Dry Skin: Symptoms, Causes, Relief Tips and Skincare Routine

   

Understanding Dry Skin

The skin becomes dry when it is unable to retain water effectively. This happens more frequently in the winter months as the colder weather compromises the protective skin barrier. As this important function is responsible for retaining moisture in the skin, the skin becomes drier and more sensitive when it’s damaged.

Symptoms of Dry Skin

You may start to notice that your skin barrier has become compromised if your skin feels rough, scaly, or flaky. You may also feel the difference and experience itchiness and discomfort.

CeraVe understands the needs of dry skin, which is why its moisturising range is enriched with ceramides and hyaluronic acid. These products are suitable for dry and combination skin types that have areas of dryness and need essential hydration.

   

Causes of Dry Skin

Environmental

Low humidity levels, harsh temperatures, and pollution all affect the skin barrier and can leave it compromised. As the face is the most exposed part of your body when you’re outside, it needs adequate protection from the elements to keep it hydrated and the skin barrier strong.

Lifestyle

The way we live our lives can have a big impact on the skin, and eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables affects the complexion—not to mention its ability to repair and restore itself. How so? Whole foods can help provide the building blocks that the body needs to produce collagen, which is an essential component of your skin, while antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables could help protect the skin against free radical damage produced by pollution, sunlight, and smoke.

Likewise, we need to drink lots of water and get plenty of sleep for these important functions to happen optimally. That’s why you may find that when you’re stressed, eat badly, or drink lots of alcohol, your skin doesn’t function as well, and the skin becomes drier.

Genetics

Our skin type can be affected by genetics, and often dry skin, and associated conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, run in the family. This can be helpful to some extent as it can help you understand the causes of your dry skin a little more easily. This knowledge can also help you to manage it with a hydrating daily skincare routine.

Potential Complications of Dry Skin

A compromised skin barrier may also put your skin at greater risk of developing conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. That’s why you should keep your skin barrier in good condition by moisturising your skin each day, especially in the winter. This will help to strengthen the barrier and ensure your skin has adequate hydration to protect itself from the challenges of winter.

Your Dry Skin Routine with CeraVe

Morning Routine

Winter skin requires a hydrating and gentle cleanser to prepare it for the rest of the products that follow. This first winter skincare step also adds must-needed moisture to help protect the barrier from external aggressors.

CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser cleanses away any debris and dirt from the skin. It’s ideal for dry skin in winter as it’s formulated with ceramides and the humectant hyaluronic acid – an ingredient that attracts water to the skin’s surface while helping to lock it in. MVE Delivery Technology also supplies the skin with a steady stream of nourishment throughout the day and night while it helps to maintain a healthy skin barrier that’s essential for locking in skin moisture.

This makes it great at keeping the skin soft and supple, smoothing away signs of ageing and plumping up the surface of the skin. It’s also ultra-gentle and lightweight so everyone – regardless of their skin type – can benefit from it.

Follow this with a targeted serum such as Skin-Renewing-Vitamin-C-Serum. Vitamin C will brighten dull winter skin while providing it with protection against environmental aggressors. Formulated with vitamin B5 and hyaluronic acid, it will also help to hydrate the skin throughout the day. Finally, apply a moisturising product with broad-spectrum protection such as the AM Facial Moisturising Lotion SPF50 which will hydrate and protect the skin from UV-induced damage as you go about your day.

Evening Routine

In the evening, you’ll need to start your routine with a gentle cleanse to remove makeup, skincare, pollution, and debris from the day. Opt for a product such as CeraVe Hydrating Foaming Oil Cleanser to remove impurities and leave the skin intensely moisturised for overnight hydration.

For rougher areas of skin, use a targeted cleanser such as CeraVe’s exfoliating SA Smoothing Cleanser and add moisture with a very hydrating product such as CeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment. CeraVe PM Facial Moisturising Lotion will also provide long-lasting hydration to the skin’s surface.

Body

It isn’t just the skin on your face that needs moisture during winter. The body can often be forgotten about when bundled beneath cosy winter layers. Ensure the skin on your body is soft and smooth all over with CeraVe’s Moisturising Cream, a rich quick-drying cream that your dry skin will appreciate. It’s suitable for dry to very dry skin types and can also be used by those who may be prone to eczema.

Hands

Cold temperatures can leave your hands feeling dry, rough, and sometimes even cracked. Keep them moisturised with CeraVe Reparative Hand Cream which contains essential ceramides and helps maintain the skin’s protective barrier and hyaluronic acid to retain moisture. Apply every night before bed, throughout the day after hand washing, and as needed.

When to Seek Professional Help

If your dry skin has become chronic or it has developed into eczema or psoriasis, you need to seek the help of a professional. You should also do this if you’re finding it hard to manage your dry skin with over-the-counter products and you are feeling uncomfortable or it’s affecting your wellbeing. Dermatologists and doctors can offer tailored treatments and prescription-only products in these circumstances.

Dry skin can be frustrating in the winter months. But, by adopting a proactive approach to managing it and better understanding your skin’s needs and triggers, you will be able to strengthen your skin barrier and keep hydration levels at an optimum level.

FAQs

How to treat dry skin on the face?

Dry skin on the face can be treated with hydrating skincare products such as a cream or oil cleanser, a hydrating serum, and a moisturiser. Apply them in this order to provide the skin with hydration at the surface. Look for hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides.

How to treat dry skin around the eyes?

The skin around the eyes is thinner than that on the face, so it may become drier more easily. Prevent this by applying a lightweight eye cream to this area containing hydrating ingredients. This will help restore softness and strengthen the skin barrier.

What are the major causes of dry skin?

Dry skin is caused by a compromised skin barrier. This can happen for several reasons such as a change in humidity, not maintaining a good skincare routine, or your genetics. When the skin barrier is damaged, the skin loses water more easily and becomes dry.

Does drinking water help dry skin?

Drinking water does have some benefits for dry skin as if your body is hydrated it can perform better, thus helping to keep your skin in good condition too. However, dry skin is largely caused by external factors in our environment, so it is recommended to treat it with topical products that help the skin protect itself and maintain a healthy barrier function.

How to get rid of dry skin on the face overnight?

If you have dry patches of skin on your face, the best thing you can do is maintain a hydrating skincare routine containing a gentle cleanser free from exfoliants, perfume, and alcohol. Follow this with a serum containing hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, as this helps the skin attract and retain water. It will also help to protect and strengthen your skin barrier. Finally, apply a rich moisturising cream or ointment to the skin. This will help to restore the skin’s hydration levels and smooth dry patches.