Keep Your Skin Hydrated
Dry skin — it’s the worst, and depending on the season, it can be a real pain to get rid of. Fortunately, by keeping your skin hydrated, you greatly lower the chances of suffering from dry skin no matter how dry it is outside.
Say goodbye to cracked hands and peeling faces. Here are some of the most simple ways to keep your skin hydrated.
Apply Lotion to Your Dry Skin
Lotion doesn’t just exist to keep your skin soft and smelling good. The best lotions will actually hydrate your skin as well. Moisturizers work by trapping moisture in the skin, helping to keep your skin hydrated and supple.
The key ingredients in a good lotion will include water, occlusives, humectants, emollients, vitamins, and lactic acid. Menthol can also be a useful ingredient if you have dry skin that is particularly itchy or irritable.
Use a Humidifier
Depending on your environment’s conditions, a humidifier might be an ideal solution for helping the skin absorb more water. During the drier seasons, a humidifier can help circulate water within the air, making it more likely that your skin will take it in.
Depending on how airtight your home is, you might actually be losing much of your moisture to furniture and walls. By installing a humidifier, you can help solve this problem by bringing more humidity into the environment.
Don’t Take Hot Showers
As relaxing as a steaming hot shower or bath may be, hot water can actually remove much of the fatty substances in the skin that help your body retain water. Try your best to keep your bathing water warm, not hot.
If you want to add more of a hydration routine to your showers or baths, you can try using bath oils to help keep the skin moisturized and while you clean off.
Pay Attention to the Soap You’re Using
Mild soaps are best when dealing with dry skin. If you use a soap that is too harsh, it may lead to the skin drying out even more. Look for soaps that promise moisturizing effects when shopping for bathing products to help ensure hydration next time you take a shower or wash your hands. This same tip applies when purchasing facial cleaners.
Drop the Tight Clothing
Believe it or not, tight clothing can actually dry out the skin. Because tight clothing rubs against the skin, it can chafe the skin and lead to dryness.
Invest in looser fitting clothing if you’re suffering from dry skin, allowing your body ultimate comfort and protection from chafing.
Stay Out of the Elements
Windy air can dry out the skin, so you don’t want to spend too much time hanging out in the harsh element. If you do need to be outside during a windy day, bundle up with lots of warm clothing to protect your skin from drying out. Mittens and gloves are also important to help protect your hands from drying out in the wind.
Drink Lots of Water
It may seem like an obvious tip, but many people don’t drink nearly enough water every day to stay hydrated. This can also affect the skin.
Be sure to drink multiple cups of water throughout the day to help protect the skin from drying out. If it’s a dry climate, you’ll want to up your intake. You can also eat water-rich foods to help get the H2O that your body is craving. Watermelons, cucumbers, and lettuce are just a few options.
Use a Hydrating Cream
Like lotions, hydrating creams can do a lot to keep your skin from drying out. Many gel treatments exist to add moisture to the skin and keep it in place throughout the day or evening. Using a hydrating mask before you go to sleep is a great idea if you feel that your skin needs even more hydration than usual.
Carry a Spritz Wherever You Go
Finally, as a last precaution to ward off dry skin, carrying a water-rich, portable mist on your person throughout the day is a great way to quickly hydrate the skin no matter where you are. These products are fairly inexpensive and can be found at almost any drugstore or online shop.
Resources— Harvard Health Publishing, Cosmopolitan, Elle
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