the Art of Showering For Dry Skin

[njchica]

The Art of Showering for Dry Skin - 14 November 2000

Is there an art to showering? You may be mistaken if you think there isn ’t, because for millions of people with dry, itchy skin conditions
such as eczema, how they shower can make the difference between itchy flaky skin or managing the dryness effectively.

Ordinary shower gels contain large quantities of detergent or surfactants that strip away the natural oils in the skin so it is less able to protect itself, causing even greater water loss and dryness.

So if you want to keep your dry skin dry in the best condition possible what ’s the right approach? Here is some guidance on the real art of showering :

• Use an emollient soap-substitute that actively moisturises dry, itchy skin.

• Treat your skin gently. DO NOT use rough harsh puffs or sponges that could harbour bacteria. Use hands to apply cleanser all over wet skin, massage gently and rinse off.
Never exfoliate or use scrub creams.

• Wash hair separately over a bath or basin. Dirt and detergent cascading over skin from your hair can irritate.

• After showering gently pat dry with a soft towel.Too much rubbing will remove moisturising lipids.

• If your skin needs some extra help,apply an emollient cream or lotion while the skin is still slightly moist to maximise moisturising benefits.

• Keep water cool. Hot water aggravates itching and is not so refreshing. Avoid power-showers that could stimulate itching - a gentle stream is best.


http://www.skinexpert.net/news/index.asp?NID=193

[njchica]

I have been suffering from very dry skin lately on my body and face... I've been doing some research on how to treat it and I'll share my info here in this thread for anyone else who may also want to know about it.

[njchica]

this is a post by a salon owner...

This is what WORKS:.. after they get out of the tub... RIGHT away...apply baby oil to the damp skin. Then after a few minutes of that soaking in, towel dry off and then apply their regular moisturizer. They will be fine. If this does not work for them then they are NOT doing it. This works

[njchica]

Controlling Dry Skin
Most cases of dry skin can be brought under control in under two weeks. Use a gentle, creamy cleanser every day, and always rinse with cool water, since hot water can carry away your skin's moisture. Use a thick moisturizer containing collagen, lactic acid or urea, and apply it while your skin is still damp to lock in the moisture. If that isn't enough, try applying a gel containing hyaluronic acid before using your moisturizer. Finally, avoid products containing drying agents like alcohol, clay and glycerin. You might also consider a mild chemical peel at a dermatologist's office, which can remove layers of dead skin that block moisturizer from reaching the healthy skin beneath.

http://www.substance.com/skin/solutions/item/0,,233242,00.html[ This Message was edited by: njchica on 2003-05-31 19:59 ]

[njchica]

Mask for Dry Skin
by Anne-Cecile Curot


INGREDIENTS
6 oz plain yogurt
¼ finely crushed almonds
2 tsp Beeswax or honey
2 tsp wheat germ oil








DIRECTIONS
Mix all the ingredients until you obtain a smooth texture. Apply and massage into skin. Keep the mask on for twenty minutes.

INGREDIENT BENEFITS
Crushed Almonds
• Exfoliating power
• Eliminates dead skin

Honey
• Aids in adhering mask to skin

Wheat Germ Oil
• Contains Vitamin E
• Fights free radicals


http://www.substance.com/skin/scea/article/0,,273694,00.html
[ This Message was edited by: njchica on 2003-05-31 20:06 ]

[sunbunny]

Chica, I got it the first time.

Thanks for the tips!

[njchica]

a recipe from fungirlz:

To hydrate the skin..
Mash a ripe bannana, mix with powdered milk or yogurt and add honey..
Paste on to your skin.. remove when dry with luke warm water..

[njchica]

When Dry Skin Is Itchy
Dry skin itches when your skin has developed cracks and fissures (which you may not even see) and bacteria, chemicals or other irritants have entered it. For immediate relief, try 100 percent aloe vera gel or calamine lotion. Benadryl creams, which contain antihistamines, temporarily stop itching.
What you really need is to allow your skin time to heal. Use a good moisturizer that contains oils that will lay on top of the skin and act as a barrier -- preventing moisture from leaving your skin. Petrolatum, cocoa butter and baby oil are known as excellent barriers. One study has shown that if you coat your skin with petrolatum and wipe it off immediately, you will retain enough barrier protection to make a noticeable difference.

http://www.substance.com/skin/care/dry/article/0,,217980,00.html

[njchica]

Stop Scratching This Winter
By Dr. Rob

Not long ago, I was speaking with a nurse who asked, "What can I do about my dry, itchy skin? Do I need medication?" Kim, who has many years of health-care experience, continued: "This seems to happen every winter, especially as I get older."

