conditions and our own habits aggravate it. But the key to maintaining healthy skin is maintaining a healthy you. Well-functioning systems of the body work synergistically to maintain your optimum overall health.

“Hope you find the post helpful and we excited to hear what you think of it!”

By Gorgeousgirl Staff

At GorgeousGirl, our staff is a collection of highly skilled cosmetologists, estheticians, and higher education professionals. Our personnel works together to satisfy your fancies.