Monday, April 18, 2011

How to Keep your Skin Hydrated


Many people suffer from dry skin, whether on the body or, more commonly, on the face. We put our skin through a lot and expose it to all sorts of things so it's really not surprising. If you're finding stubborn dry patches hard to shift, here are some easy ways to help your skin back to its lovely smooth condition.
Skincare tips:
  • Wear sun cream (or foundation with SPF) all year round to protect yourself from the damaging and drying effects of the sun.
  • Drinking alcohol and caffeinated drinks can have a drying effect on the skin so try and cut down on these or cut them out completely of you can – at least for a spell.
  • Drink plenty of water instead – aim for around 8 glasses a day. If you find this tricky, keep a large bottle on your desk and you'll be surprised how easy It is to get through. Keeping it at room temperature rather than icy cold also makes it easier to consume.
  • Although it's good for your insides, water actually has a drying effect on the outside of your skin as it can rinse away your skin's natural oils. Hot water is the worst culprit for this, so if you can keep showers cool or warm rather than piping hot. Also make sure you wear gloves when you're doing the washing up.
  • Avoid washing with harsh soaps, especially on your face. A moisturising shower cream will be much gentler and replenish some of your skins natural oils.
  • Add a splash of oil to your bath to lock in moisture and nourish your skin. Natural oils like olive or almond are very effective and also inexpensive. These can also be applied to in a thin layer to damp skin when you get out of the shower.
  • Dry your skin gently with your towel in a patting rather than a rubbing motion. Dry skin is more easily irritated and rubbing vigorously can lead to rashes.
  • When you're thoroughly dried off, apply moisturiser to your whole body. Your skin is an organ so it's best to treat it holistically. You may wish to apply a more greasy ointment to problem patches, particularly before bed.
  • Exfoliating with a scrub is a good way to remove any patches of flaky skin that cannot be restored with moisturiser alone. Don't do this more than once or twice a week though and avoid completely if your dry skin patches are itchy at all as scrubbing will only irritate it further.
  • Try eating plenty of oily fish and nuts, or failing that take a vitamin E supplement or cod liver oil.


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