Ever been called ‘old lizard legs’? Dry skin is often caused by genetics, aging, hypothyroidism, diabetes, poor diet, lack of sleep and emotional stress. While our first instinct to combat dry skin is to slather on the most luxurious body butter we have at home, you can actually start making a few adjustments in your lifestyle. Here are a 8 natural preventive methods to combat dry skin.
Water, Water and More Water
Our body is composed of over 70% of water that builds up every cell, including your skin cells. The first step to combat dry skin is to increase your consumption of water you re-hydrate your skin, thus giving it natural moisture for smooth and soft skin. Studies show that it is recommended to drink 8 cups a day, but the more the better!
Eat a Balanced Diet
To look and feel healthy, you’ll have to start eating healthy. It is important to maintain a healthy and balanced diet to prevent your skin from drying out. Eat foods that are high in vitamins A, E and D such as leafy greens, nuts and fish, for example. Also consider incorporating avocado into your diet as it’s known for its high moisturizing properties.
Get Your Beauty Sleep
When you are sleeping, your body will naturally take the time to repair and restore from the inside out. Your cells will all start regenerating to unveil smoother and healthier skin. The National Sleep Foundation states that an adult need up to 7 to 9 hours of sleep a day. But don’t forget to drink a glass of before before hitting the sack!
Stay Warm, Not Hot
Studies have shown that it is better to take a warm shower rather than a hot shower as hot water can dehydrate your skin in an instant, leading it to dryness. Save hot showers for certain days when you really need, but stick to lukewarm water as often as you can.
Use Less Soap
According to the Harvard Health Publication, minimising the use of soap will help prevent dry skin. It is advisable to use soap-free cleansers rather than deodorant soaps, perfumed soaps or alcohol-infused products that can strip away natural oils needed for your skin.
Limit Your Use of Bath Sponges, Scrub Brushes and Washcloths
Exfoliating is important to remove dead skin cells to go from dull skin to brighter, smoother skin. However, over-exfoliating can reduce the elasticity of your skin, making it dryer and more prone to injuries and even wrinkles. Exfoliate once every three days gently, in circular motion.
Moisturize
Apply moisturizer, lotion or body butter immediately after showering. This is to seal the moisture between your skin cells while your skin is still damp to avoid dryness. This method is more effective than applying moisturizer when your skin is already dry.
Protect it From the Sun
Apart from a regular moisturizer, make sure to use something with a sun protection factor (SPF) is you are planning to go under the sun! The sun is known to not only dry the skin, but exposure to it can also cause skin irritation and burns. You’ll need a minimum of SPF 15, but the higher the better!
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