Wednesday, February 23, 2011
I drink a TON of water...why is my skin so dry?
9:49 PM | 
Posted by
Barbie Winterbottom |
The outermost layers of our skin is our armour against the world and all its daily attacks. Here are just a few of the things our skin deals with each day that contribute to dryness:
- Hot showers/hot tubs - while hot showers and hot tubs feel great and relaxing, excessive hot water and all the chlorine and additives in our water are big contributors to dry skin. A few things to help counteract this are:
- Try lowering the water temperature
- Take a shorter shower/bath <15 minutes is best
- Within 3 minutes of your shower, gently pat your skin dry and then apply a moisturizer, one of my faves is a shea butter based moisturizer
- Pollutants in the air - car exhaust, smog, cigarette smoke, pollen, etc. A 1997 Berkeley study showed that exposure to ozone concentrations drained the skin's supply of Vitamin E by 25% in as little as two hours. People are more prone to this risk in cities with high ozone densities, such as Los Angeles and Mexico City. Smoke and dust also absorb the moisture in the skin, leaving it parched. Even climate-controlled environments can play a part in drying your skin. Modern-day mechanical wonders, such as centralized heating and air-conditioning, can actually cause humidity levels to drop inside the living space and cause dry skin. Forced-air furnaces and fireplaces also contribute to dry skin. Devices such as household humidifiers can help prevent this.
- Lack of sleep also promotes dry skin. The body naturally repairs damaged skin cells during this resting phase. Getting enough sleep is probably the simplest thing you can do to avoid dry skin.
- Lack of exercise can also contribute to dry unhealthy skin. Even 30 minutes of aerobic exercise 3 times per week increases blood flow, which increases oxygen levels and nutrients delivered to tissue which increases skins brilliance, clarity and more.
- Medical Conditions - there are a host of medical conditions that contribute to dry skin; thyroid imbalances, diabetes, digestive issues to name a few.
So, what do we do to keep our skin hydrated and supple?
For our Bodies...
- Be aware of your environment. Hospital workers, flight attendants and those who work in environment with recycled air are encouraged to moisturize twice daily and especially after showering.
- Get plenty of rest, at least 8 hours per night to rejuvenate
- Use a humidifier in your home to replenish moisture in the air
- Get moving 30 minutes/3 times per week!
- Check with your physician if persistent dry skin doesn't improve with moisturizer, humidifiers and proper rest. You may have a condition that needs medical attention.
For our Faces...
- Exfoliating the dry outer layers of skin on a regular basis is important. Removing these dead layers allows moisturizers to penetrate deeper where they can restore the moisture barrier.
- Applying moisturizer both morning and night is imperative to keeping your sin plump
- Use UVA/UVB sunscreen to protect your skin from UV damage which causes a myriad of issues including leathery dryness.
These are a few suggestions to get you started on softer more supple moisturized skin!
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About Me
- Barbie Winterbottom
- Barbie is the founder of Advanced Aesthetics and co-founder of the former Anti-Aging & Aesthetic Institute and in Tampa, FL. A licensed medical esthetician, Barbie has studied with physicians, internationally renowned CIDESCO skin care professionals, scientists and researchers to fully understand the skin, products, treatments and how to make them all work together for the best benefit of the client. Expanding on her own clinical practice, Barbie is now sharing her insight and knowledge globally on the web via this blog, The Examiner.com and more. Barbie is frequently featured on local and syndicated TV programs for her expertise in skin care and trends in the industry.
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2 comments:
Drinking water cannot alone make for a healthy skin. There are a lot of things to consider which are well described here. Nice post! I would refer this blog to my friends.
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Good article. I am found of skin Stretch marks treatment .I skin is very sensitive and need best for my skin.Thank for posting.