SPA DIVA BLOG FEED
May 02, 2012
Reality Scope.
Apr 16, 2012
Diet, bones and excuses. You want to read this.
Mar 30, 2012
The Best Organic Skin Care Ingredients
Mar 22, 2012
My journey with sunless tanners.
Dry Skin Treatment in Seattle
Dry skin often shows up as rough, red, and itchy patches in places of the body that show — arms, hands, lower legs, ankles. But it’s also common on the soles of the feet, thighs, and the abdomen. Dry skin can be uncomfortable and unattractive. It can lead to cracks and fissures in the skin. And because cold air outside and heated air inside cause low humidity, it’s often worse in winter. Dry skin can worsen with aging as natural skin oils diminish. Likewise, dry skin can accompany medical conditions, such as asthma or thyroid conditions. Paradoxically, daily skin care routines such as washing with harsh soaps or cleansing agents, and scrubbing, can also worsen or dry skin.
Since dry skin is often due to external causes, it responds well to external skin care treatment. Just making a few adjustments to your daily skin care routine can help. No matter what the cause, there are many things you can do to make dry skin smooth and supple.
Dry Skin Care Strategies When You Wash
Treating dry skin is important because extensively dry skin can lead to dermatitis, a more severe inflammation of the skin.
- Skip long, hot showers. Hot water strips oils from the skin faster than warm water. Long showers or baths actually result in dried out skin. Try to limit yourself to a single 5- or 10-minute warm shower or bath a day.
- Use a gentle cleanser or shower gel with moisturizer. Use unscented, soap-free, or mild soap cleansers instead of harsh cleansers.
- Moisturize while skin is moist. Pat your skin with a towel after you shower or wash your face or hands, leaving it damp. Apply a moisturizer within three to five minutes of washing to lock moisture in your skin.
Ingredients to Look for in a Moisturizer
It’s not necessary to pay a fortune for a good, rich moisturizer. Read the label. Ingredients that may be helpful for dry skin include:
- Ceramides. Ceramides help the skin hold water and soothe dry skin. Synthetic ceramides may mimic the natural substances in the outermost layer of skin that help keep moisture in.
- Dimethicone and glycerin. These ingredients draw water to the skin and retain it there.
- Hyaluronic acid. Like ceramides, hyaluronic acid helps skin hold water.
- Lanolin, mineral oil, and petroleum jelly. These keep water in the skin that has been absorbed during bathing.
Be sure to apply sunscreen to areas of your body that are exposed to the sun during the day. Look for a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more.
Five Lifestyle Tips for Relieving Dry Skin
These simple strategies can also help make your skin supple and smooth:
- Plug in a humidifier at home to help keep skin hydrated when indoor air is dry during winter months.
- Wear cotton and other natural fibers. Wool, synthetics, or other fabrics can be scratchy and irritating.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Eat omega-3 foods. Essential fatty acids can help fortify the skin’s natural oil-retaining barriers. Foods rich in omega-3 include cold-water fish (salmon, halibut, sardines), flax, walnuts, and safflower oil.
- For itching or inflammation, apply a cool compress or a hydrocortisone cream on the area for a week. If these don’t provide relief, talk to your doctor.
Some flaking along with redness may be a sign of an underlying dermatitis, including:
- Seborrheic dermatitis. This type involves a red, scaly, itchy rash on various areas of the body, particularly those areas that contain many oil glands. Seborrheic dermatitis can occur as scaling on the scalp, eyebrows, and sides of the nose.
- Allergic contact dermatitis. This occurs when the skin comes into contact with a substance that causes an allergic reaction, such as poison ivy. Allergic contact dermatitis of the hands often causes scaling on the fingers.
- Atopic dermatitis. Also known as eczema, this is a long-lasting type of dermatitis that often runs in families. It also may cause excessively dry, itchy skin.
- Athlete’s foot. In many cases, athlete’s foot, a fungal infection, shows up as itchy, flaky skin on the soles of the feet and between the toes. Untreated, it can progress to skin inflammation and redness typical of dermatitis.
Radiant Medspa can help you determine the cause of your dry skin and formulate an effective treatment plan. Call Radiant for a complimentary consultation at 206-403-3063 in Seattle or 425-640-5900 in Lynnwood.
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