Achieve and safeguard dry skin with expert dermatological advice honed over three decades of practice. Nourish dry skin effectively by adopting a skincare regimen that fortifies rather than compromises your skin's protective barrier. A resilient barrier retains moisture, warding off dryness and preventing chapping. Attaining this balance is effortless with the appropriate skincare regimen and products.

What are the causes of dry skin?

Dry skin occurs when both water and natural oils are depleted from the skin. This loss results in increased vulnerability and a compromised barrier function, leading to a cycle of drier skin prone to chapping.

The medical term for dry skin is xerosis. Children's delicate skin is particularly susceptible to dryness while aging also increases the likelihood of dry skin development. Typically, the arms and legs are the first areas to exhibit dryness, followed by the hands and feet, where skin can thicken and crack. Additionally, facial skin, being thinner, tends to become dry with age as oil production decreases.

Maintaining a daily skincare routine that reinforces the skin's barrier is crucial in resisting dryness, as it helps strengthen the skin's natural defenses.

Dry Skin Exhibits Weakened Barrier Strength

Meaning it struggles to retain essential moisture. Consequently, it experiences heightened transepidermal water loss, allowing substances like soaps, solvents, and harsh chemicals to penetrate deeply and further deplete natural skin oils.

This issue compounds over time, as dry skin becomes increasingly susceptible to chapping. Symptoms include flaking, roughness, itching, stinging, and in severe cases, blistering, cracking, and bleeding. While hands are a common site for this condition, it can affect any part of the body, including the face, arms, legs, and lips.

Inside your skin, the outer barrier (epidermis) is unable to withstand typical environmental stressors such as weather conditions and exposure to soaps. For instance, dry air pulls moisture from the skin into the dehumidified wind, while soaps infiltrate chapped skin, further depleting natural oils. Over time, the structural integrity of dead cell proteins is compromised, leading to chapping, cracking, and other issues.

Why does dry skin worsen in dry climates or during winter, when external conditions involve cold, windy weather and heated indoor environments?

This combination of low humidity indoors and harsh outdoor elements draws moisture away from the skin, resulting in a damaged skin barrier and increased dryness. This process affects skin lipids, proteins, and water content. Combat dryness and prevent chapping by making simple adjustments to your skincare routine.

Dermatologist's Tips for Treating Dry Skin

The key to effectively treating and preventing dry skin is to cleanse and moisturize using suitable products.

Choosing the Right Cleansers for Dry Skin

Opt for gentle, hypoallergenic, non-drying soaps and cleansers when cleansing the skin. Natural soaps that preserve glycerin, which deeply hydrates the skin, are excellent choices. Consider products like Naturally Best Bar Soap.

For facial skin, I recommend using a pH-balanced facial cleanser to combat dryness. My go-to is the Extremely Gentle Foaming Facial Cleanser.

To prevent dry skin, how you cleanse your skin is as important as what you use to clean it!

Apply soap or cleanser only to areas of the skin that require it, such as those prone to body odor, excess oil, or dirt buildup. Typically, these areas include the face, neck, upper chest, back, armpits, groin, buttocks, hands, and feet.

The larger surface areas of the trunk, arms, and legs are typically drier, less oily, and less frequently soiled, they don't typically necessitate direct application of cleanser or soap.

When cleansing dry skin, use lukewarm water to prevent excessive removal of natural skin oils. Hot water can strip away oils too efficiently, akin to how it removes oily residue from dishes. Therefore, opt for warm water instead of hot to avoid drying out your skin.

Always ensure thorough rinsing to remove all soap residue from your skin post-bathing, as any lingering residue can continue to strip oils from your skin.

Dermatologist's Top Picks for Moisturizers for Dry Skin

Using a high-quality skin cream or lotion is paramount for healing dry skin (xerosis). This helps seal in moisture absorbed by the skin during bathing. Traditionally, dermatologists have recommended mineral oil and petrolatum as effective moisturizing ingredients found in skincare products. They are cost-effective and widely used, often labeled as "dermatologist approved." While these options work effectively, my personal preference leans towards natural plant-based botanical oils.

Can Drinking Enough Water Treat and Prevent Dry Skin?

No! Contrary to common belief, dry skin is not solely caused by inadequate water intake. Just as taking a bath doesn't quench your thirst, your body's hydration needs are more intricate. Only severe dehydration would lead to skin becoming flaccid and dry. Therefore, if you're experiencing dry skin, addressing it through your skincare routine is crucial.

Combat dry skin with your skincare regimen, not just a glass of water!

For those prone to dry skin, following dermatologist-recommended treatment tips can help heal the skin's barrier and prevent further dryness. Making informed skincare choices can ensure your skin remains supple, hydrated, comfortable, and free from flakiness at any age.