Effective Treatments for Dry Skin and Best Results

Disclaimer:

This post contains outbound links to produces that are not sponsored, nor are they affiliate links. They have been provided for the reader’s information and knowledge only.

What Causes Dry Skin?

Non-Active Sebaceous Glands

Dry skin is often caused by sebaceous glands that aren’t active, which means the skin isn’t being lubricated enough and requires more water and oil to keep it hydrated. Sebaceous glands can slow down their functioning or become less active due to aging, hormonal activity, use of retinol skin care products or aggressive facial peels, surgeries, medications, and many other reasons.

If you are interested in learning more about sebaceous glands and how they function, click on this link to discover more.

Hereditary/Genetics

Sometimes, dry skin is hereditary, meaning that if a mother or father has dry skin, the child will be more likely to get dry skin themselves. Although this is not always the case, it just makes it more likely. It has something to do with the level of genes, types of DNA, chromosomes, and other factors associated with genetics when the fetus is inside the mother’s womb.

Aging

Aging is also another factor that contributes to the cause of dry skin because as the skin ages, it looked its ability to hold in moisture and often resulting in what we estheticians call “transepidermal water loss.” Many different types of treatments can help with this, as I discuss below.

The Environment

There are many harmful environmental substances that can be associated with dry skin such as pollution because it prevents our skin from staying at optimal hydration levels.

Another environmental factor that contributes to dry skin is the Canadian winter months since it makes the air so stagnant and dry from all the heaters that must be on.

Heat dries out our skin, but we need it to keep us warm.

So how do we find balance?

Keep Reading to learn how to manage your dry skin in the winter months.

What Does Dry Skin Look and Feel Like?

Dry skin tends to look very dehydrated, flakey and rough. It appears very tight with a fine texture. You will notice that someone with dry skin has more fine lines in areas around the mouth and eyes, and has smaller pores.

Extremely dry skin can often lead to eczema, which is a very aggressive inflammation disorder of the skin. People who suffer from eczema often have. severely dry and sensitive skin, with an unbearable itch sensation.

Winter season is extremely hard on eczema, making it very difficult to manage. I wrote a post on what has helped me manage my eczema in the winter months. You can read it here.

Best Treatments for Dry Skin

The goal of treating dry skin, whether by a dermatologist or an esthetician, is to remove dead skin cells, while keeping the skin hydrated and deeply nourished.

Esthetician Treatments

Facial Treatments

• Hydrating Facial: Puts moisture back into the skin and prevents transepidermal water loss.
• Facial Massage: Serums help to hydrate the skin and protect its barrier.
• Galvanic Exfoliation: Helps to penetrate facial serums deeper into the skin for optimal absorption and skin care benefits.
• Gentle Crystal Exfoliation: Removes dead skin cells, rejuvenating, anti-aging, brightening, evens out skin tone, reduces pigmentation, and enhances the skin’s texture.
• Replenishing Cream: Try the Moor Spa Replenishing Cream. This product is great for dry skin because it contains a huge amount of essential and natural oils. These oils help to moisturize, reduce redness, and provide many anti-aging benefits for improved skin.
• Enzyme Peels: Choose enzyme exfoliants (that contain pineapple/bromelian or papaya), to remove dead skin cell build up.
• Peptide and Emollient Masks: Anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, promotes elastin and collagen production, softening, soothing, hydrating, moisturizing.
• LED Light Therapy: Softening, anti-aging, helps with sun damage, promotes collagen and elastin, helps heal wounds, anti-inflammatory, and may help reduce acne-related breakouts.
• Antioxidant Serums: Vitamin C serum promotes collagen and elastin production, moisturizing, brightening, anti-aging, antioxidant, and reduces sun damage in the skin.
• Broad Spectrum SPF 50+: Choose cream formulas for best UV sun protection. (Must protect the skin from both UVA & UVB sun rays). – Physical sunscreens are a great choice for dry skin.
• Facial Massage: Anti-inflammation benefits, detoxifying, soothing, toning, rejuvinating, and provides the skin with a youthful (anti-aging) glow.

Home Care Recommendations for Dry Skin

• Hydrating Cleansers & Toners: choose products that contain chamomile essential oil, arnica, lavender essential oil, rosewater, or natural green tea extract.
• Creams: Choose products that contain emollients and oils (shea butter, olive oil, jojoba oil, apricot kernel, or rosehip oil) for deeper skin barrier protection and moisture retention.
• Essential OIls: Chamomile, rose, lavender, sandalwood, organge blossom, and jasmine.
• Humidifier: Especially during the dry winter months, try using a humidifier in your home to put moisture back into the air and into your skin.
• Showering/Bathing Tips: When showering or bathing, us lukewarm water and pat the skin dry, do not rub. Patting the skin dry will help retiain some of the moisture and keep the skin hydrated. You can also try oatmeal baths (especially if you suffer from eczema or psoriasis), since oats can be moisturizing, softening, soothing, and provide itch relief.

*Please Note:

When using essential oils for skin care benefits, it is very important to dilute it (do not apply directly to the skin). It is recommended to dilute the essential il in a carrier oil (olive oil, sesame oil, jojoba oil, or sweet almond oil, before placing it onto the skin. Add a few drops to a generous amount of carrier oil and mix well.

If I have missed anything about caring for and treating dry skin, or if there is something you use to care for your dry skin, please comment your thoughts below. I appreciate your time in commenting and I look forward to reading your thoughts.