Dry skin can be an uncomfortable and unsightly problem. From itchy, red patches to cracking, even painful skin, our skin is more than ready to tell us when it’s unhappy. And when our skin is dry, it is miserable. Dry skin symptoms can be caused by environmental factors or a skin condition such as psoriasis or eczema.
No matter the cause, dry skin is unpleasant and difficult to deal with. And whether you’re prone to dry skin symptoms or not, the cold, dry winter months lead to the onset of dry skin symptoms for a considerable percentage of Americans. You might have beautiful, bright, smooth, itch, and flake-free skin for the rest of the year. But come winter, scaliness abounds and redness erupts.
So how can you effectively address dry skin symptoms?
Organic Face Creams for Dry Skin
Later on, we’ll discuss some home remedies for relieving dry skin that you can do in addition to applying organic face creams and moisturizers. But let’s not forget that your best defense against dry skin (especially during the winter months) is by using all-natural skin cream daily.
Here are some of the categories of creams to look for. Each is similar, but not the same. These creams and lotions are made with different purposes and remedies in mind, but all of them serve to treat dry skin symptoms:
- Organic face cream.
- Eczema cream.
- Psoriasis lotion.
- Face moisturizer.
- Aloe vera cream.
- Body cream.
- All-natural skin lotion.
When using skin cream, make sure your skin is clean and free of dirt and oil before applying the cream. The best time to apply your skin cream is after a shower, after toweling off. Apply cream to your skin, paying particular attention to sensitive areas like the face, hands, feet, armpits, elbows, etc. Work the cream into the skin and reapply 12 hours later for maximum moisturizing potential. Don’t wait more than 24 hours to reapply.
Best Practices for Maximum Comfort from Skin Cream
To understand how to reduce dry skin symptoms, we have to first understand what causes dry skin.
Your body is comprised of 60% water. In fact, your skin alone is about 64% water. When dry weather sets in, the humidity in the air and environment drops, leaving your skin without the daily, environmental moisture that it is used to.
That’s why it’s so important to moisturize, especially during the winter season.
Applying skin cream may seem straightforward enough, but there are some best practices to obtaining maximum comfort. Experts recommend gently smoothing moisturizer onto the skin, as opposed to slapping, patting, or padding moisturizer on or rubbing it vigorously and roughly into the skin. The keyword here is “gentle.”
Applying skin cream or body lotions for dry skin is best done gently, methodically, and regularly. Most experts recommend using moisturizing creams after bathing. Some recommend using skin creams and body lotions in the morning and at night both. Experts also recommend looking for skin creams that have all-natural ingredients. Keep your eye out for these ingredients:
- Organic Aloe
- Sunflower oil
- Coconut oil
- Cocoa butter
- Shea butter
- Beeswax
- Jojoba oil
- Kukui nut oil
- Borage oil
- Evening primrose oil
- Vitamin B5
- Vitamin E
- Passionflower
- Chamomile
- Lavender
- Calendula
- Horsetail
Those are just a few of the all-natural ingredients that go into some organic face creams and moisturizers.
For more information and some helpful pictures on skin cream application tips, check out this article on WikiHow1.
How Else Can You Alleviate Dry Skin Symptoms?
While an all-natural face moisturizer is anyone’s first choice and their best defense against dry skin, there are other home remedies that you can work into your day-to-day life to maximize comfort and minimize dry skin symptoms.
Adjust how you bathe. The American Academy of Dermatologists2 lists improper bathing techniques as being one of the top causes of dry, irritated skin, especially during the winter months. When you bathe, be sure to limit your shower time to 5 to 10 minutes. Use warm (not hot) water, wash with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser, and blot your skin dry with a towel. And last but not least, be sure to apply moisturizer immediately after drying your skin.
An article in Medical News Today3 cites the importance of exfoliating daily. Exfoliation removes excess dry skin, frees up pores, and enhances the skin’s natural hydrating process. Quoting their text, “The skin naturally makes new cells and sheds old cells, typically replacing itself within about a month. When dead skin cells become stuck on the surface, people may notice dry patches and clogged pores. Exfoliating helps remove dead skin cells, which can reduce dry patches and improve the skin’s overall texture.”
Use coconut oil in tandem with skin cream. Healthline4 swears by coconut oil as being a natural emollient. An emollient is a substance that substantially softens or soothes the skin. Coconut oil is an emollient oil because it fills the spaces between skin cells, promoting hydration and preventing itchy, red skin symptoms. Healthline encourages using coconut oil on the most sensitive areas of the skin.
In an article published by the Harvard Medical School5, the authors encouraged readers to use a humidifier in their homes. Humidifiers counteract the effects of a cold, dry, wintery climate. That’s why using a humidifier is particularly wise during the winter. And even in warmer geographic regions, the winter months almost always bring a drop in relative humidity levels. For those who are sensitive to dry environments and temperatures, a humidifier can be a great way to boost your daily skincare regimen. Set your humidifier at 60% and run it everyday, particularly at night.
Another article in Medical News Today6 discussed the benefits of Aloe vera. Whether it is used in gel form or as a cream or lotion, the Aloe vera plant has natural, hydrating properties. Aloe vera cream is particularly beneficial for addressing extremely irritated areas of the skin. Experts recommend applying liberal amounts of organic Aloe vera cream to affected areas daily, particularly before bed.
Life With Clear, Comfortable Skin
People who struggle with dry skin symptoms often feel as though nothing can be done about it. If you’ve tried to ameliorate your skin symptoms in the past but had negligible results, don’t lose hope. It’s just a matter of seeking the right technique or approach. Utilize the above home remedies every day, and don’t forget to moisturize!
Sources:
1 https://m.wikihow.com/Apply-Face-Cream
2 https://www.aad.org/skin-care-basics/dermatologists-tips-relieve-dry-skin
3 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324935.php#exfoliate
4 https://www.healthline.com/health/home-remedies-for-dry-skin#coconut-oil
5 https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/9-ways-to-banish-dry-skin
6 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319555.php#prevention