Category: Lifestyle | 3-Minute Read
Hi all,
I hope you are all well!
You say you have dry skin but how are you so sure?
Our skin types are essential for knowing what products and treatments will suit our skin well. Knowing this, will also help us stay clear of products and treatments that can exacerbate the dryness!
There are 4 general skin types:
1) Normal
2) Combination
3) Dry
4) Oily
Dry skin is usually caused by lifestyle and environmental factors such as diet, hydration and weather. Your skin may be particularly sensitive to these factors, therefore presenting as dry skin.
So how do you know if you have dry skin?
If you have:
- Skin tightness especially after showering
- Itching or rough skin
- Flaky, dull skin
- Fine lines or cracks
- Redness and irritation
- Deep cracks that may bleed
Dry or Dehydrated?
Sometimes dry skin can be misdiagnosed for dehydrated skin as they can sometimes show the same clinical signs.
So I’d recommend The Pinch Test:
- Pinch a small amount of skin on your cheek, or the back of your hand and hold for a few seconds.
- If your skin snaps back, you’re likely not dehydrated.
- If it takes a few moments to bounce back, you’re likely dehydrated.
So what can you do to control your Dry skin?
Now is the best time to learn how to manage your dry skin as the weather is still quite windy, drying and cold.
- Cleanse twice daily using lukewarm water, a gentle exfoliating cleanser, and a soft towel to pat dry your skin. Avoid hot water as this can dry out the skin further.
- Avoid rinsing or washing your face too much as this can further dry out your skin.
- Use face mists that increase hydration such as rose water.
- Use a moisturiser regularly that contains hyaluronic acid and ceramides to hydrate your skin and improve the skin barrier strength.
- Use broad-spectrum sunscreen every day on top of your moisturiser.
- Look for hydrating products, non-water based products will work better. You can try facial oils too. It is a marmite-like situation with facial oils; either you love them or you hate them! So you decide what works for you!
- You can consider using occlusives like Vaseline, which lock the moisture in your skin, but I strongly recommend to use this to compliment your hydration regime, rather than as a replacement.
- Use a hyaluronic acid or intensively hydrating mask every 14 days to allow for hydration to be delivered in to the skin. Plan the use of this when you go to bed to allow for maximum time in contact with your skin. Avoid clay masks as they will dry out your skin further.
- With regards to treatments, Chemical Exfoliation treatments can help reduce exfoliate any dry skin cells and promote production of healthier, plumper new skin cells. I would suggest this by means of homecare and in-clinic to ensure that the exfoliation is regular.
Read all about how chemical peels or chemical exfoliation treatments work in my blog here.
So that’s all from me folks!
If you need any help managing your dry skin, do not hesitate to contact me!
If you found this blog interesting or helpful, please like, share and comment below!
As always,
Prioritise yourselves!
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