Three Lifestyle Changes That Help Fight Persistent Dry Skin

Posted on: 12 September 2017

When you have dry skin, typically you apply some lotion for a few days and then the dry skin goes away. But what if the dry skin seems to linger no matter how much lotion you apply? What should you do when you've tried a few different lotions, but nothing seems to work? Here are some lifestyle changes to consider when you have persistent dry skin:

Take cooler showers and avoid the heat in general.

Warm showers might feel good when the water is washing over you, but the heat tends to liquefy the oils in your skin, which only makes them easier to rinse away. Before you know it, your skin has gone from a little dry to very dry. One of the key elements to fighting chronic dry skin is taking cooler showers. You don't have to make it so cold that you're shivering, but water that feels slightly warm is ideal. Also avoid other very warm situations, such as sitting in front of a fire or soaking in a hot tub. Sunbathing, also, is off-limits as it dries out your skin even further.

Humidify your air.

If your air is dry, it will make your skin feel even drier. Plus, water will evaporate out of your skin more quickly. Consider adding a whole-home humidifier to your heating and cooling system, and aim to maintain your relative humidity between 40 and 50%. If you're on a tight budget, you can make due with a portable humidifier or two placed in the rooms where you spend most of your time.

Change your body wash.

For many people, soaps are actually quite drying to the skin, as are the majority of body washes. To keep your skin moist, look for a body wash made especially for people with dry skin. One that is free from sodium lauryl sulfate is ideal, as this ingredient is known to be drying. The best washes for dry skin are actually creamy; they do not really lather, though they do get your skin clean. You may have to try a few before you find one that does not further irritate your dry skin.

If you try the remedies above and still have dry skin, reach out to a dermatologist in the area. You may be dealing with a more complex condition like eczema or psoriasis, and your dermatologist can prescribe a treatment to get your skin healthy again.   

Contact a company like Heibel Dermatology for more information and assistance. 

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