No matter what type of skin, everyone can have occasional dry skin throughout his life. Scaly dry skin can be difficult to hide, especially on the face, which even makeup can't help much - it only exacerbates the problem.
If you have scaly dry skin that feels itchy, you definitely want a quick and easy solution. Try these 8 home tips to calm your dry skin complaints.
Home care to treat dry scaly skin
1. Bathe or compress warm water
Bathing in warm water is lukewarm, but not too long. Why does it have to be warm water? Taking a hot shower after a day of activity does feel tempting, but hot water can disarm the body's natural oils, and you need as many barriers as possible to help trap moisture to keep your skin smooth and moist. Dermatologists recommend taking a warm bath no more than 5-10 minutes.
Alternatively, you can compress dry scaly skin areas with warm water compresses. Use a clean baby washcloth dipped in warm water, then rub gently with a small circular motion to remove the remaining dead skin. Repeat several times a day, if necessary. Be sure to use a new washcloth every time you compress. After that, dry the skin and apply body moisturizer.
2. Use the right cleansing soap
Some facial soaps and cleansers can really be too hard for sensitive skin on your face. If your skin feels tight and dry after you wash it, you can use the wrong product for your skin. Choose the right facial cleanser. Look for products that do not contain sodium lauryl sulfate, which drains moisture from the skin. Instead, choose products that are free of fragrance and coloring and labeled Moisturizing.
3. Dry your body well
You might think that leaving your face moist after taking a shower will help increase skin moisture. Very wrong. After the water completely evaporates from the surface of the skin, your skin will actually be drier than before. So, make sure to dry the skin properly after taking a shower. However, keep in mind that a rough towel can act like an exfoliator - friction between the skin with a rough texture of the towel can damage the outermost layer of the skin, causing further dryness and irritation. Always use a soft, clean cloth, and remember to pat your face, don't rub it. Dry the skin for less than 20 seconds.
4. Apply the right moisturizer
Apply a thick, thick moisturizer to boost the moisture intake of the skin in a few minutes after bathing, at least twice a day - morning and night before going to bed. Choose a mild noncomedogenic moisturizer.
If you like a moisturizing moisturizer, choose a product that contains shea butter, ceramides, stearic acid, or glycerin, advises Leslie Baumann, MD, director of Cosmetic Medicine and Research Institute at the University of Miami, dialysis from WebMD. Cheryl Karcher, MD, a dermatologist from New York, reported from How Stuff Works, recommends that you use skin moisturizers that contain lactic acid, which can help remove the top layer of dry skin scaly and penetrate the healthy layer underneath. Either way, all rich moisturizers can help fill the void of your skin barrier.
If your skin stays dry throughout the day, you may need to repeat applying moisturizer several times a day. Avoid using alcohol or alcohol-based astringents. All of this can draw moisture out of the skin.
5. Apply petroleum jelly
Petroleum jelly works well to lock in moisture and help relieve dryness on the skin. If you do not dilute the skin, the skin will work overtime to produce more oil to keep the skin from drying out. Petroleum jelly acts as a humectant, which attracts and seals moisture into the skin. Although the texture of petroleum jelly may appear thick and sticky it can cover the pore, actually this jelly molecule is too large to penetrate into the skin.
Or you can use organic oils, such as olive oil, almond oil, or coconut oil which tend to be better for trapping moisture into the skin than various moisturizing creams available on the market.
6. Soaking milk
Soak the milk if your body kulit is dry, or compress the area of dry scaly skin with a washcloth soaked in cold white milk. Let stand for about 10 minutes. Afterwards, wipe dry scaly skin with a circular massage motion. The lactic acid and fat contained in milk functions as a mild facial cleanser that is also capable of providing extra moisture.
7. Homemade face masks
Avoid using coarse textured facial peels, and clay face masks for the time being. All of this can draw moisture out of the skin.
Instead, you can mix your own natural face mask to deal with your scaly dry skin problems. Avocado honey masks, for example. The combination of avocado and honey is a good source of sterolin and humectants which can treat skin dryness. Finely mash the avocados and mix well with a spoonful of honey until it becomes a soft paste. Apply a mask to the area of dry skin, let stand for 15 minutes, and rinse thoroughly. Other alternatives are banana masks and yogurt. This mixture not only moisturizes the skin, but also exfoliates dead cells. Finely mash the banana and mix well with a spoonful of plain yogurt to a soft paste. Apply a mask to the area of dry skin, let stand for 30 minutes, and rinse thoroughly.
Or, you can apply thick aloe vera gel to the area of dry skin, wait for 15 minutes before rinsing with warm water. After masking, don't forget to dry the skin and apply skin moisturizer, huh!
8. Apply sunscreen
Sun damage is one of the most common causes of dry, scaly, wrinkled skin. You can help prevent damage to the skin by applying sunscreen broad spectrum SPF 30 each time you leave the house and dress appropriately. In hot weather, wear long, thin and loose hand clothes, long sleeves, and wide-brimmed hats to cover the neck, ears and eyes. In cold weather, make sure to dress layered which absorbs sweat to prevent overheating and excessive sweating - both can irritate the skin.
To prevent, dry lips in cold weather, use a lip balm containing SPF 15 sunscreen, and cover your lips with a mask.
