The Best Tips for Dry Skin: How to Banish Winter Ash
The Best Skincare for Dry Skin
As the weather gets colder and dryer, the glow of summer skin starts to fade and the dreaded winter dry skin sets in: dark, ashy skin around the elbows the knees and sometimes even the mouth. And that's just the extra dry bits. There’s also the normal level dry parts of your skin, your arms your thighs. They become covered with a fine white film that you’ll fight against until the warm summer air returns.
Dry skin is a common, treatable condition that a lot of us are living with. [1] And if you have it really bad, you might have dark, itchy patches of eczema, peeling lips, cracked heels, or hands so dry that the skin looks like scaly mitts. If you have any other skin conditions that you are struggling with, like hyperpigmentation, or acne, leaving your dry skin untreated can make those conditions worse.
Just because your dry skin has been a constant and irritating companion in the past doesn't mean that it has any place in your future. By identifying ways to help combat the causes of your dry skin and creating a routine that keeps dry skin at bay, you can keep your dewy skin texture all year long.
It is important to take care of your body as a whole. “The outermost layer of the skin, is now considered to be one of the most significant factors involved in dermal health.” [2] Finding ways to nourish and protect your skin can positively impact your health. Gilded Body is here to deliver you science-based information about Advanced Skin Care.
So how can you create a routine to treat and manage your dry skin?
What Helps Dry Skin?
To get started it's important to know what helps dry skin in the first place.
There is so much information it can be hard to sort through. Should you go for home remedies, DIYs, or prescriptions? There are suggestions for using baking soda, aloe vera, coconut oil, you name it.
Our favorite ingredient for giving major protection to your skin is Cupuacu butter. This emollient ingredient from the Amazon rainforest is “a modern plant-based alternative to the antiquated lanolin which is a major sensitizer and produces untoward allergies and side effects in many individuals.” [2]
So if you're looking for an answer to what can help your dry skin, this is it. Cupuacu butter has the ability to penetrate the skin and retain moisture even more so than shea butter! [2] You can also help your dry skin by changing your routines and environment to fit the season.
Can Dry Skin Cause Acne?
If you have dry skin it could contribute to other skin problems that you are already struggling with. You may be wondering does dry skin cause acne? The answer is it certainly doesn't help your acne.
According to bioClarity: “Dry skin and acne can be related because it can contribute to breakouts if left untreated. This is because when skin becomes dry, it can trigger the production of more sebum (oil). When excess oil is produced to combat dry skin, it can actually clog your pores and lead to acne flare ups.” [4]
So if you've ever been confused by the fact that you have normally dry skin that seems to be behaving like oily skin, the issue could be that your skin is reacting to irritation, and producing excess oil that clogs the pores. [5]
According to Medical News Today, “dry skin might contribute toward acne, but it can also be a sign of an underlying condition, such as dermatitis.” [6]
So, what does all of this mean?
How can you help dry skin?
What are some things that you can do at home that will improve the quality of your skin overall? One thing that can help you if you use it correctly is exfoliation.
What Does Exfoliation Do?
A good exfoliation routine has many benefits:
- It helps remove dead skin cells that are clinging to the surface and makes it easier for healthy skin to absorb nourishing ingredients.
- It can stimulate collagen production.
- It can give you brighter skin. [7]
Skin cells turnover naturally every 30 days, but sometimes dead skin clings to healthy skin and makes it harder for the skin to absorb moisture and nutrients.
According to Healthline, “Your skin needs moisture to stay smooth. As you age, retaining moisture in the skin becomes more difficult. Your skin may become dry and rough as it loses water and oils.” [1]
Your skin type will determine what type of exfoliation is best for you. You can use a gentle exfoliant like our Body polisher which gives you the benefit of nourishing ingredients at the same time as it exfoliates your skin. Or you can use our marble body brush for a luxurious full-body stimulating experience.
Finding ways to stay hydrated is not only about your products. [3]
Dry Skincare Routine Tips:
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Use warm, not hot, water for bathing. Extra hot water can “disrupt your skin’s natural moisture balance” [3]
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Use gentle cleansers better for skin than soaps.
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Pat your skin dry instead of rubbing it – helps keep more moisture in the skin.
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Exfoliate gently and follow up with moisturizer [8]
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Stay hydrated! Water on the inside is just as important as moisture on the outside.
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Don’t skip the moisturizer after you bathe!
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Use sunscreen! Extended sun exposure can make dry skin worse.
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Use a humidifier – especially in colder, dry seasons.
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Be careful what you expose your skin to. Check your ingredients and be mindful! [3]
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Use an oil-based moisturizer for the winter – gives you extra protection during the harsher, dryer winter months. [1]
- Check out our body balm. It’s amazing for dry skin.
If You Have Dry Skin, You Need to Take Steps to Get Rid of It.
Many illnesses present first in the skin. Taking care of your skin is a must. Not a ritual to be saved for one-off events. Investing in everyday care means taking care of the largest organ on your body. Gilded is committed to helping you maintain dermatological sound body care routines.
Invest in your health by investing in your skin.
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[1]https://www.healthline.com/health/xerosis
[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4495740/
[3]https://www.healthline.com/health/skin/severe-dry-skin#home-remedies
[4] https://www.bioclarity.com/blogs/clear-skin/does-dry-skin-cause-acne-what-causes-dry-skin
[5] https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/acne-prone-skin#skin-types
[6] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/dry-skin-and-acne