The skin on the face is one of the most sensitive and vulnerable on the whole body. Dry facial skin gives the impression of rough and tight. And in case of severe dryness, redness, peeling and itching may appear on it. There are several reasons that cause dry skin on the face, and understanding them will help you find the right ways to deal with this problem.
Dry Skin Symptoms
How dryness manifests itself in different skin types.
- Dry facial skin is a common condition, but some people are more prone to it than others. The main types of facial skin: normal, dry, oily and combination.
- Dry skin cannot regulate its own moisture levels.
- Normal skin is skin that is neither dry nor oily. But many factors can cause normal facial skin to dry out.
- Dry skin is skin that is prone to dryness. As a rule, in some areas such skin feels tight and a little rough.
- Oily skin types are less likely to become dry unless washed too often or not properly cared for.
- Combination skin is prone to dryness in certain areas, especially on the cheeks, while the T-zone of the face is still oily.
- With age, it must be taken into account that the aging process of the body also affects the condition of the skin.
Causes and provoking factors
Many internal and external factors contribute to dry facial skin, and they all contribute to the same process – skin dehydration. The degree of skin dryness depends on the total number and intensity of these factors.
- External causes
All external causes of skin dryness lead to deterioration of the natural surface lipid barrier. As soon as the lipid barrier is weakened, the moisture retained by it begins to evaporate freely, and substances that contribute to the retention of moisture are easily washed out.
Since these natural hydration factors are missing, the skin can no longer retain the right amount of moisture and becomes increasingly dry until the substances are replenished and the lipid barrier on its surface is restored.
If dry skin is not treated with auxiliary nutrients that contain moisturizing ingredients, then moisture will continue to leave its upper layers, which will subsequently disrupt the natural moisturizing processes in the deeper layers of the epidermis. The natural upward flow of moisture to the upper layers will decrease, leading to severe dryness of the skin.
- External factors
The main external factors that cause dry skin are the adverse effects of the environment and improper care. As a rule, the face is much more likely than the body to be exposed to the following external factors that cause dry skin.
Care methods
In addition to properly cleansing and moisturizing, it is important to avoid factors that contribute to dry skin. This will help reduce the percentage of moisture loss and reduce the need for treatment:
- Avoid dry air. Spend less time outdoors in hot and cold weather. Use an indoor humidifier while the air conditioner is running or the heater is on.
- Shorten your time in hot water by replacing long baths with short showers.
- Use special skin care products – the absence of fragrances, dyes and parabens in them will avoid irritation.
- Dry and very dry facial skin requires complex care, including the use of sunscreens, as well as appropriate cleansers and moisturizers. Water-based cleansers with added moisturizers are suitable for dry to very dry skin, while oil-based cleansers are suitable for very to extremely dry skin, including those affected by atopic dermatitis.
Cleansing dry or very dry skin
A mild yet effective cleanser essential for maintaining the health of normal to dry skin, acne-prone skin and treating atopic dermatitis. The importance of proper daily facial skin care cannot be overestimated – well-cleansed and moisturized facial skin with a functioning lipid barrier effectively absorbs and retains moisture.
Moisturizing the skin of the face
The right skin care products give dry skin the moisture and nourishment it needs.
A key factor in proper care is to replenish the missing natural moisturizing factors that attract moisture and bind it to the stratum corneum of the epidermis. They prevent drying, reduce roughness and relieve tightness. Pharmacy Direct bepanthen contains natural humectants, urea and lactate, which regulate the skin’s moisture content by retaining water in the upper layers.
Dry aging skin care
Skin care is based on the elimination of the causes of skin aging. As the body ages, skin dryness and damage from UV radiation contribute to wrinkles, loss of volume, density and radiance of the skin.
Therefore, it is especially important to choose effective care that will provide hydration and protection of the skin from ultraviolet A and B rays. In addition, aging skin requires deeper hydration in order to minimize the appearance of wrinkles and prevent their further aggravation.
Hyaluronic acid is an important component of connective tissue. It has a high ability to bind water molecules, improves skin regeneration and enhances the distribution of nutrients in it. As the skin ages, the amount of hyaluronic acid in the epidermis and especially in the lower layers of the dermis decreases.
Topically applied hyaluronic acid can slow down the formation of wrinkles and even reverse the process. In addition, care can be optimized with suitable moisturizers.