Our largest organ, the skin, has a surface area of nearly two meters and
makes up almost 15 percent of our body weight. It is thinnest at 0.6
millimeters on our eyelids, and thickest at three millimeters on our palms and
soles.
Systemic dehydration from summertime heat and the sun’s rays can also contribute to dry skin. Sunburned skin cannot retain moisture as well as healthy skin, and thus becomes dehydrated after repeated exposures.
Surprisingly, a major cause of dry skin is over-cleaning as well. People tend to bathe with excessively hot water and use harsh soaps that strip the skin of its oils, leaving it exposed and dehydrated.
Swimming pools and hot tubs also strip the skin of their oils for two reasons. The first are the chemicals (chlorine and bromine) used in pools are very drying to the skin. Second, the typically prolonged time people spend in contact with the water can also strip oils from the skin, à la excessive bathing.
External
Skin Protection
- Avoid extremely
hot water while bathing. This strips the oils more readily from the skin
surface.
- Limit regular
bathing time to less than 10 minutes. Longer exposure further strips oils
away.
- Decrease the
frequency of bathing. If your skin is excessively dry in the wintertime,
decreasing the frequency of bathing may help the skin to retain some of
its oils and moisture.
- Avoid using
harsh commercial soaps. They also strip more oils than necessary. Choose
soap with fewer detergents in it.
- Apply
moisturizer immediately after bathing, within a minute or two of toweling
off. This helps to trap the moisture from bathing in the skin.
- Use sunscreen
when in direct sun. Damaged (sunburned skin) cannot retain moisture as
well as healthy skin.
- After spending
time in the pool or hot tub, rinse off and apply moisturizer immediately.
Chlorine and bromine in pools and hot tubs are extremely drying to the
skin.
- Dry, irritated
skin can be caused by detergents and perfumes left over in clothes from
using harsh cleaning agents in the washing machine.
Topical
Skin Treatments
- Honey is gaining
acceptance as an excellent topical wound-healing agent with several
studies exploring its benefits in infectious skin conditions. It is
effective against several types of antibiotic-resistant and
antibiotic-susceptible types of bacteria in skin infections.5
Of special note, studies showing its benefit used medical-grade honey, which is free from other forms of bacteria that may inhabit regular store-bought honey. Honey has even been used successfully in treating the dreaded methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), an increasingly common source of skin infections.6-7 - Dexpanthenol is a derivative
of vitamin B5 that has a long history of use in restoring skin health
topically. It is used for improving skin hydration, reducing skin water
loss, reducing inflammation, itching and pain.8-9
- Tea tree oil is an essential
oil derived from the Australian plant Melaleuca alternifolia. It
has long been revered for its effectiveness in treating topical skin
infections. In clinical studies, it’s been used with success against MRSA
and other chronic infectious skin wounds .10-11 Its
antimicrobial (infection) activity is effective against bacterial, viral,
fungal and protozoal (single-celled bugs) infections of the skin and
mucosal (mouth) tissues, and has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
properties as well.12 Tea tree oil can also be used for chronic
gingivitis, acne and seborrheic dermatitis.
- Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a
glycosaminoglycan (GAG) found throughout your body, primarily concentrated
in the fluids of the eyes and joints. It is also abundant in your skin. In
fact, HA is one of the main components of the extracellular matrix, the
key component in all of your connective tissues, including collagen and
cartilage.
While HA is involved in many body processes, it is essential for healthy skin. In fact, in our youth, HA is what provides the elasticity for skin, as one of its key roles is to help your skin retain moisture. As we age, HA production diminishes, making topical application particularly critical for older people, who more frequently feel the negative and painful effects of dry skin.
The skin is a complex barrier that protects us from the outside environment,
while at the same time maintaining our internal environment. In order to
perform its functions, the skin must maintain moisture; otherwise it is
susceptible to breakdown and infection. The skin can be treated both internally
and externally to keep it healthy.
Dr. Minoo Singh,
VanityIndia.Com
drminoosingh@live.in
http://www.VanityIndia.Com
** For all Skin related problems and queries, please visit Dr. Minoo Singh on her Facebook Page - http://www.Facebook.com/VanityIndia
