Dry skin is just as common as oily or sensitive skin, even more common than you might think. The way you care for your sensitive skin is not the same way someone with dry skin would care for theirs. Dry skin usually needs more hydration than other skin types. Though you may not ordinarily have dry skin, it could end up occurring because of cold or dry weather, sun damage, harsh soaps, and so much more. Dry skin is easy enough to treat but if your skin remains dry even after intense moisturizing keep reading to find out why and what you can do about it.
Symptoms Of Dry Skin
- Itchiness
- Tightness in the skin
- Scaling
- Flaking
- Cracking that leads to bleeding
- Rough to the touch
- An ashy look
- Fine lines or wrinkles
Reasons Why Your Skin Could Be Dry Even After Moisturizing
Dry skin occurs because the moisture in the upper layer of the skin has been lost. Usually, moisturizing takes care of this. But if your flaky, scaly skin won’t soften and moisturize, no matter what you do, you need to look a little further to try to figure out why. Here are 10 possible reasons why your skin remains dry even after moisturizing:
Heat
Several hot things can leach the moisture out of your skin. This includes scalding hot baths or showers, central heating, space heaters, fireplaces and so much more. The excess heat work to drain the oils in your skin which can cause cracks or peels.
Exfoliation
Dead skin build-up is real and more common than most people know. This can clog your pores which can give your skin a dry and rough feeling. Ordinary cleansing will only wash off the dirt. It won’t do anything for the dead skin. Only exfoliation will help with that. Lightly scrubbing with an exfoliating scrub will easily get rid of the build-up.
On the flip side, if you exfoliate too much you can irritate and put your skin in an uncomfortable position. Over-exfoliation strips the body of its natural oils which as you know by now will only cause roughness, flaking and a myriad of other things.
Over-Cleansing
You cannot do without cleansing. It’s important if you want to get rid of the dirt that builds up on your skin. However, some people overdo it which strips your skin of its natural oils and molecules that help with moisturizing. A clear sign that you’ve over-cleansed is if you feel irritation or tightness after a cleansing session.
Dehydration and/or Malnutrition
The outer layer of your skin consists of about 15 to 20% of water. How much water you consume can be a game-changer for your skin’s hydration. Dehydration is one of the major causes of skin dryness. The study, “Does dietary fluid intake affect skin hydration in healthy humans? A systematic literature review’’ with works from health experts like M Akdeniz, T Tomova-Simitchieva, G Dobos, U Blume-Peytavi and J Kottner explains that the more water you drink, the more likely you are to increase the elasticity and hydration in your skin.
Harsh Cleansers
Certain ingredients(like benzyl alcohol and sulphates) in certain cleansers could make it too strong which can irritate and dry out your skin. Instead use gel, foam or cream cleansers. They’re gentler on the skin.
Environment
Because cold air has much lower moisture content than warmer air, it can dry out your skin by removing moisture from it. So, living in cold, windy, or low-humidity areas can be extremely drying to the skin. Additionally, exposure to the sun for an extended period of time might also cause skin dryness.
Skin Conditions And Medications
Patches of dry skin can result from specific skin problems. Some of them are; atopic dermatitis (eczema), allergic contact dermatitis, psoriasis and dandruff. In addition, some side effects of certain medications could cause skin dryness. Here are a few; retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, diuretics, beta-blockers, hormonal birth control, topical steroids, cholesterol-lowering drugs, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
Underlying Health Conditions
Your exterior characteristics are frequently influenced by your interior. The way you appear on the exterior may change if you have certain medical issues. Thyroid diseases, diabetes, renal failure, and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are some of the illnesses that are known to produce dry skin. Furthermore, hormonal changes brought on by menopause and pregnancy may result in drier skin.
Ageing
The skin becomes thinner and produces fewer of the oils required for the skin to retain water as people age. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) states that as you become older, dry skin is more prone to develop. The most typical skin problem in older persons is xerosis cutis, according to a study by Elisabeth Hahnel, Ulrike Blume-Peytavi, Carina Trojahn, and Jan Kottner titled “Associations between skin barrier features, skin conditions, and health of senior nursing home patients.” Skin that is rough, dry, finely scaled, and occasionally with little skin breaks are the symptoms of xerosis cutis. This takes place in part as a result of the sweat and oil glands’ natural decline with ageing. In addition, Menopause and chronic diseases including diabetes and renal disease are two additional risk factors for dry skin in older persons.
Race and Genetics
Genetics play a major role in determining your skin type. Few people have dry skin by nature, whereas others are more likely to have oily skin. Scaling, ashiness, and pain are among the dry skin symptoms that affect black individuals more frequently than white people. According to research like, “Moisturizing Different Racial Skin Types” by Derrick C. Wan, MD, corresponding authors Victor W. Wong, MD, Michael T. Longaker, MD, MBA, b George P. Yang, MD, PhD, and Fu-Chan Wei, MD, Black individuals may be more likely to lose moisture through their skin than white people. A few studies also indicate Asians might have skin that is most susceptible to moisture loss.
The Right Way To Moisturize If You Have Dry Skin
Use The Right Moisturizer
Knowing your skin type is essential to knowing the best moisturizer for you. Moisturizers work by sealing in moisture and giving your skin the hydration it craves. No matter your skin type, if you have severe dryness look for ingredients specifically designed to treat dryness like shea butter, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, petroleum, jojoba oil and much more.
Find The Right Time To Moisturize
Moisturizing is crucial, but how, when, and how much also matter. The best technique to treat dry skin is to moisturize it twice every day. The greatest time to apply moisturizer is just after taking a bath when your skin is still damp because that is when your skin will be able to absorb the most moisture.
Use A Toner
Dry skin and hydrating toners get along like old friends. Dry skin isn’t a disease that goes away after treatment. Given that it is a specific skin type, it requires regular management and care. A toner will always be necessary for further hydration. Toners could assist in cleaning the skin and getting it ready for a moisturizer. Even more specifically, some toners address issues with dryness, acne, or sun damage. Generally, using a toner after cleansing and before serums and moisturizers will yield the best effects.
Invest In A Serum
In order to cure specific issues, serums are frequently produced with specific substances. They often have a high concentration of active substances, such as vitamin C or hyaluronic acid. Choose a serum that is designed specifically to hydrate. The ideal time to use your serum is often right before moisturizing, following cleaning and toning.
When To See A Healthcare Provider
The majority of dry skin situations are not serious, and they frequently improve with dietary changes or more frequent moisturizing. But in the unlikely event that it becomes serious, you must consult a doctor right away.
See your doctor if you;
- develop itching with no relief
- notice rashes, sores or bleeding through cracks
- notice signs of infection like discoloration, warm skin and swelling.
- notice no improvement after updating your skincare routine.