Do You Suffer From Dry Skin?

Dry Skin

‘Xerosis’ or Dry skin can be experienced by people of all ages. This is a very common skin complaint, especially when the weather gets colder and we all turn on the heating in our homes.  You can also get dry skin by taking baths with very hot or very cold water. This can also occur if we use a rough towel to dry ourselves with.

Every ones skin needs moisture, and skin can become dry when there isn’t enough moisture in it.  You can also suffer from dry skin when the oil glands in our bodies do not produce the required amount of oil.

These ‘external’ elements tend to remove the oily layer on the skin causing the skin to lose moisture. This is why you will find that using an oil-based moisturizer or cream is more effective than water based ones.

If you have ever suffered from dry skin, you will know that the skin becomes very sensitive and the skin looks and feels very uncomfortable. Sometimes, due to the severity of the dryness, the skin may begin to flake and chap.

One of the main contributing factors has to be the diet.  By taking Vitamins A and B you can help your skin to produce the natural oils that it needs, thus avoiding dry skin. You would also be advised not to use makeup and let your skin breathe.

Some dry skin conditions can be inherited. If this is so, then it is imperative that you take good care of your skin, keeping it moisturised at all times. Also ensure that the skin condition does not worsen due to external conditions such as the weather.

• Having under-active thyroid glands can result in dry skin.
• A person suffering from Diabetes loses excessive amount of fluids from the body which can lead to dry skin complications.
• Severe skin ailments such as Dermatitis, psoriasis, and eczema are all types of dry skin.
• Excessive smoking, which leads to dehydration of the skin, can result in dry skin.

Some Important Factors

These are just some of the factors that can cause dry skin complaints.

Dry skin can be inherited.  You have to take care of your skin with creams and lotions and try to keep it moisturised.

Dry skin resulting from old age. As we get older, our bodies do not produce enough amounts of oils and fluids that are required. This results in the oily layer on the skin becoming dry and often scaly.

Dry skin can result from extreme climate conditions and an improper diet.  Most importantly your daily water intake is proportional to the fluid being retained in the body. Both of these factors often lead to loss of Vitamins from the body.

A deficiency of Vitamins A and B can make the skin look dry. Eating leafy vegetables, fish, and other foods rich in these vitamins can help.  Juices from citrus fruits can also help in this process.

Dry skin can look dull, due to lack of Vitamin E in the skin. You can remedy this by using creams and lotions rich in Vitamin E.

Both Olive oil and Almond oil are very rich in Vitamin E. By regularly massaging with these oils you can help to reduce and/or treat dry skin. Applying Olive oil on wet skin right after bath and blotting the excess away with a tissue helps to ‘lock-in’ moisture, giving you a softer and smoother skin.

Herbal Products

Herbal skin care

It is becoming more common these days for people to be very careful about what skin care products they use.  More of us are now trying to use only Natural Skin Care Products and are trying to avoid using synthetic products where possible.

The question we have to ask ourselves is, will using natural skin care products answer and treat all of our skin related problems?

The answer obviously depends on the type of problem you are trying to tackle.  Some of these products can also be used to treat mild skin disorders such as eczema etc. Using herbal skin care products, you shouldn't experience any major side effects. Unfortunately though there are certain types of skin disorders which have to be treated by experts. The use of synthetic products can not, and should not be avoided if these conditions are to be treated.


Herbal products

The right Herbal skin care products can safely be used daily as part of your facial cleansing routine. The good thing about herbal skin care products is that they don't have any major side effects.


More of us are starting to make and prepare our own herbal skin care products at home, using information readily available on the Internet and 'how-to' guides.  This enables us to take control, to a certain extent, of the products that we use, and save money by not having to pay for synthetic products.

In some parts of the world, Aloe vera, is considered one of the best known herbal skin care products. The Aloe vera plant is grown and the freshly extracted gel is a natural hydrant that helps in the soothing of irritated skin. It can also help in healing cuts and treating the affects of sun burn.

There are a number of herbs which are known to have cleansing properties. The most commonly used ones are Dandelion, Chamomile, Lime flowers and Rosemary. These can be used as cleansers when mixed with other herbs such as tea.

Lavender, Marigold, Thyme and Fennel are good examples of Antiseptic herbs. Lavender water and Rose water, also form good toners.

Herbal skin care is also available in the form of oils which are extracted from some herbs such as Tea tree, Lavender, Borage and Primrose. These are just some of the popular oils used by manufacturers of Herbal Skin Care Products.

Organic skin care

This is the most natural way of taking care of your skin. It's not only 'skin friendly' but it's also an inexpensive way to a healthier skin. When used in the right way, this can prevent most skin disorders whilst helping to keep your skin healthy and firmer for much longer.

