You slather on the moisturizer every morning, but by afternoon, your skin feels dry and tight. You wonder if there’s anything that can be done, but then you think, “It’s only dry skin.” Right? Wrong. Dermatologists and spa technicians agree?dry, itchy skin needs attention.
“Your skin is the first line of defense against the outside world,” said Dr. Clarence Wiley, a dermatologist at the Center for Skin, Health and Beauty in Wichita, Kan. “Dry skin care is good skin care.”
Anyone who has suffered from dry skin knows the symptoms — the flaking, scaliness, taut feeling and the constant, annoying itching. Yet some might think dry skin is too trivial a problem to seek a professional’s advice.
Not so, said Dr. David Leffell, a professor of dermatology and surgery and chief of the section of dermatologic and laser surgery at Yale University School of Medicine. This May, he’s releasing his new book “Total Skin: The Definitive Guide to Whole Skin Care for Life,” (Hyperion, $27.95) which tackles everything from varicose veins to melanoma.
Healthy, supple skin depends on the horny outer layer of protein that forms a waterproof seal, holding the body’s moisture in, Leffell said.
“Without it, we would be very dry,” he said. “But different things can disrupt the fatty acids there that keep it waterproof.”
Superficial irritants are one cause of dry skin. Exposure to solvents, harsh deodorant soaps, bubble baths and frequent, long, hot showers or baths can remove the skin’s oils and strip it of its moisture-conserving outer layer, Wiley said. In fact, disturbing the skin’s delicate balance can increase water loss up to 75 times the norm, Wiley said.
Parched skin is often the result of the dryness of the environment around us. It’s especially prevalent in winter, when the cold, dry, windy air outside combine with forced dry heat inside homes and offices to sap skin’s moisture. But the summer sun can be just as damaging. And, because oil glands grow smaller and produce less with age, dry skin can become more of a problem as you get older, so Leffell and Wiley both recommend lifetime vigilance.
“The best way to fix it is to restore the moisture of that covering of the skin,” Leffell said. Both doctors recommend bathing daily, but keeping the water temperature warm or tepid, not hot. And don’t dawdle: Prolonged showers can cause dryness.
The doctors differed on what kind of cleanser to use. Wiley believes milder soaps and cleansing bars, such as Purpose, white Dove or Aveeno, are fine for most skin, while Leffell recommends strictly non-soap cleansers, such as those made by Neutrogena or Oil of Olay. Leffell also suggests bath oils to combat dry skin, but he cautions users to take care when getting out of an oil-slicked tub.
Adding a touch of honey to the tub can help hydrate skin, said Cristin Davis, co-owner of Green Valley Lab, which creates skincare products for Green Valley Spa in St. George, Utah. Olive oil-based products, which contain a growth hormone, and natural herbs can also be used to lock in moisture, she said.
Dry skin sufferers might also wish to consider a home filtration system that would provide cleaner water, Wiley said. And he recommends finishing the bath with a cool rinse of clean water to remove excess soap or “dirty water” from the bath.
Once out of the shower or bath, pat — don’t rub — your skin to remove excess water and grab the moisturizer. Both dermatologists suggest applying moisturizer to damp skin.
“By putting cream on, you’re kind of locking it in,” Leffell said of the skin’s moisture.
Wiley suggested a host of over-the-counter lotions and creams, including Elta Creme, Moisturel, Lubriderm, Lachydrin and AHA Lotion. A home humidifier can also help keep the air around you more skin friendly, he said.
While it may seem like a trivial matter, keeping your skin moisturized can hold other, more serious skin problems at bay. Constant itching can exacerbate eczema, psoriasis and pityriasis rosea.
“Dry skin is itchy skin,” Wiley said. “If this itchy skin is repeatedly rubbed or scratched, it will produce a rash. This starts a vicious cycle.”
And, sorry folks: All the moisturizers in the world aren’t going to stop the aging process from producing wrinkles. “That’s a whole other topic,” Leffell said.
Tags: growth hormone, natural herbs, skin