9 Truths to Understanding Dry Skin

colder weather approaches, dry skin tends to accompany. It may not be viewed as a serious medical condition, but curing your dry skin will help improve your appearance, your mental stability and your overall health.

No. 1. Having naturally oily skin is a good thing
Medical professionals on WebMD.com assure us that “normal, healthy skin is coated in a thin layer of natural lipids, or fatty substances. They keep in moisture, leaving the skin soft and supple.” That being said, stop blotting your oils and embrace them!
No. 2. There is such a thing as a bad moisturizer
Typically, lotions that are scented or contain alcohols in their ingredient lists will only irritate dry skin instead of help moisturize. Thick and greasy moisturizers may be needed in order to lock in moisture, but lighter creams may also fit to your dry skin needs. Lotions that drip from your palm when you flip your hand over are not beneficial for curing dry skin.

No. 3. North Dakota’s less humid air might not always be a plus
Dry air, especially when cold, will “draw the moisture right out of the skin,” says Barney Kenet, a dermatologist at New York Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical Center. Protect your skin from the cold winter winds by wearing plenty of warm clothing.

No. 4. The shower is not ideal for singing an entire playlist-full of your favorite songs
Those natural oils on your skin serve as a protectant, and large amounts of hot shower water can easily wash them away. Try to limit your showers to only a few minutes and turn the dial more toward the cooler temperature gauge. Then, dermatologist Kenet recommends that you “pat your body dry with a towel -- rather than vigorously rubbing it -- and put on a moisturizer right away” to trap moisture in your skin.

No. 5. Washing your hands is always beneficial—but only with the right soap
Similar to shower water, soap can peel off the “good” oils on skin if too much is used. The type of soap you use is also an issue. Try avoiding harsh, fragrant antibacterial soaps because, as Vesna Petronic-Rosic, MD, states, “the bubbling and lathering from soap removes the oils from the surface of the skin and dries it out.”

No. 6. Wearing itchy clothing should not be the price you pay for beauty
Not only will itchy clothing make you feel uncomfortable, it will most likely continue to irritate your skin, making it even itchier. Petronic-Rosnic points out that “dry skin is especially sensitive to contact irritants,” such as sweaters or other types of itchy clothing.

No. 7. Dry skin can cause acne
According to Francesca Fusco, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, “dry skin can have microscopic cracks and fissures in which bacteria can multiply and cause acne.” Flakes of dry skin can also clog pores, which often results in acne.

No. 8. Dry skin can prompt premature wrinkles
During the aging process, the middle layer of skin thins, becoming less elastic and causing wrinkles to form. When skin gets dried out, it has the same effect on the middle layer of skin, therefore producing wrinkles.

No. 9. If symptoms persist, dry skin is a condition that deserves medical attention
Contact your doctor if the above home remedies are not improving the condition of your dry skin. Medicine or creams can be prescribed, along with many other treatments to help relieve the itchiness or irritation you feel from dry skin.