Many people have been battling dry skin and chapped lips as the weather has changed. Even in the best of times, this issue is typical. Dry skin can cause more serious issues, especially if it’s accompanied by irritation or a rash, in addition to being bothersome and difficult from a cosmetic standpoint.
According to clinical professor and dermatologist Saxon Smith, xerosis, sometimes known as dry skin, is more prevalent as we age. Our skin’s inability to retain moisture and those natural moisturizing elements, he claims, is a contributing factor. Therefore, our skin begins to become a little drier.
Wind and cold air, which lower humidity, indoor heating, and hotter, longer baths and showers are some environmental factors that contribute to dry skin. According to Smith, summertime hot gusts “are a bit like a fan-forced oven on us.” Both of them and prolonged sun exposure might be drying. On a hot day, air conditioning removes moisture from the air even indoors.
Additionally, drying effects are caused by frequent hand washing and hand sanitizers, especially those containing alcohol. These hygiene precautions have raised skin issues like dry skin and itching, combined with prolonged use of face masks.
Additionally, according to Smith, traditional soaps today act more like detergents than soaps, which is why they froth and lather up and draw out more moisture from the skin. The idea of lather was first introduced in the 1960s, thus this wasn’t always the case. Smith explains that the advertisement was for a specific brand of soap at the time. The sales pitch was so successful that it became customary.
Sebum can be flushed away by the environment, excessive washing, and rigorous exfoliation, but the body also produces less of it as we age and under a variety of other conditions, including hormones, medications, smoking, allergies, and food.
Three basic daily routines might help to protect the skin. In dermatology, using a soap-free wash, or moisturizer, and taking lukewarm showers are recommended as ways to take care of your skin, according to Smith. “They’re the general skin measures,” said the speaker.
In colder weather, he strongly advises thicker cream since the skin needs more water to help it normalize, along with shorter, less-hot showers, even if you might choose a lighter moisturizer in the summer. Smith suggests moisturizing hands before bed and at the beginning of the day to help counteract the effects of frequent hand washing. Lip balm can help prevent and heal chapped lips with regular use.
