Lifeless skin is lifeless life. If you have dry skin all over, you're like the real representation of Pablo Picasso's “The Old Guitarist,” walking around with very dry skin as if your internal organs are as dry as you look. This may sound like an exaggeration, but dry skin is really a struggle for many people. This is a common skin dilemma among residents of tropical and sub-tropical places. When winter arrives, they mimic their surroundings. Their skin becomes lifeless and so dry, as if beckoning for the clouds to quench their skin with some rain to once again look fresh and supple.

Dry skin may not be life threatening, but it can lead to a worse ailment. Severe cases result in cracked skin that makes it possible for harmful bacteria and other pathogens to easily enter the body. To heal dry skin effectively is to understand its causes. If you are the type of person that suffers from certain allergies, getting rid of dry skin may require a stronger and more potent treatment. Generally, the dry skin appearance is brought about by many environmental factors that can be corrected by simply tweaking your daily regimen.

CAUSES OF DRY SKIN

Dry skin may be caused by a plethora of factors that generally mirror poor and impoverished health habits.

• Poor diet
• Poor hygiene
• Poor attempt to quit smoking
• Poor defenses from harsh elements such as strong wind and extreme sunlight
• Poor health such as eczema, dermatitis, allergies, and psoriasis

Any of these factors that cause dry skin are likely to bring signals to your brain that tell your fingernails to scratch, scratch, scratch! This, in turn, results in more peeling, redness, flaking and irritation. If neglected, irritation reveals stronger symptoms such as deep cracking, fissures, hives, rashes, and deep burning – things that makes you want to stay in the tub forever.

HOW TO DEAL WITH DRY SKIN

Follow these tips to get rid of the discomfort of dry skin and bring back your self esteem.

Have a Beauty Ritual

Contrary to popular belief, rituals are not just for voodoo folks – they’re also done by the most beautiful people in the world. Every night, engage in a soothing ritual of moisturizing your skin (In case your curious, read Top ten weirdest beauty rituals). The primary cause of dry skin is lack of moisture. Many dermatologists even recommend moisturizing dry skin more than once per day. Proceed to a reputable beauty shop and purchase some gentle creams, lotions, and soaps. Get those that have natural ingredients such as cocoa butter, honey, olive oil, and petroleum jelly.

Experts recently unveiled three natural ingredients that are proven to be very effective when it comes to alleviation of dry, lifeless skin. These are coconut oil, aloe vera and jojoba butter. Coconut oil contains huge amounts of health giving nutrients. Aloe vera is great for dry skin because it's also used to treat burns and scalds. Jojoba butter is an organic wax that helps keep moisture on the skin.

Be vigilant when buying commercial moisturizers because it's been speculated that 90% of these products contain chemicals that may place unwanted chemicals in your body. Remember that when you use a moisturizing product on your skin, many of the ingredients actually seep into your bloodstream. It's like eating your lotion without stuffing it in your mouth.

Watch out for the following substances by reading the labels of moisturizing creams and lotions carefully.

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) – Many experts have raised some health concerns regarding SLS in toothpaste and some moisturizers. This is a chemical that is actually bad for your skin. SLS is the same chemical that is used to clean garage floors.
• Parabens – These are the preservatives that are used by both the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries to ensure that cosmetics and medicines won't be invaded by bacteria and fungi. This substance became controversial because of its estrogenic effect. This means that parabens may increase your risk of acquiring breast and prostate cancer.
• Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) – This is a fat-soluble phenol that is used in cosmetic products to serve as an anti-oxidant. This is the same chemical that's found in jet fuels, petroleum, rubber, and embalming fluid.

Natural remedies are best when you have to do such skin rituals. When you find the right plant or mineral oil for yourself, lather up with your preferred body oil and cover it with a wrap. Wraps that are commonly used are thin cloth or plastic wrap. Leave the wrap on for about an hour to intensify the skin treatment.

