Dry Skin Care
Caring For Dry, Itchy Skin

Dry Skin Causes

Dry skin is usually caused by one of three factors:

1. under active oil glands
2. environmental conditions
3. normal aging

Dry skin care requires special attention since dry skin is usually thinner than the other skin types, i.e., balanced, oily or combination. People with a dry skin profile usually also have a tendency to have dry hair. They also have a greater chance of developing wrinkles earlier.

Note: There are also diseases and medical conditions that can cause dry skin. But here we are dealing with the "normal" type dry skin.

Dry Skin Care - Special Tips For For Dry Skin Care

Dry, itchy skin more commonly causes problems in the winter. Turning down the indoor heat is a good first step in dry skin care to relieve the discomforts caused by a heat supplied by most furnaces. Skin seems to be less itchy if it is kept on the cool side.

• Dry Skin Care Tip #1 - Bathe less and use cooler water. In fact, short showers would be ideal. Too much washing results in itchy, irritated, dry skin especially during winter.
• Dry Skin Care Tip #2 - Leave skin moist after cleansing and apply a good amount of moisturizing cream or lotion over your entire body. Moisturizers hold the water in the skin and therefore help prevent drying.
• Dry Skin Care Tip #3 - If you don't mind the feeling, you might try using peanut oil or olive oil to combat dryness and itchiness of your dry skin. In addition to being inexpensive, these oils are effective, safe and pure skin lubricants.
• Dry Skin Care Tip #4 - People with dry, itchy skin should use  "super fatted" soaps like Basis, Neutrogena or Dove which have extra amounts of fatty substances such as cocoa butter, coconut oil or lanolin in them. Although these super fatted soaps do not clean as well, they are less irritating to dry skin.
• Dry Skin Care Tip #5 - Put a room size humidifier in your bedroom. If can be a big help. Our central heating systems suck most of the moisture out of the air in our houses. This could alleviate many dry skin problems.
• Dry Skin Care Tip #6 - Pulverized oatmeal works wonders as a soothing agent in the bath to relieve itching. Aveeno, which is a colloidal oatmeal product, can be found in most pharmacies if you prefer not to make your own.

 Facials - Dry Skin Care Treatment

Facial masks can help refresh the appearance of your dry skin. They can easily be whipped up in your kitchen in just a few minutes -- and often with ingredients you already have. Dermatologists and cosmetologist agree that a weekly mask makes is a good addition to your dry skin care treatment program because it deep cleanses, helps remove dead skin cells, can help improve circulation and minimize fine lines.

Dry Skin Care Natural Moisturizing Facial Masks for Dry Skin Egg and Honey Mask For Dry Skin Blend 1 egg yolk with 1 tablespoon honey until smooth. Apply to face and neck avoiding eye area. Leave on for 15 minutes. Remove with warm water. Applesauce Mask for Dry Skin or Aging Skin Mix freshly made applesauce with wheat germ to make a past. Apply to face and neck. Leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

Other sources of information about dry skin care, see:

Winter Skin Care -Dry Skin Care in Cold Weather
SkinCare 101 - Basic Skin Care
Best Skin Care Products  - Choosing Skin Care Products