How to Treat Dry Facial Skin
Dry facial skin is a common occurrence. In order to remedy the problem, you have to find what the cause might be and then begin a treatment to heal your skin and keep the dryness from reoccurring.
There can be many causes for dry facial skin and you may be doing something which has added to the problem. For instance, too much exposure to the sun or wind, smoking, and consuming alcohol can all cause dry skin and cause naturally dry skin to worsen. Sometimes medications can cause dry skin as well.
In the winter, there is nothing that dries the skin out like your source of heat. Using a humidifier can help. Any type of forced air such as a heater or air conditioner will dry out skin. Many types of soaps can cause dry facial skin as can showering in water that is too hot. Always use warm--not hot--water and use a soap or skin cleanser which identifies itself as being good for dry skin. This means no alcohol or fragrances have been added.
There are three steps to the successful treatment of dry facial skin. These include keeping the skin clean, moisturizing it, and keeping the lipid barrier strong. Drink lots of water every day, at least eight glasses or more. Cleanse your skin by washing it when you wake up and at least one more time during the day, such as before going to bed.
The next step is to use a moisturizer every day. If you have dry facial skin, you should always apply a moisturizer after washing your face. Today many companies offer moisturizers which have sun protection as well. So purchase a moisturizer with an SPF appropriate for the sunlight in your location.
In addition to moisturizing creams, if you have excessively dry facial skin, you can buy deep moisturizing treatments or even make them yourself. Look up moisturizer recipes on the internet and you will find plenty you can make at home from oatmeal, avocado, honey and other ingredients. Sometimes making a mask out of these and leaving it on your face for a half hour to an hour can really help.
Dry skin can also benefit from exfoliating once every two weeks. Do not exfoliate more than this as it could add to your dryness problem. You can purchase exfoliating products online and at most drugstores.
Keeping your skin’s lipid level strong is another requirement for healthy, non-dry skin. This can be accomplished by ingesting foods or supplements containing omega-3 fatty oils, flaxseed oil or some equivalent products. For instance, vitamins are a great choice for helping dry facial skin, particularly vitamin E. Eat lots of fruits with vitamin E. You can also find it many skin creams which can do wonders for dry facial skin.
Be careful when using many of the anti-aging products which have become so popular in recent years. Some people have allergies to the ingredients and these can cause dry facial skin. So can allergies to acne medications. Some diseases, such as diabetes or problems with your kidneys, can contribute to very dry skin.
Be aware that dry facial skin can be one of the symptoms of skin conditions such as eczema. If you start to get scaly patches or raised bumps that are red, see your doctor as prescription medication might be needed to get your face looking healthy once again.
Even though dry facial skin might not look appealing, it is not usually a symptom of illness. Eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and good fatty oils can play an enormous part in having great looking skin. So can keeping your skin clean, exfoliating, moisturizing properly, and maintaining a base with sufficient fatty oils.