59.1% of women self-report having dry skin. If you have scaly elbows or crepey hands, you're far from alone. But how exactly can you nourish and nurture dry skin?
To properly treat and repair your damaged skin, you need to understand the root cause. That will allow you to pick a body lotion that will correctly target your skin concerns.
Key Takeaways
- Dry skin occurs when your skin lacks moisture, resulting in cracked, rough, and itchy skin.
- Dry skin patches are more likely to occur on the hands, knees, elbows, feet, or face.
- Dry skin is often caused in part or entirely by the environment and climate, lifestyle and health, age, and topical creams or soaps.
- To heal and nourish dry skin, be sure to regularly moisturize, use a gentle cleanser, and implement healthy lifestyle changes.
Keep reading to learn more about how to treat, prevent, and care for dry or dehydrated skin.
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Overview
What Is Dry Skin?
Xeroderma, the medical term for dry skin, is a condition characterized by dry skin, often with flaky or rough patches. This occurs when the skin lacks the necessary moisture that keeps it soft, supple, and smooth. The skin can often look scaly or crepey and usually feels itchy.
Research shows that nearly 60% of women suffer from dry skin. Though commonplace, skin disorders can significantly impact day-to-day life. It can feel immensely uncomfortable and even affect self-confidence.
How Does Dry Skin Affect My Body?
Healthy skin appears radiant and refined. It usually feels soft and smooth to the touch.
On the other hand, dry skin feels rough or itchy and can appear discolored. Dry skin can affect either large areas or small patches.
Severely dry skin can easily flake or crack. If you've suffered from dry or dehydrated skin for a prolonged period of time, it might seem normal to you now. But that doesn't mean you need to settle!
So, let us review the most common symptoms of dry skin.
Symptoms of Dry or Scaly Skin
Severely dry skin can often lead to painful rashes or cracked skin. It's important to identify dry skin quickly so that you can promptly provide treatment.
Here are some key symptoms to look out for:
- Cracks in the skin
- Rough texture
- Crepey appearance
- Tight feeling
- Flaky patches
- Scaly areas
- Itchy feeling
Specific symptoms can vary from person to person. Various factors like UV exposure, health status, and living environment can play a part. Dry skin most often occurs on the hands, feet, elbows, knees, or face.
Causes of Dry Skin Patches
In general, dry skin patches usually occur when the skin lacks moisture. There can be a few reasons for skin dehydration and dryness, from excessive handwashing to poor nutrition. In most cases, dry skin can be alleviated with skincare products and positive lifestyle changes.
Skin Conditions
Certain skin conditions can often present as dry skin.
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Contact Dermatitis: Dermatitis is a skin condition that can cause inflammation. Contact dermatitis occurs when your skin comes into contact with an allergic reaction trigger, such as poison ivy. It can often result in scaly skin, dry patches, hives, or itchiness in the affected area.
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Eczema: It is believed that atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a chronic condition caused by genetics or environmental factors. Like contact dermatitis, it is characterized by dry skin, irritation, scaly patches, itchiness, or a rash.
Other skin conditions like psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis can result in dry skin.
Environment
The climate can play a substantial role in your skin health. When the atmosphere lacks humidity, it can leech the moisture from your skin. Cold weather, low-humidity climates, and windy conditions can all contribute to dry skin.
In a dry environment or during cold weather, use an air humidifier to help keep the air humid. This will prevent the dry air from stripping your skin of its natural oils and moisture.
Lifestyle
Your skin can be an outward representation of your overall well-being. A healthy lifestyle is more likely to support strong and soft skin.
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Dehydration: Drinking enough water will help keep your body (and your skin) hydrated.
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Nutritional Deficiencies: Research shows that not consuming enough vitamin D, vitamin E, or calcium can lead to dry skin.
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Stress: Your mental health can affect your physical health, and vice versa. Stress can cause you to develop dry skin. It can also bring about a flare-up of existing dry skin conditions.