After we talked a bit, I found out that Kim lived in an apartment with forced, hot-air heat, but had no humidifier. She also liked to take long, hot showers (at night and in the morning) and often used a scented antibacterial soap. Then, to keep warm and comfortable, she would wear woolen sweaters and socks.

Unfortunately, winter is the season for dry skin and chapped lips because lower air temperatures and low humidity result in drier air. The dryness is made worse by forced, hot-air heating in homes and offices. The dry air causes skin to lose more moisture and become itchy.

As we age, winter dryness becomes worse because the natural oil layer in our skin (which protects it from losing moisture) is depleted. Frequent baths or showers further removes this protective oil layer, and the cycle of winter-dry skin continues.

Flaky Means Dry, Right?
With apologies to Dr. Mom, the most common cause of itchiness (without a rash) is dry skin. In fact, the most common symptom of dry skin is that itchy feeling, not the dry-skin flakes. Just because your skin is flaky, doesn't mean it's dry. A common example is seborrhea, a skin condition where the skin is flaky and oily, not dry.

Stop the Itch!
If your skin is itchy for no obvious reason, try using a moisturizer before visiting your health-care professional. Moisturizers add a protective oil layer to your skin and decrease the amount of moisture lost to dry air. You don't need to use fancy or expensive moisturizer. Sometimes simpler is better because "special" added ingredients may not result in any benefit to your skin, even though the hype of the product may sound great!

The Moist Skin Recipe
Some moisturizers feel greasier than others because they contain a lot of oil. These types stay on longer and are better for really dry skin, but tend to feel heavy and uncomfortable.

The water-based moisturizers feel lighter on the skin but they don't stay on as long, nor do they provide the same degree of skin protection as the oilier type. Sometimes your doctor will have to prescribe a medication to help heal dry skin, but for the common, easier-to-help causes of the "winter itch", here are some suggestions to stop that scratching:

Lotions are good for most parts of your body, but creams are best for the really rough areas such as elbows, knees, hands and feet.
Try not to use bath oils because they don't stay on the skin very long and make the tub slippery and more dangerous.
Apply a moisturizer after you take a bath or shower. This will help keep your skin hydrated. It's often best to take a bath or shower before you go to bed. Cold dry air tends to cause the moisture on your skin to evaporate, setting up a cycle of drier skin.
Drink plenty of water (as long as you have no fluid restrictions), not soda or caffeinated beverages.
Avoid long showers or baths, use warm water, not hot, and try not to use scented soaps or detergents.
Don't wear wool or other scratchy materials against your skin.
Wear gloves when washing dishes, or if your hands are exposed to harsh chemicals.
Consider getting a humidifier during the heating season, or use the time-proven method of keeping pots filled with water near the heating vents to increase the moisture in the air.
Don't lick chapped lips because this will lead to even more fluid loss and more lip cracking.
If these measures don't stop the itch in a week or two, or if you notice any red rashes or patches, then schedule a visit with your health-care professional.

http://health.discovery.com/centers/skincare/conditions/dryness.html

[Anya1976]

wow i think i should print out this thread

[sunbunny]

Me too. This is great info.

[njchica]

Dry skin is irritating, both physically and emotionally. I don't care whether you're a teenager or an adult, dry skin causes embarrassment and anxiety. How many times have you heard yourself say... "I need to do something about my skin!".
Dry skin in localized areas is a common symptom. There are several known causes as well as non-specific causes of dry skin. Among the know causes of dry skin are:

Your individual physiological make-up,
Living in a dry climate,
Excessive exposure to the elements - sunlight, water and wind.
Also Seasonal changes and dry winter air.
Dry skin is also caused by activities that irritate the surface of the skin like construction work or gardening, and you also get dry skin when exposing your skin to harmful chemicals, or bathing with harsh soaps.

Many find Stevens Skin Softener Cream very helpful.

Working in a profession where you constantly have to wash your hands also contributes to dry skin, as this removes the skins natural lubricating oils from your skin.

