Your skin, the body’s largest organ, serves three vital functions: protection, regulation, and sensation control. Despite its crucial role, it is susceptible to various conditions, including dryness. The majority of people will experience dry or dehydrated skin at some stage in their lives. If you have dry skin, you may recognise symptoms like dry patches, dehydration lines, tightness, roughness, scaly-looking skin or redness and sensitivity.
Dr Ernst Eiselen from Environ Skin Care says that dry skin is a common condition caused by inherited and metabolic factors, as well as environmental conditions such as heat, cold and pollution.
He argues that optimal hydration originates internally, rather than externally. “Common moisturisers often attempt to temporarily place extra water in the skin or prevent water evaporation by applying water-repellant sealants. It is more effective to assist the skin in building up natural sealants as protective barriers to therefore restrict water loss. The application of highly active vitamins A, C and E combined with other antioxidants and peptides is the most efficient means to achieve this,” says Eiselen.
There are many reasons for dry skin, some of which are listed below:
- Genetics: If you suffer from dry skin you might be genetically predisposed to having an underactive sebaceous gland. This means that your skin lacks the oil it needs to retain moisture and to build a protective barrier against the environment.
- Intrinsic aging: As you age, your barrier function is weakened, leading to a loss of moisture.
- Medications: Some medications may lead to dryness in the skin, both on the face and body.
- Lifestyle factors: Daily choices affect your skin health. As an example, the overindulgence in alcohol can lead to a dehydrated skin
- UV exposure: As the skin is damaged by UV exposure, it can thicken and become dry.
- Extreme environmental changes: Weather extremes paired with sun exposure results in your skin losing moisture.
- Exposure to harsh ingredients: Some chemicals remove the natural oils from the skin, causing it to become very dry.
- Over cleansing: Over cleansing can strip the top layer of skin and remove natural oils.
- Excessive exfoliating: Over exfoliation can leave the skin compromised and exposed to dryness.
- Invasive treatments: Overly invasive treatments can leave skin dry.
Dr Eiselen says that dry or dehydrated skin can be treated by following two steps:
First, he recommends replenishing the skin’s natural vitamin A levels. Research in the field of vitamin A has proven that a deficiency in this vital nutrient is directly linked to a compromised skin barrier function and loss of essential hydration as well as moisture. He suggests integrating a product like the Environ Ionzyme C-Quence Serum into your daily routine to deliver a suitable dose of vitamins A, C and E to the skin.
Secondly, he recommends the Environ Super Moisturiser which is clinically proven after 30 days to support the skin barrier function and retention of moisture substantiated with a 14% decrease in trans-epidermal water loss, with continued use.
Also see: 5 Skincare alternatives for healthy skin
