Dry facial skin is quite common and usually not a serious condition. But, by avoiding it, you can help preserve the beauty and health of your skin, especially in winter.
Aside from aesthetics, your skin plays a vital role as a protective barrier, which is why it's important for you to keep it healthy. Read on and discover how you can enjoy soft, supple, healthy facial skin at any time of the year.
Dry facial skin occurs when the protective barrier that keeps the skin hydrated gets broken down, which can happen when there’s a lack of sufficient water in the epidermis, one of the skin’s upper layers.
Anyone, regardless of age or skin type, can experience dry or dehydrated skin at times. However, as we age, our skin tends to dehydrate more easily. This is due to a number of changes, including a gradual slowing of skin-cell renewal.
Other factors can also cause dry facial skin:
Dry skin can also be accompanied by other symptoms, like itching, burning or a tight sensation, redness, flaking (peeling skin), loss of elasticity, or skin that’s rough to the touch. In extreme cases, the skin’s barrier could be compromised, as is the case with cracked or chapped skin. Dry skin can also aggravate more serious skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis and rosacea.
Learn more about other causes and factors that can cause dry skin.
There are countless ways to prevent dry facial skin. Here are 10 easy, healthy habits you can adopt daily to help keep your skin properly hydrated throughout the year.
1
Wash your face twice daily, morning and night, using gentle cleansers that are free of fragrances, soaps and alcohol. Read the labels to ensure your facial-care products don’t contain harsh or irritating ingredients that can lead to dry skin. Micellar waters are a good choice.
2
By moisturizing your skin daily, you can help maintain the integrity of your skin and prevent the discomfort caused by dehydration. After your shower or bath, avoid rubbing your skin dry. Instead, get in the habit of gently patting your skin dry with a towel. Then use a fragrance-free moisturizer, and reapply it as needed throughout the day. Ask your pharmacist or beauty specialist for product recommendations.
3
Another excellent way to help prevent dry, dehydrated skin on a daily basis is by following Canada's Food Guide. Choose a widely varied and balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and fish, which contain specific nutrients, like vitamin B5, vitamin E and unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids—all of which play an important role in keeping your skin properly hydrated.
4
Drinking plenty of water every day helps keep your skin well hydrated, supple and healthy. Plus, you should avoid drinking beverages with too much sugar or caffeine on a regular basis because they can also dehydrate your skin.
5
It can be hard to quit smoking. But there are numerous health benefits, like an improvement in the appearance and condition of your skin! Smoking affects your skin's moisture levels and causes other skin damage, like accelerating the aging process, so the sooner you quit, the better you’ll look (and feel)!
6
Drinks that contain alcohol, (just like drinks with too much sugar or caffeine) have a dehydrating effect on your skin. What’s more, alcohol can interfere with proper sleep, which is essential for regenerating your skin. So, moderating your consumption of alcohol is a good way to care for your skin and your overall health!
7
Preventing dry skin also means getting proper protection from the sun's UV rays, even when it’s cloudy, and even in winter! Make sure you use a sunscreen with a solar protection factor (SPF) of at least 30, and remember to apply it 20 to 30 minutes before you go out in the sun.
Discover our tips for protecting sensitive skin from the sun, even in winter.
8
Using a humidifier is often recommended during winter to help prevent dry skin when the level of humidity in your home is less than optimal.
9
You can fight the conditions that can cause dry skin by adopting these simple and practical daily habits:
10
Water that’s too hot can also dry out your skin. So, we recommend taking quick baths or showers using slightly cooler water. What’s more, washing once a day is generally enough to stay clean.
We recommend using oils, creams or moisturizing lotions that contain lipid-rich, repairing ingredients. You can also apply nourishing masks that remove dead skin cells and prepare your epidermis to absorb your other skincare products more easily.
No matter what your age, your skin type of your current health, you should speak to your pharmacist for help with preventing and treating dry facial skin.
Read our beauty tips for daily ways to maintain healthy facial skin.
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