We've all been there-struggling with the discomfort and self-consciousness that comes with dry skin. Unlike acne dark spots that can be easily hidden with a touch of foundation, dry skin is something that we can't simply cover up. And not only is dry skin a highly visible issue, but it's also an uncomfortable one, causing tightness, itching, and flaking that affects our daily lives. In this article, we'll discuss everything you need to know about dry skin: what it is, why it happens, and most importantly, how you can learn to overcome it in the comfort of your own home.

How Does Science Define My Dry Skin?

Unlike many skin conditions, dry skin is not something that is diagnosed by a doctor. In fact, most people can tell they have dry skin simply by running their hands over their face, neck, or arms. Dry skin, known as xeroderma by dermatologists1, is a common skin condition that occurs when our skin's outermost layer, the stratum corneum, lacks the moisture it needs to buffer the skin from its environment.2 This weakened skin barrier can result in the skin feeling rough, aggravated, or even scaly. Some other common symptoms of dry skin might include feelings of tightness, peeling skin, or increased fine lines.

Most people are well versed in identifying these symptoms when they appear on their skin; after all, dry skin is often very visible, as well as very uncomfortable. And what's more, dry skin is incredibly common, with scientists estimating that between 41.2% to 99.1% of the population currently experiences dry skin.3 However, although dry skin is easy to spot, the reasons we experience dry skin can be more difficult to pinpoint.

The Most Common Causes of Dry Skin

To best address dry skin, it's important to understand your own unique triggers that cause your skin to lose moisture in the first place. Your skin relies on a delicate balance of oils and moisture to stay healthy and hydrated. But your skin's moisture balance can be disrupted by many factors, such as:

• Harsh Weather or Environment: Oftentimes, the place we are living in can affect our skin's moisture. Factors like wind, temperature, and exposure to humidity can all work to strip away natural oils from our skin, causing irritation and dryness.4

• Harsh Soaps or Detergents: Many of the soaps we purchase are created with the express purpose of removing oils. And while this can be helpful when it comes to removing stains from your clothing, these soaps can also strip your skin.5 In other cases, the perfumes found in cleaners can also be aggravating to skin, resulting in flaking and dryness.

• Hot Showers or Baths: As luxurious as a hot bath is after a long day, hot water is actually known to weaken the skin barrier and remove oils from the skin's surface.6 This is why I always recommend following up a hot shower or bath with a quality moisturizer.

• Dehydration: When we become dehydrated, our entire body is affected, including the skin. When we fail to drink enough water, our body prioritizes sending hydration to our vital organs. This can result in hydration bypassing our skin for a dry, lack-luster appearance.7

• Acne Products: Acne products can often lead to dryness due to their acne-fighting agents, such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid.8 To reduce cystic breakouts, these products usually work by reducing oil production and exfoliating the skin. While this is helpful for drying out acne, these products can strip away natural moisture, especially if these products are used excessively or without adequate moisturizing.

• Hormonal Changes: The ebb and flow of hormones have a massive impact on dry skin. Menopause, pregnancy, or even monthly menstrual cycles, can significantly impact your skin's hydration levels. For example, the hormones estrogen and progesterone increase oil production in the skin; however, towards the end of menstrual cycles, these hormones wane in the body, leading to dryness.9 Other hormonal shifts, such as the decline in estrogen individuals experience before menopause, can also cause skin to have lower water retention and skin barrier function.10

Dryness and Aging: Why Skin Loses Moisture as We Age

As we age, our skin continues to evolve and develop new needs. A change many older adults report noticing is loss in their skin's moisture content. One of the main reasons skin becomes more dry with age relates to the way skin produces oils and lipids.11 As we age, our skin's output of these hydrating factors slows, causing the skin's barrier to weaken, leading to dryness. Additionally, over time our skin's ability to produce collagen and elastin slows down, making skin slower to repair dry, damaged patches of skin.12 Lastly, older skin is shown to have decreased sweat and sebaceous gland activity.13 These glands help lubricate the skin, and as they become less active, our skin becomes more dry, dull, and sensitive.

Because skin becomes increasingly prone to dryness as we age, finding an effective moisturizer is key to maintaining a dewy, youthful look. In particular, I recommend older adults keep an eye out for a moisturizing agent that strengthens the skin's barrier and promotes collagen production, such as our Niacinamide Serum, which expertly boosts ceramides and fatty acid production in the skin. As skin's natural tendency toward dryness grows with age, a powerful moisturizer can make all the difference in preserving your skin's radiance.

