Dry Skin
Dry skin has a low level of sebum and can be
prone to sensitivity. The skin has a parched look caused by its inability to
retain moisture. It usually feels "tight" and uncomfortable after washing unless
some type of moisturizer or skin cream is applied. Chapping and cracking are
signs of extremely dry, dehydrated skin.
Dryness is exacerbated by wind, extremes of temperature and air-conditioning,
all of which cause the skin to flake, chap and feel tight. This type of skin is
tightly drawn over bones. It looks dull, especially on the cheeks and around the
eyes. There may be tiny expression lines on these spots and at the comers of the
mouth.
Causes
The
oil glands do not supply enough lubrication to the skin. As a result, the skin
becomes dehydrated.
Skin
gets exposed to the elements especially in winter.
Dry
skin could be due to a genetic condition.
Poor
diet. Nutritional deficiencies, especially deficiencies of vitamin A and the B
vitamins, can also contribute to dry skin.
Environmental factors such as exposure to sun, wind, cold, chemicals, or
cosmetics, or excessive bathing with harsh soaps.
Conditions such as dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, or seborrhea.
Dry
Skin Could Also Be From:
Dry
skin can be a sign of an underactive thyroid.
Serious skin complications can arise for people with diabetes.
Certain drugs, including diuretics, antispasmodics, and antihistamines, can
contribute to dry skin.
How To Care for Dry Skin
Avoid the use of tap water when cleansing dry
skin. The deposits are too drying on the skin. And never, ever use hot water.
Use mineral water to freshen your face. Don't use a washcloth-a rough texture
can irritate. In the morning, apply a spray of mineral water on your skin misted
on with a plant sprayer. (Do not use a sprayer that had been used for spraying
insecticides.) Lightly pat dry.
Dry skin needs plenty of thorough but gentle
cleansing, regular stimulation with massage and generous quantities of oil and
moisture. It also needs extra careful protection. Washing dry skin with soap and
water not only removes grime but also the natural oils protecting the skin. A
moisturizer increases the water content of the outer layers of the skin and
gives it a soft, moist look.
Use nondetergent, neutral-pH products to
cleanse your skin. Avoid using any commercial soap. And always touch your face
gently. Double-cleanse with a cream, leaving a light, thin trace of it on the
skin after the second cleansing.
Follow a bath or a shower with a mild
application of baby oil. Massage your face with home-made nourishing cream every
night before retiring. Be generous with the cream in the areas surrounding the
eyes where tiny lines and crows feet are born.
Avoid coming in contact with highly alkaline
soaps and detergents like washing sodas and powders which contain highly
alkaline and drying ingredients.
Moistening with water, then applying a thin
film of air-excluding moisturizer, restores the suppleness of the dry skin.
Morning Skin Cleanser/Rejuvenator
Every morning 15 minutes before taking your
bath
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon orange juice
1 teaspoon olive oil and
few drops of rose water
few drops of lime juice
Mix the above ingredients together and apply on
your skin.
Beauty Mask for Dry Skin
1 egg
1 teaspoon of honey,
1/2 teaspoon of olive oil and
few drops of rose water
Mix the ingredients thoroughly and use as a
mask.
Night Moisturizing
After you clean and tone your skin, apply a
splash of water or a water-misting. Pat almost dry with a soft towel, then
smooth moisturizer from bosom to hairline. Allow five minutes for immediate
absorption (cover your face and throat with warm washcloths to hasten
penetration), then blot off any excess moisturizer with a tissue.
Men can skip the toner but should moisturize
the delicate skin around the eye area.
Day Moisturizing
Apply a touch of your natural moisturizer over
the freshly cleansed, toned, and dampened skin on your throat, cheeks, and
around your eyes. Men should follow a two-step process. Apply moisturizer
immediately after shaving. Wait ten minutes. Then moisturize again.
Milk Bath
Once a week take a milk bath. It will nourish
and smoothen your skin. Warm your bath water and put in 250 gram of powdered
milk, half tablespoon of almond oil and a few drops of your favorite perfume.
Then just lie in it and let your mind wander while the wholesome foam works
wonders on your dry skin.
If your lips chap, peel or crack then the best
remedy is to massage them with a little cream of milk to which a few drops each
of rose water and lime juice has been added every night before going to bed.