Wash Yourself with Care

People generally have tendencies to treat germs like their arch-enemy, so they wash their hands and their body rigorously to protect themselves from being contaminated. That is understandable and there are indeed instances when you want to do this. However, be very careful with the type of soap you are using.

There are soaps out there that contain harsh chemicals that eliminate not just the germs, but also the natural oil your skin needs. You can live through this unharmed during summer, but in winter, this causes a lot of problems because the air is very dry.

Use germicidal soaps only when necessary and resort to beauty soaps (such as Dove) when your hands and body are not too soiled to begin with. Never use abrasive scrubs such as loofa or a scrub brush. Instead, use a soft washcloth and softly lather up and pat your skin with soapy water.

Be meticulous with your shower settings. Excessive steamy baths can also break and wash away your skin's protective layer. It can be enjoyable to have steamy baths during winter time, but make it a point to use lukewarm water so that your skin's natural moisturizing shield never washes off with your bodily dirt.

Get Rid of Dead Skin

This doesn't mean you have to use some clippers and manually snip off dead skin from your physique. Applying some gentle astringent or any other exfoliating agents on the skin may help you get rid of dry skin. However, this must be done the right way because you don't want to look liked a baked turkey. When done properly and professionally, cosmetic exfoliation helps your skin to replenish and naturally moisturize itself. Exfoliation prevents the build-up of old skin cells on the surface of your skin, which can irritate and block new skin cells. The build-up of old skin cells results in dry skin and some acne. However, be sure to practice gentle exfoliation such as the use of gentle exfoliating scrubs. If you have the money, professional exfoliation carried out by a cosmetologist is the surest way of getting favorable results.

Be Careful When Shaving

There are certain parts of your body that you might shave, such as your legs, armpits, or face. These areas are prone to dry skin. If you shave often make it a habit to change your razor blade every 2-3 weeks. During regular use, your razor gets coated with soap, shaving cream and old skin cells, which force you to increase the pressure you apply to your skin while you shave. This also increases your risk of drying out your skin and causing a lot of irritation. After shaving, moisturize your skin with a nice cosmetic cream. (Learn how to shave)

Shield Yourself from Tormenting Weather

You may be annoyed to bring that umbrella wherever you go, but it actually protects you from the harsh properties of intense sunlight. Develop the habit of protecting your dry skin whenever you choose to embrace the outdoors even when the weather is unforgiving. Wear some protection by moisturizing your skin before and after exposure to the elements. Buy sunscreen that has a higher SPF. Cover yourself by wearing a windbreaker or any clothing that can protect your sensitive or dry skin. If you're not convinced, movies like “Mad Max,” “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Apollo 13” might convince you.

Eat Well

There are certain foods that can help you improve your dry skin from inside out. Try to gorge food products that have essential omega 3 fats. It's best if you can take high-quality (animal-based) omega 3 fats from foods like krill and fish oil. There are also supplements that provide these essential fats. Plant-based fats may also help you in a certain way. However, plant-based fats may not be as effective as the animal-based fats. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, drink lots of water and take some vitamins as well.

Transitioning to a healthy diet won't yield any results if you don't quit smoking. Smoking actually lowers your ability to resist infection (Tips on how to quit smoking). It also kills your skin's natural glow because nicotine that passes through your bloodstream has an indirect side effect on your skin. If you’re a smoker, get some nicotine patches right away!

Get out of the Desert!

Dry air inside your house only intensifies your discomfort. Add some moisture to the air surrounding you by filling up a humidifier and let it run every night while you sleep. Keep your humidifier clean so that it's only moisture that spreads in your house, not harmful bacteria.

You have to deal with dry skin immediately because like dry earth, if you don't treat it quickly, you will be brittle inside and out. Be wise, moisturize!

* Enter the room with a sense of pride and confidence. Make sure your skin glows like the sun. To rid yourself of dry and lifeless skin, learn how to make skin glow and seize the day ahead!