Moving Forward: What You Can Do Today to Alleviate Dry Skin

Let's face it, dealing with dry skin is frustrating. Oftentimes, it can seem like nothing you do makes your skin any less reactive. However, research has shown there are simple and effective steps you can take to restore your skin's natural moisture balance. By adding in just a few practical tips to your daily routine, you can improve the health and appearance of your skin by leaps and bounds. If you're ready to take on your sensitive skin, here are some practical steps you can look into today:

1. Wash your face with cold water: Washing your face with cold or lukewarm water is an easy at-home solution for sensitive skin. Unlike hot water, cooler water doesn't dissolve and wash away your skin's natural oils as quickly as hot water, helping to preserve the skin's moisture barrier.14

1. No More Scented Cleansers: Harshly scented soaps can cause contact dermatitis, or skin sensitivity, which can also lead to dryness and irritation.15 If you notice your soap is making your skin dry, rough, or irritable, switch to mild, fragrance-free cleansers.

1. Find Yourself a Humidifier: Using a humidifier at home, especially during the winter months, can add much-needed moisture to the air. When the air in your home has low humidity, your skin is more prone to dryness, weakened elasticity, and environmental damage.16 The extra moisture in the air can also soothe irritated skin and prevent dry patches from forming in the first place.

1. Adjust Your Diet: Add foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts, into your diet. These healthy fats can help to strengthen your skin's barrier and maintain its moisture levels.17 As an added bonus, eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables also includes essential vitamins and antioxidants that support overall skin health.

1. Enhance Your Collagen Production: One of the best ways to repair dry skin, particularly mature skin, is to stimulate your body's collagen and elastin production. This will encourage your skin to become more hydrated and elastic.18 One of my favorite ways to encourage collagen production is to use the ruby light setting on our best-selling DermaGlow LED Light Mask, which works below the skin's surface to stimulate your skin's collagen and elastin production.

1. Don't Over-Exfoliate: Scrubbing at your skin's surface using abrasive cleaners, exfoliating masks, or even washcloths can compromise your skin's moisture-retaining barrier.19 If you struggle with sensitive skin, I recommend you exfoliate sparingly, and avoid exfoliating altogether if you have any current dry patches.

Conclusion

Dry skin is a common issue that many people encounter at various stages of life. However, despite it being commonplace, managing dry skin is still important for your skin's health and comfort. I hope this article helped introduce you to the basic science behind dry skin, and showed you that it is possible to take steps to protect and heal your dry skin. With the right knowledge and a proactive approach, dry skin doesn't have to be your status quo. Instead, next time you notice dry, flaking skin on your arms, neck, and face, try taking a gentle and patient approach, and watch those red patches fade into a distant memory.

References

1. Cleveland Clinic article on the basic facts of dry skin: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16940-dry-skin.
2. Study describing how the stratum corneum related to dry skin: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6490993/#:~:text=The%20most%20superficial%20layer%20of,consequence%20of%20poor%20water%20retention.
3. Study that estimates the global prevalence of dry skin: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0197457223002756#:~:text=Xerosis%20cutis%20or%20dry%20skin,range%20from%2041.2%20to%2099.1%25.
4. Article discussing environmental factors for dry skin: https://karger.com/exd/article/3/2/51/133759/Dry-Skin-and-the-Environment.
5. Study which mentions the effects of harsh soaps over time on the skin, including dryness: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8954092//.
6. Article which mentions the skin-stripping effects of hot water: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/5410998/.
7. Article discussing support for the hypothesis that skin hydration increases with water intake: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29392767/.
8. Article discussing the negative side effects of acne medications, including dryness and irritation: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17373148/.
9. Study describing how sex hormones affect the skin and its regulation of inflammation: https://www.jdsjournal.com/article/S0923-1811(04)00256-7/abstract.
10. Article discussing estrogen replacement therapy for skin treatment, and detailing how a loss of estrogen affects the skin: https://link.springer.com/article/10.2165/11589180-000000000-00000/
11. Article describing how oil production in mature skin is related to dryness: https://journals.lww.com/nursingresearchonline/abstract/1986/03000/variables_associated_with_skin_dryness_in_the.9.aspx.
12. Article discussing skin dryness, aging, and the positive effects of collagen in reversing dryness: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jocd.12174.
13. Study which found sweat gland activity decreases after the age of 50: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1813182/.
14. Study which shows continuous water exposure compromises the skin barrier, with hot water being more harmful to the skin's barrier: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/11/2/298.
15. Mayo Clinic article describing symptoms of contact dermatitis, including dryness: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/contact-dermatitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20352742.
16. Healthline article discussing the effects of dry air on the skin: https://www.healthline.com/health/dry-air#skin-issues.
17. Study that found omega-3 supplementation resulting in improved skin hydration in individuals with kidney disease: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35744059/.
18. Study which found oral collagen peptides improved skin hydration, skin wrinkles, and skin elasticity: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36516059/.
19. Harvard Health Publishing article describing ways to manage sensitive skin at home, including recommending readers avoid scrubbing and exfoliating items: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/9-ways-to-banish-dry-skin.