A diet deficient in certain nutrients such as vitamin A and the B vitamins can contribute to dry skin.

Dry skin can be a sign of an under active thyroid. Diabetics can also develop serious dry skin problems.

Certain drugs, including diuretics, antihistamines and antispasmodics can contribute to or aggravate dry skin conditions.

dry skin also occurs in many known skin diseases such as psoriasis, atopic eczema, seborrhea dermatitis (especially of the scalp).

The best approach to dry skin remedies is to provide relief on the outside, while working to promote positive/permanent changes on the inside through right diet and nutritional support.


http://www.dryskincare.info/

[njchica]

just wanted to bump this up for our newer members.

[Laurel]

Chica you are full of it...........good info that is lol

[njchica]

why thank you Laurel.

[tigger04272000]

great info

[usasungoddess]

hey girlie, that was all great and iam printing to give my girls.

[njchica]

glad people can use the info....

[njchica]

Sebum, Sweat, Skin pH and Acid Mantle




Sebum is an oily secretion produced by sebacious glands, tiny ducts adjacent to hair follicles. Sebum is secreted into the follicle, from which it spreads over the hair and skin. The main role of sebum is to waterproof the skin and hair. Both excess and lack of sebum are undesirable. Excess sebum is associated with oily skin and acne. It is particularly common in adolescents as the increased levels of sex hormones stimulate sebum production. Lack of sebum, which is common in middle and older age, leads to skin dryness and accelerates wrinkle formation.

Sweat is a salty, watery solution produced by sweat glands, numerous microscopic channels opening onto the skin surface. As sebum and sweat mix up on the skin surface, they form a protective layer often referred to as the acid mantle . Acid mantle has a particular level of acidity characterized by pH from about 4 to 5.5. A pH of 7 is considered neutral, above 7 is alkaline, and below is acidic. The pH of acid in the human stomach, for example, is usually from 1 to 2, which is highly acidic. The skin, on the other hand, is mildly acidic. In addition to helping protect skin from "the elements" (such as wind or pollutants), acid mantle also inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi. If acid mantle is disrupted or loses its acidity, the skin becomes more prone to damage and infection. The loss of acid mantle is one of the side-effects of washing the skin with soaps or detergents of moderate or high strength.

http://www.smartskincare.com/skinbiology/sebum.html

[njchica]

bumping this up for the wintertime...

[Val]

Interesting posts.. thanks!

[Sungoddess]

My daughter has dry skin and has to use Alveeno fragrance free lotion after every bath. It helps her immensely!!

[njchica]

I've thought about using Aveeno....

[SpaceCadet55]

^^I use it and I love it - no smell, absorbs really well and I think it really makes my skin look and feel nice.

[LucaBella]

thanks! i have really dry skin so that helps

[njchica]

I've also noticed that philosophy's Purity cleanser is great b/c it's a gentle cleanser that replenishes some moisture.... I've been using it this winter before bedtime and my skin looks NICE!

[LavenderFleur]

I posted about this in another post just a few minutes ago, but will add it here too. The Cetaphil gentle cleanser is great for people with dry skin. You can use it on face and body and it is soooo gentle, but cleanses well. My face gets really dry in the winter and this has been helping a lot.

[LucaBella]

is it best not to use a body wash at all do you think? Or better to use one for dry skin?

[njchica]

body wash is MUCH better than using soap!

[LucaBella]

but do you think it is best to use none at all sometimes? I mean I am not a dirty person, lol, the most I sweat is in the tanning bed or exercising, so what about the days I don't do either, do you think it would help to lay off the body wash? I never use soap.

[njchica]

LucaBella... I couldn't tell ya. I like to use the bodywash b/c it seems to help moisturize my skin rather than dry it out.

[Sunderella]

a great alternative to Baby oil for really putting the moisture in your skin is a porduct called African Six Hot Oil I found this at walmart for a couple of dollars in the African American hair care section, and the main ingredients are seaseme oil, wheat germ oil...and other botanical oils.....it can be used as hot oil for the hair and for the skin...you should give it a try great stuff...

[divabutterfly]

That's interesting... I was at the grocery store today, looked at some moisturizers, many of them have mineral oil in them, I ended up not getting any I have to go to a bigger store to look for some alternatives. Does anyone know any lower priced lotions without mineral oil in them?

[Misty]

This thread has some great info in it!

[evilina231]

good info.