Dry skin is an unpleasent condition marked by scaling, itching, and cracking. It can occur for a variety of reasons. You might have naturally dry skin. But even if your skin tends to be oily, you can develop dry skin from time to time.
Dry skin can affect any part of your body. It commonly affects hands, arms, and legs. In many cases, lifestyle changes and over-the-counter moisturizers may be all you need to treat it. Dry skin often has an environmental cause. Certain diseases also can significantly affect your skin.
Potential causes of dry skin include:
Weather – Skin tends to be driest in winter, when temperatures and humidity levels plummet. But the season may not matter as much if you live in desert regions.
Heat – Central heating, wood-burning stoves, space heaters and fireplaces all reduce humidity and dry your skin.
Hot baths and showers – Taking long, hot showers or baths can dry your skin. So can frequent swimming, particularly in heavily chlorinated pools.
Harsh soaps and detergents – Many popular soaps, detergents and shampoos strip moisture from your skin as they are formulated to remove oil.
Other skin conditions – People with skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis (eczema) or psoriasis are prone to dry skin.
Here are five home remedies you can use for dry skin –
1. Mix coffee with coconut oil and castor oil and apply it on your face for 20 mins then scrub it gently and wash with warm water.
Coffee with coconut oil
2. Take 1/4 cup papaya pulp then add 2 teaspoons whole milk and 1 teaspoon honey apply it for 20 mins and wash with warm water.
Papaya pulp and milk
3. Combine 1/2 cup of sugar with 2 tbsp of olive oil apply it on face and neck for 2 mins and scrub it for 10 mins then wash it with cold water.
Olive oil and sugar
4. Mix 2 tbsp daliya with 1 tbsp honey then add white egg when you’re ready to apply the mask then wait for 15 mins to dry then wash it with luke warm water.
Daliya and honey
5. Blend one handful of fresh coriander leaves with half cup each of oatmeal, milk and grated cucumber. Blend the mixture to a smooth paste. Apply coriander face mask on your face and let it sit for half an hour then wash with cold water.
Try these tips to keep skin from getting excessively dry:
Moisturize – Moisturizer seals skin to keep water from escaping.
Limit water exposure – Keep bath and shower time to 10 minutes or less. Turn the dial to warm, not hot. Try to bathe no more than once a day.
Skip the drying soap – Try cleansing creams, gentle skin cleansers and shower gels with added moisturizers.
Cover as much skin as possible in cold or windy weather – Winter can be especially drying to skin, so be sure to wear a scarf, hat and gloves when you go out.
Wear rubber gloves – If you have to immerse your hands in water or are using harsh cleansers, wearing gloves can help protect your skin.
Now try these five home remedies for dry skin. But sometimes the dryness will be severe and may indicate an underlying skin issue or health condition (more on that below). If the dryness is so severe that it interferes with your ability to work or sleep, if the skin becomes cracked or bleeds, or if it doesn’t seem to be responding to prescription treatment, be sure to visit your primary care doctor.