Dry Skin: Causes, Precautions, Solutions and Home Remedies

Do you have itchy and flaky skin? Does your skin lack moisture? Now you don’t have to worry about it. As we will provide you with the best skin care solutions for dry skin including the home-remedies to get rid of dryness, important winter skin care tips and the causes of this dryness.

Causes of dry skin

• Changes in the weather, especially during winters.

• Dry air is seen in arid and semi-arid regions throughout the year

• Heaters reduce the humidity in the air making your skin dry.

• Hot baths/showers also cause dryness

• Chlorinated water from swimming pools

• Harsh chemicals in soaps and detergents

• Skin conditions like atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, etc.

• Increased use of skin cleansers

 Best Skin Care Solutions:

1. Use Lukewarm Water

Avoid hot showers as they dry your skin quickly. Instead, use lukewarm water and then apply a moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid and ceramides to prevent dryness. 

2. Keep Hydrated

Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. Maintain your regular water intake.

3. Choose Skin Care Products Carefully

Use mild skincare products. Choose cleansers that contain moisturizers to avoid stripping your skin of its natural moisture barrier. Avoid products containing alcohol. If you have acne use products containing glycerin, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and hydration serums to repair the moisture barrier of your skin. 

4. Protect Your Skin

Wear gloves and caps to protect yourself from cold wind. Use a sunscreen that has titanium dioxide or zinc oxide to protect your skin from UV rays. 

5. Moisturize Your Hands and Feet

Use glycerin-based creams and petroleum jelly to moisturize. After applying a moisturizer wear woolen gloves while going out. 

6. Proper Skin Care

Choose winter wear that is made from high-grade wool. You can also choose from winter wear which is made from cotton or synthetic wool. 

7. Try Natural Skin Care Ingredients

Use face packs having natural ingredients to protect your skin from chemical exposure. Ingredients like honey, jojoba oil, avocado oil, aloe vera, and banana help in maintaining the moisture levels of your skin, preventing skin issues, and keeping you glowing.

8. Avoid Wearing Wet Clothes 

If your clothes are wet then remove them as soon as possible as wetness can cause skin itchiness.

9. Exercise Regularly

Exercise pumps more blood to your organs and skin. It also keeps your pores clear, makes you sweat, flushing out all the toxins, cleansing the skin, and keeps your internal organs healthy. 

Home Remedies for Dry Skin:

1. Use Aloe Vera Gel

Use fresh aloe gel if you have dry and patchy skin. It helps to retain moisture levels in the skin and also enhances collagen and elastin production in the skin thus restoring its suppleness and elasticity. 
Aloe Vera has anti-inflammatory properties and deals with skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema.  

2. Apply Coconut Oil 

It contains healthy fatty acids that replenish the skin’s lessened fatty acid reserve. Thus coconut oil replenishes and locks in the natural moisture of the skin. 

3. Use Jojoba Oil 

It softens the dryness and gets rid of the skin flakiness. It also promotes the growth of new skin cells. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe your skin.  

4. Olive Oil

The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of olive oil avoid skin itchiness and irritation caused by dry skin. Its moisturizing properties nourish the skin naturally. 

Similarly, other oils like almond oil, Vitamin-E oil, mustard oil, kumkumadi tailam can be used to protect your skin from dryness. 

5. Use Glycerin

It is a wonderful humectant that locks in the skin’s moisture. It gives your skin its natural moisture and glows. It can also be applied to chapped lips. 

6. Vaseline

Vaseline is made up of petroleum jelly or petrolatum which locks in the moisture and prevents water loss from the skin. 

Other Remedies:

1. Watermelon Face pack 

The antioxidants help repair the damaged skin and also protect against the UV rays. As it has high water content and rich vitamins it makes your skin moisturized and hydrated. 

2. Pineapple Juice with Honey

Applying this face pack removes the dead and dry layer of skin cells. Making your skin soft and moisturized.  

3. Strawberry Face Pack with Coconut oil 

Its vitamin C content exfoliates at the same time. Hence your skin gets refreshed and softer. 

4. Apple Face Pack with 1 Teaspoon Honey 

It easily exfoliates your skin without causing any irritations.  

5. Lacto calamine lotion 

Lacto calamine for dry skin contains zinc oxide that soothes the skin and also reduces itchiness.  

6. Multani Mitti

Multani Mitti mask absorbs the excess oil. It soothes the skin and has a cooling effect on dry and irritated skin. 

7. Rose Water 

It has astringent properties to balance the skin’s pH. At the same time, it also soothes and moisturizes your skin.  

8. Apple Cider Vinegar 

It contains mild acids that help to re-balance the production of skin’s natural oils by adjusting the pH levels to a normal range. It also contains plenty of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that promote skin health.

Some More Face Packs 

1. Avocado face pack with one-fourth cup of honey. 

2. Half ripe Banana face pack with 1 tablespoon coconut oil. 

3. One teaspoon baking soda with 1 teaspoon almond oil or coconut oil. 

4. Half teaspoon turmeric powder with 1 teaspoon raw honey. 

5. One tablespoon brown sugar or white sugar with 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil.