DRY SKIN

Dry skin occurs due to water loss from the skin.  Some of the causes of dry skin are dry cool climates, heaters and air conditioners, certain toners and soaps, abrasive products on the skin like scrubs and brushes, dehydration ie not drinkng sufficient water, certain medical conditions like psoriasis and hypo-thyroidism, swimming in pools with high chlorine content, and even bathing or showering for a long time with hot water.

Dry skin is more prone to developing early wrinkles and lines.

It is important to use moisturising soaps on the body like Dove, Cetaphil cleanser or Oil of Olay moisturising wash.  Adding bath oil to water after bathing also helps to lock in moisture.  Applying a moisturising cream or lotion to the body while it is still slghtly damp will also help to seal in the moisture.  The thicker a moisturiser is, the better it will be for treating dry skin. 
However, if one is acne prone, careful care should be taken in selecting a moisturiser as certain products are comedogenic and will worsen the acne.  

Diet plays an important role in maintaining healthy skin.  Inrease water intake, limit caffeine intake, and eat the correct types of oils and fats namely essential fatty acids (EFA) viz omega-3 and omega-6 found in flax oil, raw walnuts, fatty fish and evening primrose oil.  Don't rely on applying oils and lotions to your skin. Take one teaspoon of flax oil, or two capsules of flax, borage, or evening primrose oil, twice a day. Add two to four capsules of fish oil daily, except on days when you eat oily fish, like salmon.  
Your skin needs vitamin A to repair and make healthy skin. Red, yellow, and dark green leafy vegetables contain carotenoids, used to make vitamin A.  Supplement your diet with  Make sure you get enough vitamin C, which is needed to make the skin protein collagen. Take 1,000-2,000 mg a day and eat potatoes, citrus, and bell peppers, all high in this vitamin.

There are some good products available for treating dry skin.  In our rooms we stock a range of excellent products by  Neostrata (Bio-hydrating cream and Bionic Face Cream) and Lamelle (Barrier Repair Cream).  The Neostrata PDS cream is particularly useful for treating resistant dry skin.

DRY SKIN DO's & DONT's 

DO's

- reduce bath or shower time to < 5min
- bath in warm water
- add bath oil to water
- apply moisturiser immediately to damp skin
- use non-acne provoking products
-  pat skin dry after bathing
- shower after swimming to remove chlorine
- drink alot of water and eat essential fatty acids

DONT's

- bath or shower for long periods
- bath in hot water
- use alcohol based soaps and cleansers
- use harsh skin products
- towel vigorously
- have too much caffeine