Dry skin is a problem but not an alarming one. There are a lot of options you can use to kick out dry skin problems. But the situation gets alarming when you didn’t get satisfactory results after applying moisturizer. I think you are going through this situation as you come to this post. Now the question is, what should you do now?
Don’t worry. Today I will tell you what would be the possible reason behind such problem. Most of the time it happens only because you used the wrong way to heal dry skin. But you will be glad to know that the solution is very simple. Just find out the actual reason(s) and correct it as soon as possible.
Here, besides knowing the reasons for your dry skin after moisturization, you will also get some basic tips to solve those problems. I hope this is enough to give you relief from this unpleasant situation. Let’s see.
Reasons Behind Your Skin Dryness Even After Moisturization
Major Reasons
01. Choosing the Wrong Moisturizer Type
If you are asking yourself why is my skin is so dry even when I moisturize, check your moisturizer first. Not choosing the right moisturizer is one of the main reasons not to get the expected hydrating result. You should use a moisturizer according to your skin type. Because the necessity of every skin type is different and you should meet them with a specific product. The moisturizer which is suitable for oily skin doesn’t work well on dry skin. So, first of all, know what is the type of your skin and how to moisturize it well. Otherwise, it just a waste of your time and money.
02. You are Wrong about Your Skin Type
It is correlated with the previous point. It is not possible to choose the right moisturizer if you are wrong about your skin type. Finally, you might be disappointed with the result.
It is easy to distinguish between normal, dry, oily, sensitive, and combination skin types. And you will get available moisturizer which suits all these skin types. But the confusion arises when you need to identify whether your skin is dry or dehydrated. These both skin types give you almost the same feeling but require different moisturizing treatment. Dry skin is the result of lacking oil and dehydrated skin is the result of the lacking moisture content. So, for dry skin, you need an oil-based moisturizer that contains jojoba oil, almond oil, shea butter, etc. On the other hand, dehydrated skin needs a humectant based moisturizer contains hyaluronic acid, glycerin, retinol, etc. (details).
03. Less Water Intake
Water is very important for our living as it occupies 60% of the adult human body. It is also the functioning fluid of our skin. It helps to transport nutrients through the capillaries. For healthy and moisturized skin it is more important to deliver moisture from inside rather than outside. If you dehydrated inside then you won’t get the expected hydration though you use high-quality skin moisturizing lotion or cream.
So, drink enough water every day to get hydrated skin. It is essential for both dry and dehydrated skin. To live healthy an adult should drink at least 8 glasses of water per day.
04. Aging
Aging is another factor responsible to make our skin dry. The source of our skin oil is the sebaceous glands beneath our skin. It secrets oil (sebum) to make the skin naturally moisturized. But the numbers of sebaceous glands and the capability of oil secretion decrease with age. The more your age the less your skin secrets oil. It may be a reason why is your skin so dry even when you moisturize.
05. Washing Skin too Often
Washing face and hands is a good practice. It keeps you free from dirt and impurities. But excess of anything is bad. If you excessively wash your face and hands it will wash the natural moisture off your body. And your moisturizing cream or lotion that you applied after cleansing will wash off with the next wash. As a result, you have to apply moisturizer again and again which doesn’t give you the expected outcome. The only solution in this situation is limiting the washing frequency as much as possible.
06. Your Cleanser isn’t Skin Friendly
If you want healthy skin you should love it and put special attention to protect it from all odds. That’s why you should use skin-friendly skincare products. If your skin gets dry after washing, you should check face wash, body wash, or hand washes once again whether they contain harsh ingredients or not.
If it is positive, just through them off. Because harsh ingredients definitely make your skin dry by stripping off the natural oils and moisture. It also destroys the natural biology of your skin by altering the skin pH. So, for the sake of your skin health and dryness, you should use a mild cleanser that contains moisturizing ingredients like aloe vera, argan oil, jojoba oil, etc. And it is always better to use a natural and organic moisturizer though they are little pricy. Because inexpensive products save some money instantly but destroy more in the long run.
07. Shedding of Dead Skin Cells
Cell death and regeneration is a continuous process of our skin. And the dead cells are shedding on the skin surface which isn’t good. It happens if you don’t exfoliate your skin regularly with loofah or scrub. It creates a barrier between the skin and moisturizer and hampers the absorption process. Just exfoliate your skin regularly, at least once a week, your problem might be solved. Besides removing dead skin cells, exfoliation also stimulates cellular regeneration and gives anti-aging benefits.
