The sebaceous glands of the skin constantly develop a protective lubricant. This lubricant protects the skin from the negative effects of the environment. Lubrication allows the skin to remain firm, soft, moisturized. But if the conditions for the skin are very unfavorable, then natural protection is not enough. That's when we have to help our skin. So what does dry dehydrated skin mean?
Any dry skin is dehydrated skin. Dry skin means that there is a deficiency of lipids. Lipids - the main element of the astringent, which is responsible for the proper attachment of epidermal cells. The lipid layer of dry skin is very thin. It does not protect the skin in sufficient way, which is the reason for the strong evaporation of moisture from the skin. The skin becomes rough, less elastic.
- The main enemy of the skin is dry air. It is necessary to maintain the humidity at 30-40%. But this is not easy, especially in winter. In winter, when the heating is switched on, the humidity in the room drops by about 10%. This moisture persists for several months. Well, if you get a special device that will measure the humidity in the room. If necessary, you can turn on the humidifier. And in the absence of it, you can put wet sheets on the batteries. But the air conditioner must be turned on in exceptional cases. The air conditioner reduces the humidity of the air. But the presence of indoor plants in the apartment helps to maintain moisture at the desired level.
- Frequent washing also contributes to the drying of the skin. Take a shower or a bath can be no more than 15 minutes. Long stay under water helps to reduce the natural protective grease. Especially hot water damages the lubrication of the skin. With dry skin, it is better to wash with warm water. Water procedures should be carried out in the evening, because for a day the skin manages to allocate protective fat the maximum amount. In addition, the most intense fat is released during the day when the person is most active. Too often to wash with soap is not necessary. It is enough to use soap once a week.
- Negative effects on skin health and detergents. It is best to use soap, which in its composition contains a fat cream. This cream on the skin leaves a film that can hold moisture. To sparing varieties of soap are varieties, the acidity index of which is close to the acidity index of the skin itself. The use of liquid soap, moisturizing shower gel also has a beneficial effect on the skin.
Care and treatment of dry skin.
- Dry skin requires constant softening. Make milk compresses. Lactic acid removes dead cells, and helps healthy cells to retain moisture. For a dairy compress you need to wet a napkin in cold milk, put it on the problem area of the skin for a few minutes. Then the napkin is removed and the skin is rinsed lightly. This procedure can be carried out using fresh yogurt or natural yogurt.
- With dry skin, you can fight using moisturizing creams, gels, whey. Of modern cosmetics, you need to choose a product that contains hyaluronic acid. This acid maximally saturates your skin with moisture. Also it is necessary to pay attention to the content of preparations with ceramides, phospholipids, for the presence of fatty acids. All of them restore lipid metabolism.
- The gelatinous content of aloe vera copes well with the problem of dry skin. Aloe contains substances that remove dead skin cells. Take one leaf of aloe, make a cut along the fractional line. Collect all the contents in a saucer. Use a cotton swab to wipe the skin. The skin becomes elastic, tender, soft.
- If you wipe the skin with apricot, peach or oil solution of vitamin E, then you protect your skin from premature aging.
- To soften the skin, melt on a water bath a teaspoon of beeswax and two tablespoons of lanolin. In this mixture add olive oil and a spoonful of freshly squeezed aloe juice. As necessary, this mixture must be wiped problematic places.
- If you have all the skin sluggish, then you need to take a warm bath, in which add two glasses of English salt in advance. After the bath, do not wipe the skin. The procedure will improve blood circulation. You can even clean up some problem areas with just a handful of this salt. If you add pre-soaked dried seaweed to the bath, then you will intensify the softening effect.
- Use a special night cream. During sleep, the process of renewing the epidermis by dividing the cells takes place. With a night cream the skin perfectly absorbs the elements delivered to it. To care for dry skin it is good to make masks. They include more emollient and nutritional components. They improve the skin condition immediately after the procedure.
- In order to keep moisture in your skin, you need to drink ordinary purified boiled water. Drink you need more than two liters of water per day. It is also good to drink various herbal teas and juices during the day. But it is necessary to limit consumption of lemonade, fruit water, coffee with caffeine, black tea, beer.
- Take mineral substances and vitamins. Especially useful zinc and vitamins of group B. In the pharmacy you can buy a complex of vitamins.
- Usually the skin dries quickly with a deficiency of linoleic acid. There is damage to the special intercellular lipid structures. As a result, the skin loses its elasticity. Take in rapeseed, olive, sesame, linseed, soybean and corn oil. Walnuts are very useful. In food is also worth taking fatty fish. This mackerel, sardines, capelin, herring. Such fish contain omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids.
Our main goal is to keep the skin young and healthy. To do this: Regularly moisturize the skin and take care of it. If after intensive self-treatment your skin remains the same dry, and you feel discomfort, then you need to see a doctor. The cause may be insufficient work of the thyroid gland. And if the skin has a crust, an itchy rash, wet places, you also need to see a specialist. Increased dryness of the skin can be a sign of atopic dermatitis, skin rashes, psoriasis, diabetes, etc. Dryness of the skin can also be a consequence of taking certain medications. And in the elderly, as a result of hormonal disorders, skin may also dry up.