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Summer is a time for fun and relaxation. And, many of us tend to spend our days outside. However,
spending a lot of time outdoors can be rough on the skin. Many folks think dry skin is a winter weather problem-well, guess what -dry itchy skin can also spoil your summer.
Simply, dry skin develops when water and natural oils are lost from the top layers of skin. Oil acts as a
barrier to prevent the skin from losing water; therefore, our bodies need both oil and water to prevent dry skin.
Dry skin conditions can be inherited, but dry skin can also develop due to environmental factors like sun
exposure, dry air and can be aggravated by air conditioners.
Another thing to keep in mind, if you overuse soaps, antiperspirants, and perfumes-these things will
also make your dry skin worse-here are some tips to help you restore the natural oils to your skin.
Tips:
1. Bathe in warm water, not hot. Even during the warm weather, some of us still reach for hot, steamy
water first thing in the morning. Keep in mind, hot water strips your skin of moisture. Bathe in warm water for shorter periods of time to compensate. The American Academy of Dermatologists suggests limiting showers to no more than 10-15 min.
2. Use a mild soap. Avoid antibacterial or deodorant soaps.
3. Avoid loofahs and abrasive body scrubs, which will only irritate your skin.
4. After bathing or showering, quickly and gently pat the skin partially dry with a towel -do not rub!
5. Apply a moisturizer while the skin is still damp to lock in the moisture. If your hands get dry, keep
some lotion by the sink and moisturize every time you wash.
6. Don't forget your lips. Lips are sensitive skin and often exposed to the sun. Make sure your lip balm
has an SPF of at least 15 as well as your sunscreen.
Also, don't forget to drink plenty of water to hydrate your tissues. If your dry skin doesn't seem to be
getting any better or if your skin cracks, bleeds or becomes swollen and painful-contact your doctor or a dermatologist. |