Read Also: Best Alternatives to Loofah
08. Over Exfoliation
Exfoliation is good for your skin and beauty. It gives you a fresh look by removing stubborn dirt, impurities, and dead skin cells. But don’t do it every day by thinking about the betterment of your skin, it would be harmful rather than benefits. Exfoliation in once a weak is normal and sometimes twice a week is acceptable. But, more than that isn’t a good practice. It will remove the beneficial oil from your skin and may damage the upper layer. As a result, your skin may suffer from extreme dryness which is not always fully recoverable with moisturization. If you have done such, limit it, do exfoliation gently with a normal gap.
09. Using Hot Water
Bathing with hot water is enjoyable, especially in the winter. It gives you comfort from the bite of cold winter weather. But it is not good for your skin. Hot water washes away the natural oil off your skin and makes it dry and vulnerable. Sometimes the dryness can not be recovered by a regular moisturizer if you use too hot water for shower. So, never use hot water for shower, use lukewarm water instead.
10. Forget to Moisturize Just After Wash
It would be a reason for dryness even after moisturization if you forget to moisturize just after a shower or washing hands and face. Because at this time your skin feels drier than any other time. And the permeability of your skin is also higher at this time. So, the chances of getting optimum hydration increases if you moisturize your skin just after a shower. Just pat your skin with a towel to blot excess water and apply your regular moisturizer. Use a lightweight lotion in the summer and body butter in the winter to hydrate your dry skin.
11. Applying Moisturizer in Wrong Way
You can only deserve the best result if you do it in the right way. It is true for your moisturizer application process as well. You should apply moisturizer in a way as if your skin can absorb it easily. Don’t create a heavy layer of moisturizer or rub it aggressively on your skin. The best way to apply moisturizer, cream, or lotion is massaging gently in an upward direction. It helps to penetrate them easily through the pores.
Besides the way of application, its order should also be correct. Don’t apply oil-based products first if you need to apply other moisturizers like serum, toner, or humectant. The oily layer will prevent them from penetration. So, apply the water-based moisturizer first then the oil-based. It will create a protective layer to limit moisture loss. Don’t create a thick layer by thinking it would hydrate your skin much. Rather it will waste your product. Just use the recommended amount labeled on the container.
12. Too Dry Environment
It would be one of the major causes of not getting relief from dryness after applying moisturizer. Dry weather sucks moisture from everything including your skin. So, take measures to stay safe from the bite of dry winter weather.
Always wear the right clothing to protect your body from the cold. Cover your body as much as possible. For uncovered areas, use a moisturizer that creates a protective layer along with moisturization.
Don’t sit near the fireplace for a long time. It will also make your skin dry. Use a room humidifier inside your room to enrich the moisture content of that environment. Always remember prevention is better than cure.
Minor Reasons
01. Using Soap While Washing
Don’t use bar soap to wash your face and hands. The ingredients with which the soap is made is quite harsh for the skin of the face and hands. Some mild bar soap is OK for your body but not for face. It will strip off the natural oils and makes your skin dry and tight. And if your skin is dry, don’t use bar soap on your body as well, use body wash instead.
02. Only Using Humectant
Using humectant is great to moisturize skin. But it is not wise to use humectant only to hydrate your skin, it will dry again within a few hours. Besides hydration, you need to take action to lock moisture loss. As I said before, you should use the oil-based product to seal the moisture inside. Some moisturizers have both hydrating and moisture protecting capacity, you should give them a try to overcome skin dryness.
03. Poor Diet
Diet is very important for our living as well as the health of the skin. If your diet is poor, it would be a reason for your skin dryness. If the reason for your skin dryness is inside your body, you should not expect it to be solved just with the moisturization outside. Eat a healthy diet like vegetables, fruits, and avoid junk food to make your skin healthy and moisturized naturally.
Vitamin A deficiency is also responsible for the rough nature of the skin. You should check whether your skin dryness is a result of vitamin A deficiency or not. If you are suffering from vitamin A deficiency, eat some vitamin A-rich foods like pumpkin, carrot, cod liver oil, egg, etc. You can also take some vitamin A supplement, but according to the suggestion of your doctor. Remember overdosing of the vitamins is as dangerous as a deficiency.
04. Certain Skin Disease and Medication
Some skin diseases like athlete’s feet, fungal attack, eczema, etc. may make your skin extremely dry. Only moisturizer isn’t enough to get relief from this dryness. The only solution to this problem is curing those skin diseases. When they are gone, you will get the expected hydration from your regular moisturizer.
Some medications would make your skin dry. If you are taking any medicine and see sudden skin dryness which has not been seen before, talk to your doctor first before doing anything else. If that medication causes dryness your doctor will give you the best suggestion about what to do.
The Last Words
That’s all for today. Let me know what is the main reason of your skin dryness and how you solved it. But, in spite of doing these, if you don’t see any improvement to your dry skin, don’t be late, talk to a dermatologist.