Dry skin: What are the causes and how can it be treated?

Dry skin: Causes and solutions

How do you recognize dry skin? Dryness manifests as a feeling of tightness, roughness, itching, and sometimes redness, and can occur on any part of the body. However, some areas are more sensitive and prone to dryness.

Dry skin: What are the causes?

The causes of dry skin are numerous and can stem from various internal or external factors such as poor personal hygiene, environmental factors, or skin conditions like psoriasis.

Dry skin: Internal factors

Genetic predispositions

Some individuals are predisposed to dry skin problems, particularly due to the hereditary nature of certain diseases such as atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, diabetes, or ichthyosis.

Furthermore, skin pigmentation can also be a factor. Indeed, people with fair skin are more prone to dry skin than those with darker skin.

Hormonal influence

Variations in hormone levels can cause an imbalance in the skin's hydration, leading to dry skin problems.

Age

Skin aging occurs naturally with age. The skin loses its hydration, increasing the risk of wrinkles and fine lines. However, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays can accelerate the skin aging process and lead to the premature appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

Dry skin: External factors

Personal hygiene

Excessive washing and unsuitable skincare products reduce the lipids that form the skin barrier, thus weakening the skin.

Medication

Certain medications can dry out the skin. Among the affected medications, the most common are treatments for hypertension, some antibiotics, and medications used to treat acne-related problems.

Lifestyle

Dehydration and smoking are aggravating factors for dry skin. Indeed, lack of water and toxins contained in cigarettes are responsible for slowing down blood flow, and thus metabolism. This leads to a loss of elasticity and accelerates skin aging.

Dry skin: How to remedy it?

Avoid factors that aggravate dry skin.

• Avoid dry air which tends to dehydrate the skin.
• Reduce shower time and avoid very hot water.
• Use gloves when doing household chores to avoid contact with detergents.
• Wear clothes made of natural fibers such as cotton and silk as they are non-irritating to the skin.
• Limit tobacco consumption.
• Drink enough water.
• Protect yourself from ultraviolet (UV) rays.

To remedy dry skin, it is necessary to adopt a suitable skincare routine, choosing products containing active ingredients that help restore the skin's balance.