Age
As people age, the skin tends to thin and produce less natural oils. These natural oils, known as sebum, are what keep your skin moisturized and supple. This waxy substance keeps your skin protected, though it can lead to acne when produced in excess.
Over the years, the oil-producing glands on your skin slow down, leading to a decline in collagen. This leads to thinning skin, which can also contribute to dryness.
Soaps & Overwashing
Many soaps, shampoos, and detergents are made with harsh chemicals and drying ingredients that strip your skin of its natural moisture. They are often formulated to remove oil and dead skin cells, which can also lead to flaky skin.
Even some lotions or moisturizers can cause the skin to feel rough or dry. That's why it's important to purchase all-natural body washes and creams that add moisture and hydration to the skin while remaining gentle.
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Risk Factors
Anyone can develop dry skin at any point in life. It's important to prioritize prevention, but that doesn't make you immune to itchy patches or irritated skin.
Here are some risk factors that might make you more likely to develop a skin condition. You may be more prone to dry skin patches if you,
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Are over the age of 40, as the skin's ability to retain moisture decreases.
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Live in cold climates or windy weather, which can lead to a low-humidity atmosphere.
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Swim frequently, as chlorine can dry the skin.
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Have a medical condition like hypothyroidism, diabetes, or malnutrition.
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Frequently wet your hands, usually if you work as a hairdresser, in nursing, or often clean.
How to Treat Dry Skin
Prevention and treatment go hand-in-hand. There are a few ways you can prevent the development of dry skin. Home remedies are effective and allow for a gentle and tailored treatment.
Regularly Moisturize
Moisturizing seals the water in your skin and protects your skin barrier. Consistently apply moisturizer throughout the day, taking care to layer your product thick on target areas. Use a moisturizer that contains broad-spectrum sunscreen if you'll be going outside to prevent sun-related skin issues.
To provide your skin with some much-needed moisture and nourishment, opt for a fast-absorbing, nutrient-rich formula like our best-selling Candlenut Body Creme. This award-winning body creme contains omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to strengthen and enhance the skin barrier. It's crafted with luxurious natural ingredients like candlenut oil, avocado oil, and illipe butter to protect, hydrate, and mend dry or rough skin.
To lock in this moisture, apply a body oil after slathering on a lotion. Our Candlenut Body Creme pairs perfectly with our Candlenut Glow Body Oil, which comes in the same signature scent.
Use a Gentle Cleanser
Harsh soaps can be drying and damaging. Our Rice Facial Cleanser is specially formulated without sulfates to prevent moisture loss and contains hydrating ingredients like plum fruit extract and glycerin. It also features a brightening blend of rice bran extract and apple extract to further purify and smooth the skin.
Limit Exposure to Hot Water
Hot water can contribute to dry skin. Stick with warm or cool water and keep baths and showers under 10 minutes when possible. After thoroughly rinsing your skin, pat dry with a clean towel.
Prioritize Healthy Living
Following a holistically healthy lifestyle is important. It affects all other aspects of your well-being, which includes your skin!
Cut out unhealthy practices like smoking, which is known to negatively affect the skin. Find ways to properly manage stress and limit sun exposure (and cover up when you do step outdoors.) Drink water throughout the day to avoid dehydration.
The best way to heal your skin is by focusing on your wellness. Part of this process includes following a daily skincare ritual that is designed to satisfy your needs.
Final Thoughts
Whether you're struggling to cure a scaly rash or you're fighting a lifelong battle with atopic dermatitis, you deserve to have smooth and soft skin. By prioritizing balanced wellness and skin nourishment, you can get there!
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Juara Skincare incorporates ancient rituals with Western skincare science, creating the ultimate beauty experience. We aim to transport you from the mundane to the extraordinary with our exotic ingredients, intoxicating scents, and powerful, skin-improving formulas. All of our products are nutrient-rich and botanically based. We are proud to be certified cruelty-free. Get the latest skin care tips and info on Juara products by following us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
