If you suffer from dry, dehydrated skin, you’ll know that it can be extremely frustrating and even uncomfortable at times. It becomes more common as we age too, as we naturally produce less collagen – a protein that improves not just hydration but elasticity and texture too. However, dry skin can be problematic at any age and can be caused by a number of lifestyle and environmental factors. If you find that your skin is less hydrated than previously or you’re fed up with having a dull complexion, here are our favourite tips for getting your face back to glowing and radiant.
Begin from within: eating and drinking
Your first port of call when dealing with dry or dehydrated skin should be to increase your water intake. This might seem glaringly obvious, but a common cause of dry skin is dehydration. Try to drink the recommended eight glasses of water a day (infused waters and herbal teas are good too) and increase your consumption of water-rich fruits and vegetables such as watermelon and cucumber. You should also look to add more omega-3 essential fatty acids to your diet, as these are vital in building your skin barrier that helps lock in moisture.
Environmental factors
Extreme or fluctuating temperatures can wreak havoc on your skin, such as going from a cold, windy day outside to a heated home. Cranking the heat up inside can make the humidity levels in your home drop, so if you’re determined to stay warm you should invest in a humidifier for your bedroom to stop your skin drying out overnight. You should also avoid long, hot baths and showers, as this strips the natural oils from your skin. When you do shower, make sure you use moisturising products.
Rethink your skincare regime
When it comes to moisturiser, make sure that you use the right one for your skin type. Consider switching to a thicker, more nourishing face cream if your skin is particularly dry, while water-based skincare products will further help. After cleansing, you should apply your moisturiser while your skin is still damp to prevent it from drying out. Use a heavier moisturiser in the evening which will replenish your skin as you sleep. You should also look to add a serum into your routine in addition to moisturiser.
Exfoliating away dead skin cells is particularly important as they can prevent moisturisers from being fully absorbed into the skin – it’s better to choose a chemical exfoliant over a physical one as the latter can lead to irritation especially when your skin is dry.
Consider a professional treatment
There is only so much that an at-home skincare regime can do, and the results may take some time to show improvement in the hydration of your skin. For immediate results, and the potential of continued improvement over time, you should enlist the help of a professional and seek a moisturising treatment. Ideally, you should look for a treatment that involves hyaluronic acid – this is a naturally occurring sugar derivative that is produced by your body, and it can do wonders for the hydration levels of your skin. An injectable treatment, such as Profhilo, will make sure that the hyaluronic acid is delivered to the lower levels of your skin in order to stimulate the tissue and promote increased collagen production in your skin.
