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Dry skin

If you have dry skin, you probably experience a low level of sebum production and a leaning towards sensitive skin. Perhaps, your skin wears a parched look, chiefly because it cannot retain moisture. This makes it feel taut and uncomfortable after washing unless you smoothen out the feeling with a moisturizer or skin cream. If your skin is chapped or cracked, these too are signs of very dry and dehydrated skin.

Causes: Dry skin is made worse by extremes of temperature and air conditioning and wind, causing the skin to flake, chap and feel a particular tightness over the bones. It looks dull, especially on the cheeks and around the eyes. Do you have small tiny expression lines on these spots and at the comers of the mouth? These are typical signs of dry skin.

Here, your sebaceous glands do not produce the required oil to lubricate the skin, making the skin dehydrated. Besides, the skin is exposed to harsh elements in winter. Alternatively, you could have inherited dry skin or perhaps have got it due to a faulty diet with nutritional deficiencies, especially of vitamin A and B. Exposure to the sun, cold, chemicals and cosmetics, besides bathing with harsh soaps are contributory factors. Lastly, you could also suffer from dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, or seborrhoea.

Caring for dry skin: Wash your face with mineral water rather than tap water as this contains deposits that have a drying effect on your skin. Don't use hot water to wash nor should you use a rough-textured towel to wipe your face. When you wake up each day, spray mineral water on your skin and then pat it dry.

Cleanse your face thoroughly, massaging it as you go along with good amounts of oil and moisture. Protect your skin by washing it with soap and water to remove dirt and the natural oils in your skin.

Clean your face with non- detergent, neutral-pH products. Cleanse a second time with cream, leaving a thin layer on the skin. After a bath or a shower, use baby oil lightly. Massage your face with home-made nourishing cream every night, applying generously around the eyes. Moisten your skin with water and follow it up with a thin layer of air-excluding moisturizer which can make your skin supple once more.

Beauty mask for dry skin

1. 1 egg
2. 1 teaspoon of honey
3. 1/2 tsp olive oil
4. A few drops of rose water

Mix the ingredients thoroughly and use as a mask. Moisturizing your skin at night: Clean and tone your skin and add a splash of water. Leave skin slightly damp and pat over your face with a towel, then add a thin layer of moisturizer from bosom upwards to the hairline. Wait for five minutes and then blot off excess moisturizer with a tissue.

Moisturizing your skin by day: Wash and dry your face and then apply a little natural moisturizer on your throat, cheeks, and around the eyes. Men can do this after a shave, wait 10 minutes and repeat the process.

Do your best for your skin and you will only help yourself to always look your best. If you have any doubts, speak to your dermatologist before trying any treatments.