Organic skin care requires the use of organic fruits and vegetables. Normally these are:

Cucumber.
Turmeric.
Apple.
Papaya.
Fresh Ginger.

These organic foods, refresh and revitalize the skin. Most good skin care books include a section on using these and other foods. Start by picking the ones that you think are best suited to your skin type. Experiment with these until you are sure they are effective for your organic skin care routine. It is important to use foods that are fresh and not rotting as this will not give you the desired effect.

Here are some helpful tips, free of charge ....

Milk possesses good cleansing properties.  Try using milk mixed with ground oats as a cleanser. You will be pleasantly surprised!

Ground oats are very good for oily skins, and are often used.  You can use it with egg, honey, milk and fruits, and it can be used as an organic facial pack.

Wheat germ, which is rich in Vitamin E can be used as an exfoliant and has good moisturising properties. Wheat germ when used with other organic foods, can be used for facial masks, for normal and dry skin types. The oil can also be used in organic skin care.

Yogurt and sour cream are also fairly popular for their exfoliation and moisturising properties.

Organic honey can also be used organic skin care procedures. It helps by retenting moisture and results in the skin glowing.

Rose and Lavender water can also be used as toners in organic skin care routines.

Organic skin care uses a mixture of various materials which all complement each other and enhance each other’s effectiveness.

The use of Organic skin care is not difficult and once you have perfected the art, you too can have a healthy and glowing skin without the cost.

The Simple approach is Best

Effective Skin Care

We would all love to have beautiful, flawless, and healthy skin. But unfortunately some of of us don't. So what can we do?

If you have Acne prone skin, the worst thing that you can do is to wash your face too often. This usually only causes irritation, and does nothing to stop you breaking out in spots.

There are numerous products available on the market, which all claim to control Acne.  Caring for your Acne prone skin couldn't be simpler.  You shouldn't use harsh soaps as this will dry out your skin and possibly irritate the Acne.

Really, all you need to do is wash your face twice daily with a very mild soap.  Use your finger tips in a circular motion, then wash off the soap with warm water.  Gently, pat the skin dry with a cotton towel.  Be gentle - that's the whole idea.

You should avoid rubbing, picking or scratching the spots as this will simply cause further inflamations.

If using the above method to clean your face doesn't help, then you really need to tackle the problems from inside.  By this I mean, that you have to experiment with different foods. By adopting a certain type of diet, you can have positive results in your fight against acne and improve your health at the same time.

Most cases of acne are primarily due to the Androgen hormones. These cause the skin cells inside the tiny hair follicles on the face etc. to clog up, resulting in Acne. The pores of these clogged cells, produce a natural oily substance called 'sebum'. This builds up swelling the area resulting in blackheads and whiteheads. If infected, these blackheads can become inflamed and cause zits.

Although not suitable for all, some women can stop acne and zits by having hormone therapy. You should always consult your physician for advice, and of course what action to take.

These days, there are several drugs that you can use, some of which can be purchased from your local drugstore.  However, there are several 'holistic' approaches that you can adopt. Some of these are very effective in re-balancing hormone levels and tackle the cause of acne, rather then treating acne.  

From time to time, we all have dry skin.  All you need to do is apply 'non-comedogenic' moisturizer to soothe your skin.

If you have oily skin then you should really not be using any type of astringent.  This does more harm than good! Simply wash as outlined above and you're done.

By using a mild soap, lukewarm water and a nice clean soft cotton towel you too can say goodbye to Acne and hello to a cleaner and clearer skin.

There are many ways to having a healthy skin. This is my list to the ten top tips:

Firstly, you need to know the type of skin you have.  Probably the most important skin care tip. There are numerous skin care products available and you need to know your skin type to be able to choose the right product(s) for your skin type.

10 skin care tips:

* ‘Drink a lot of water’. This keeps the skin moist and healthy.
* Cleanse your skin using lukewarm water at least twice a day. This gets rid of dirt and other harsh elements.
* Using gentle circular movements, whether cleansing, or exfoliating your skin. Then apply a good moisturiser while the skin is still damp.
* Try to keep your skin moist at all times. Try not to let you skin dry as this will cause the outer layer to crack/break.
* Use a mild soap on your face.
* Protect you skin from the sun. You should try to use a moisturiser that has sunscreen built into it.
* Exercise and good sleep are vital. This will help you avoid wrinkles/dark circles under your eyes. The lack of exercise causes your skin to slacken. Both of these things will help to reduce stress.
* Always treat skin problems with care, and seek advice from professionals.
* Try to avoid getting stressed. Stress is experienced by everyone, and yes stress does affect your skin.

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