| ||||
| ||||
|
Beauty Information | return to main menu | go to beauty homepage | beauty index & site map | |
|
|
|
|
Dry Skin - Causes and Solutions For Great Looking and Feeling Skin
Dry skin, also referred to as xerosis or eczema or asteatosis, and erroneously as icthyosis, is a multi-faceted condition which periodically afflicts most of the population regardless of race or sex at one time or another, and through a wide age range. Dry skin may become more pronounced with aging if not treated when young. The symptoms of dry skin range from mild to severe, and may afflict virtually any part of the body. Arms, hands and legs are most frequently involved. Most dry skin conditions arise from conditions which can be modified or prevented and treated without medical intervention.. People residing in areas where climatic conditions include cold dry air accompanied by strong winds are most often affected during the winter months. Dry skin results from lack of water in the outer layer of skin cells known as the stratum corneum. When this layer becomes dehydrated it loses its flexibility and becomes cracked, scaly and sometimes itchy. The stratum corneum contains natural water-holding substances, including urea, which retain water seeping up from the deeper layers of the skin. Water is also normally retained in the stratum corneum by a surface film of natural oil (sebum) and broken-down skin cells, which slow down evaporation of water from the skin surface. The skin dries out when too much water evaporates from its surface. This increases as we get older, and is made worse by washing, because hot water and soap remove the layer of natural oil on the skin surface. When urea is applied to the skin it penetrates the stratum corneum, where it readily absorbs and retains water. This increases the capacity of the skin to hold moisture, and the skin therefore becomes rehydrated. The moisturizing base that the urea is mixed in, especially when it contains Shea Butter or Jojoba Oil, also provides a layer of oil on the surface of the skin, which helps prevent water from evaporating from the skin surface. Both actions soothe and soften the skin, and reduce the scaling and itching of dry skin conditions such as eczema and ichthyosis. Common dry skin should be treated by: 1. Decrease the frequency of bathing/showering; maintain tepid water; and limit the duration to 5 minutes or less. 2. Use a mild bar soap. Liquid soaps are more drying. Avoid glycerin soaps and those which contain deodorants. 3. Always apply a good moisturizing lotion after bathing/showering. Eucerin lotion is a moisturizer that contains urea as the active ingredient. Urea is a substance that is found naturally in the skin, which by its nature is very attracted to water. It is used to help rehydrate dry, scaly skin. Lotions and creams which contain urea, Shea Butter and/or Jojoba Oil are effective in mild to moderate cases of dry skin, whereas lighter petrolatum-containing lotions should be applied for less severe conditions. Petrolatum is the chemical name for "Vaseline". 4. Operating a humidifier in your home during cold climates, especially in the bedroom, may add moisture to the air and protect the skin when the heat is on. 5. Apply a moisturizer-sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater to all areas of the body exposed to the sun. 6. Finally, and very important, drink plenty of water and liquids to keep the skin moist from the inside. We can't rule out other pathology. Dry skin may be a symptom of a more complex problem, i.e.Ichthyosis commonly referred to as "fish-scale skin". This is a medical problem and must be treated by a physician specializing in dermatology. The origin of this condition is frequently hereditary with associated metabolic factors, i.e. under active thyroid. In addition to those precautionary measures indicated for the treatment of dry skin, your physician may prescribe a topical steroid and various emollient creams and lotions. If you want to learn more about Hygiene and Health issues, especially for kids, Please visit KidsHygieneAndHealth.com Kaaryn Walker is the creater of KidsHygieneAndHealth.com Offering free advice for hygiene and health related issues for youth and teenagers. Kid's Hygiene and Health has an "Ask the Expert" section which covers such topics as body odor, skin conditions, oral hygiene, etc.