Before applying lipstick, use a soft piece of towel for removing rough bits of
chapped skin and rub a piece of raw beetroot gently on them. After applying
lipstick add a little vaseline to keep your lips soft and pretty.
Moisturize your skin after cleansing to keep it
from drying out. Use a liquid moisturizer or facial oil that contains nutrients
and other natural ingredients. Avoid solid, waxy moisturizing creams.
Use a humidifier (or even a pan of water placed
near a radiator) to humidify your environment, especially in winter. This helps
to reduce the amount of moisture lost from the skin through evaporation.
Stay out of overheated rooms; avoid sudden
changes in temperature; protect yourself from wind and sun. Remember, your face
is fragile.
If you don't have a good, strong moisturizer on
your face on a cold, windy winter day, don't go out! Cold will cause any
moisture on your skin to evaporate. The wind will just accelerate the process.
At night, use a very creamy cleanser or oil
(baby oil is perfectly all right). Remove residue with a spray of mineral water.
Follow up with a night cream applied at least a half-hour before retiring. If
you lie down immediately after applying cream, it will "puff-up" delicate
tissues around the eyes.
Once a week, use a facial mask to clarify the
skin and remove dull, dry surface skin cells. Blend together well 1 teaspoon
green clay powder and 1 teaspoon raw honey. Apply the mixture to your face,
avoiding the eye area. Leave it on for fifteen minutes, then rinse well with
lukewarm water. While your skin is still slightly damp, apply a natural skin oil
or liquid moisturizer.
If your skin is chapped or cracked, increase
your consumption of water and essential fatty acids. Keep any chapped areas well
lubricated and protected from the elements.
For cracked, dry skin on the fingers, use
calendula cream or oil with comfrey, vitamin E oil, and aloe vera. Apply the
mixture to hands at bedtime, then wear plastic gloves overnight.
Do not smoke. Smoking has a harmful effect on
the skin for several reasons. Nicotine constricts the blood vessels, including
the tiny capillaries that serve the skin. This deprives the skin of the oxygen
and nutrients it needs for good health. Smoking also can make the skin dry and
leathery.
Do not use harsh soaps, cold cream, or
cleansing creams on your skin. Cleansing creams are made from hydrogenated oils,
which can cause free radical damage to the skin, resulting in dryness and
wrinkles. Instead, use pure olive, avocado, or almond oil to cleanse the skin.
Pat the oil on, then wash it off with warm water and a soft cloth.
Do not use very hot water when bathing or
showering.
As much as possible, stay out of the sun. The
sun is responsible for most of the damage done to the skin. It causes dryness,
wrinkles, and even rashes and blisters. Always apply a good sunscreen to all
exposed areas of skin if you must be in the sun.
Herbs for Dry Skin
Aloe Vera:
Aloe vera is soothing, healing, and moisturizing. It also helps to remove dead
skin cells. Apply aloe vera gel topically on affected areas.
Calendula and comfrey
have skin-softening properties. They can be used in a facial sauna or to make
herbal or floral waters. Comfrey also reduces redness and soothes irritated
skin.
Add 5 drops of lavender oil or oat extract to
bath water. After the bath, apply diluted evening primrose oil or aloe vera
cream.
Drink teas of camomile, dandelion or
peppermint.
Borage, fennel, coltsfoot or calendula tea also
helps improve the skin. Add 1 tsp. of herbs to 1 cup of boiling water and drink
daily.
Tea tree oil has been known to penetrate into
the skin's cellular level. Add 1 drop of oil to your favorite day or night cream
to help moisturize and smooth skin.
Herbal Facial Sauna
A weekly facial sauna using the herbs
chamomile, lavender, and peppermint is good for dry skin.
Using a glass or enameled pot, simmer a total
of 2 to 4 tablespoons of dried or fresh herbs in 2 quarts of water. When the pot
is steaming, place it on top of a trivet or thick potholder on a table, and sit
with your face at a comfortable distance over the steam for fifteen minutes. You
can use a towel to trap the steam if you wish.
After fifteen minutes, splash your face with
cold water and allow your skin to air dry or pat it dry with a towel. Then
either apply a good natural moisturizer or facial oil, or apply a clay mask.
After the sauna, you can allow the herbal water
to cool and save it for use as a toning lotion to be dabbed on your face with a
cotton ball after cleansing.
