How to manage dry and sensitive skin
Dry skin often makes people look old before their time. Dry and sensitive skin can also be uncomfortable. Here’s how to manage your dry skin.
First you need to recognize what dry skin is. Dry or sensitive skin can be flaky or peeling and feel rough to the touch. It is also more prone to wrinkles than other skin types and it may feel tight, especially when you wash it. In cold weather, it may become red and develop tiny cracks, which can be very painful.
Second, determine whether the dry skin is a new development and if so, what could be causing it. For example, dry skin is a common side effect of chemotherapy treatment. Or, if you have switched to a new laundry or dish detergent, your skin may be slightly allergic to it.
If the condition is caused by medication, ask your doctor if there are alternatives or specific measures to treat the dryness. If it is an allergic reaction, switch to another type of detergent, etc. There are many new products designed specifically for sensitive skin. Check the label for words like, fragrance free. Of course, there is always the possibility that your dry skin is simply part of the aging process.
Third, moisturize your skin daily. Always apply a moisturizer day and night. Depending on the product, you may use the same one at both times of day or you may use one specifically formulated for day or night use. In addition to your face, apply moisturizing lotions to your neck, hands, elbows, knees and feet ñ anywhere you see signs of dryness. This is especially true if you work in one of the health-care professions in which you must wash your hands frequently.
Fourth, drink plenty of water. The standard rule of drinking eight 8 oz glasses of water will go a long way toward moisturizing your skin. And note that we said water. Stay away from coffee and other caffeinated beverages as caffeine can be drying.
Fifth, avoid using soap on your face. Soap is notorious for drying the skin. Fortunately there are plenty of cleansers on the market made for dry, sensitive skin. Give them a try.
Sixth, dry your skin the right way. While it may feel good to rub yourself dry with a towel, this actually irritates your skin. Instead, slowly pat yourself dry. It may take longer, but your skin will thank you for it.
Seventh, protect your skin from the elements. You may think you’re too busy to throw on a hat or gloves in the winter time but exposure to the cold is a major contributor to dry skin. It only takes a moment to throw them on. Likewise, if you work with cleaning products, protect your skin with gloves, aprons and other clothing.
Eighth, don’t hesitate to see your doctor or dermatologist. These steps will go a long way toward nourishing and protecting your dry skin, but if it is still flaky, itchy, red etc., your doctor or dermatologist will help you get to the root of the problem. Dry skin can be beautiful skin with the proper care.
Skin Aging: Protect your skin now
Many people think skin aging is a fact of life that can’t be helped. But instead of resigning yourself to a wrinkled face, take these essential steps.
1. Always use sunscreen. Much as we all like the look of a golden glow, the sun is your face’s worst enemy. Whenever you are going out (and even if you know you will be spending a lot of time in a sunlit window), always wear a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15. The best sunscreens will protect your skin from damage by UVA and UVB radiation.
2. Moisturize at least twice a day. A daytime moisturizer will protect your skin from pollutants in the air that leading to premature skin aging. A nighttime moisturizer will sink deeply into your skin tissues while you sleep so you will wake up looking younger and better. Choose the moisturizers that best fit your budget and that you will use every day.
3. Relax. Stress takes its toll on everyone and especially in the face. Every time you squint, frown, smile or laugh, it lives its mark a little bit deeper around your eyes and your mouth. Of course, we’re not saying you should go around like an expressionless robot the rest of your life, but you need to pay attention to how your face reacts when you are stressed. When you feel your face tightening up, take a deep breath. Hold it for a slow count of ten and then slowly exhale. As you exhale, consciously let go of all the tension in your face. If you do this at least once a day, you will gradually become more aware of how your face changes.
As you try to relax, use natural means, such as getting plenty of sleep. Don’t resort to alcohol, which can lead to many health problems.
4. Give your face a massage. Just as a massage helps your body to relax, a massage helps your face to relax as well. Starting at the base of your neck, gently use your fingers to rub in slow upward circles. (You may want to apply lotion or even a tiny amount of cooking oil to your fingers first.) Work your fingers all the way up, through your chin and cheek areas, around the outer portion of your eyes and up through the forehead. As you work around your lower eye, always work from the outer corner in toward the nose.
5. Drink plenty of water. Dry skin is wrinkled and scaly skin that looks years older than it really is. So drink water frequently. Don’t try to substitute colas, coffee or other caffeinated beverages either. Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it makes people urinate more. Caffeine can make your body dry out faster, thus leading to dry, older looking skin.
6. Stop smoking. Ever notice how people who smoke seem to have more wrinkles, especially around the mouth and eyes? That’s because they pucker their lips much more often than the rest of us. They must also squeeze their eyes shut often in order to avoid smoke in them. Smokers also have more wrinkles because of increased free radicals in the skin because their bodies produce less collagen (a naturally occurring protein that adds flexibility to the skin).
By following these six tips, skin aging can be prevented, or at least slowed considerably.
Start following them today.
No Wrinkles: Overnight