MORE RESOURCES:
Beauty - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Lotion Candles May Be Harmful To Your Skin If you have a love for candles, then you have probably come across or heard of "lotion candles". A "lotion candle" is usually a scented soy candle and is advertised as being a moisturizer for your skin. Beauty and Raw Food One of the best ways to improve the appearance of your skin is by incorporating raw food into your diet. Beautiful skin starts from the inside out. Breast Augmentation - Cosmetic Surgery Breast Augmentation - Cosmetic SurgeryHow it's performed: Breast surgery depends mostly on the choice of implant, position and methods of how the implant will be inserted. The common areas of implant insertion are through the areola, under the crease of the breast or under the armpit. Personal Care Products Can Lead To Cancer Our skin is a two way membrane. During perspiration toxins are eliminated from our body through it. 8 Spray Tanning Tips With the recent surge in the popularity of tanning, many people are flocking to salons to use tanning booths or beds to build and maintain a healthy tan, but some people are still leery of the effects of ultraviolet light, and other people simply cannot afford to pay for tanning sessions.One of the best alternatives to indoor tanning is sunless tanning, which offers a realistic looking tan from a bottle. Tanning Bed Tips -- Enhancing Your Tanning Experience! If you are reading this, you have probably experienced the joys of the tanning bed and are now looking for tanning bed tips to enhance the pleasure of donning the tanned look. With several different opinions flying around, we thought it best to house some of the best proven tanning bed tips at a single point to facilitate your endeavor. Want Healthy Glowing Skin? Are you struggling with skin problems like acne, eczema, psoriasis etc.? Various factors such as toxins, vitamin, mineral, protein deficiencies, long-term exposure to sun light, dehydration etc. Hair Split Ends This is a common condition which proves to be the devil of every girl's life! Split ends are most often seen in long hair but also found in shorter hair that is out of condition and is an affliction of anyone trying to grow their hair. The problem can be solved with good hair maintenance so check out this article!Split ends, (or trichoptlosis), are the nightmare for every self-respecting woman's life! They happen when the protective cuticle has been stripped away from the ends of hair fibers. How Sleep Affects Our Skin Sleep is a "natural, temporary loss of consciousness" (Robinson, 1941) necessary for our bodies to build up energy reserves and regenerate body cells and tissues. During sleep, the heart beats more slowly, breathing becomes slower, growth hormones peak, muscles relax and body temperature lowers. Color Contacts: Fashionable, Dramatic and HOT! "A great way to give you a subtle or dramatic change is with colored contact lenses. Manufacturers currently make a wide range of different color contacts in both prescription and non-prescription form with colors available to make your eyes sizzle!" There are four types of colored contact lenses; visibility tints, enhancement tints, opaque color tints and light filtering tints, each offering something a bit different. The Hand Held Facial Steamer Is the Ultimate in Skin Care! Finally a better acne choice than non comedogenic facial cleansers, and a top choice for clear skin supplement for women. If you want to treat your skin to ultimate skin care than a hand held facial steamer is a must have!In the old days, women would plug in a kettle and use the steam to open their pores to allow for a deep clean. Have You Done Your Hair Care Correctly? Love your hair like you going to lose it. Hair is delicate, growing stuff which need to be handled with care. Do You Need Help With Dry Skin? As we get older our skin produces less of the natural oil that helps it retain its moisture. There are many contributing factors that can dry our skin. Hair Care Home Remedies Save money and give yourself a break from the chemicals found in most hair care products by using the following natural home remedies.Tame your frizzy hair by rubbing coconut oil into your hands and applying sparingly onto your hair. Preparing for Rhinoplasty Surgery You've done your research, had several consultations, selected your surgeon and scheduled the surgery. Now what? Following some prudent "rhinoplasty before and after" suggestions can shorten your recovery, help to protect and preserve your health and improve your outcome. Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon: Treat Yourself to Surgery at Its Best Los Angeles is the city as infamous as it is famous, as notorious a city as you can find. It is a city that is known the whole world over, even by millions who have never visited it, and it is surrounded by an intriguing mysticism that few can resist. The Importance Of Moisturizing The age of your skin has no bearing on whether you should moisturize. Even women in their 20s should us a good moisturizer to keep their skin young and supple for many years, and of course to help stave off those wrinkles. Seven Things to do Now to Look Good Always! Fashion magazines target people every day with lists and charts telling them the latest trends and techniques to look better, skinnier, smarter, where to buy the hippest clothes or the latest shoes! If you're a woman, you are probably bombarded more often than you like, and if you're a man, you may not get the information that you really want to know! Due to the glut of information available, most people know the obvious things to do to look elegant or well groomed, such as getting a good haircut or wearing certain brand name clothes. However, this may lead people to overlook some simple, basic things that can be done RIGHT NOW to add that subtle flair and polish to your everyday look!Renu Dalal-Jain, a certified image consultant and the owner of Flair Consulting in Philadelphia, PA, works with men and women to help them put their best personal face forward in social or corporate settings. Should You Get Hair Extensions? Are you sick and tired of your current hair style and want to change it immediately? Hair extensions can add instant length volume, thickness or highlights to your hair in just a few hours. They can be attached to your natural hair using many different methods available today. Eye Care: Make Your Eyes Look Beautiful and Let It Say Your Hearts Voice Ralph Waldo Emerson very rightly said, "One of the most wonderful things in nature is a glance of the eye; it transcends speech; it is the bodily symbol of identity". Eye is cosidered to be an integral party of one's beauty and we at times completely ignoring taking care of it.
|
| return to main menu | go to beauty homepage | beauty index & site map |
| © 2006 |
