While a basic cleanse, tone, moisturise and SPF routine is beneficial for everyone, different skin types have different daily needs. So, it is important to understand what your skin type is, so you can make informed decisions and achieve healthy skin. Here’s everything you need to know about dry skin.
Everything You Need To Know About Dry Skin
Skin types are commonly categorised based on the amount of oils produced. Those with dry skin generally produce less sebum than those with other skin types, which can cause frustrating, painful symptoms.
Symptoms
Dry skin has a bigger impact than you may realise. Symptoms include:
- Tightness
- Rough appearance & feel
- Itchiness
- Scaly appearance & feel
- Flaking
- Dry “riverbed” look to legs
- Fine lines
- Cracks (that may bleed)
- A redness (on white skin) or greyish colouring (on brown/black skin)
- Reactive, easily irritated complexion
Dry Skin Conditions
Dermatitis is the medical term. There are several distinct types of dermatitis.
Contact Dermatitis
Contact Dermatitis occurs where your skin reacts to something it touches, causing an inflammatory response. Irritant Contact Dermatitis and Allergic Contact Dermatitis are the two types of contact dermatitis.
- Irritant Contact Dermatitis occurs where the skin is exposed to irritating chemical agents, such as bleach.
- Allergic Contact Dermatitis, as the name suggests, occurs where the skin is exposed to a substance you are allergic to. Nickel is a common trigger for this type of dermatitis for many individuals.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
Seborrheic Dermatitis develops when your skin produces too much oil, resulting in an itchy, scaly rash. This type of dermatitis is common in infants.
Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)
Atopic Dermatitis is more commonly known as eczema. It is a chronic condition causing dry, scaly patches.
Eczema is a possible cause. Dry skin does not cause eczema, but it may trigger an eczema flare up in those with eczema. The two conditions have very similar symptoms – particularly scaly, itchy, sore skin with redness. So, it can be difficult to tell the difference between the two.
Dry Skin Risk Factors
Dry skin is normal and incredibly common. Risk factors include:
Age
Over time, skin becomes thinner and produces less oils, so it is likely to become dry, regardless of your skin type. By the age of 60, almost everybody has dry skin symptoms.
Medical History
You’re more likely to experience dry skin symptoms or conditions such as eczema or allergic contact dermatitis if these diseases “run in the family”.
Season
Unsurprisingly, the season can have a large influence on the health of the skin. Dry skin is most common in the autumn/winter months when humidity is low.
Bathing Habits
Less obviously, your bathing habits can influence moisture levels of the skin. While a nice, hot bath in the evening can be very relaxing, it can also be very detrimental to your skin. Frequent baths and showers, particularly with hot water, can strip your skin of essential oils, causing dryness.
Dry Skin & Acne
Though acne is commonly associated with oily skin, it is not the case that only those with oily skin get acne. If you have dry skin, you can still be affected by acne. When the skin is too dry, sebum production increases. More oils within the skin can result in clogged pores and can cause acne breakouts, without increasing moisture in the skin. Acne symptoms are more common when the skin is impaired. Dry skin can also result in inflammation and damage to the skin barrier, further increasing the risk of breakouts. Therefore, you can have dry skin and be affected by acne. Find out more about skin concerns here.
Treating Dry Skin
If you have dry skin, don’t worry. Here’s what you need to know about treatments.
SkinBase Microdermabrasion
Your dry skin needs exfoliation to help improve it, as you need to get rid of those dead cells. There’s no sense in applying moisture to dead skin. SkinBase Microdermabrasion exfoliates away the top layer of dead skin giving you a dull appearance, and reveals the fresh new skin below. You can also benefit from enhanced product absorption when you have a course of SkinBase Microdermabrasion. This simply means the moisturisers you put onto your skin will penetrate better, for longer lasting hydration.
SkinBase Hydro
Hydro is the latest revitalising treatment from SkinBase, and it is all about the ingredients! During a Hydro treatment, a multi-step process of a cleanse, a peel and serum is used, which is a great gentle but effective approach for rejuvenating your complexion. The Hydro peel contains a blend of natural AHA’s and BHA’s and works to remove the top layers of the skin. Once the pores are unclogged, a personalised serum is infused into the skin with the use of a vacuum handset. The Renewing Serum is excellent for those suffering with dry skin as active ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and hydrolysed soybean extract allow for maximum hydration. These fabulous ingredients are delivered more effectively into the skin during a Hydro treatment as the vacuum helps to enhance absorption and penetration.
