How do we keep our skin free from dryness and always hydrated aside from always drinking water?
Does washing the face and body frequently contribute to the skin being dry?
Hi Grace,
To prevent your skin from being dry, you should use serums to hydrate your skin before complementing the serum with a cream-based emulsion or moisturiser. This helps your skin absorb the moisture. Also, moisturizing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid (a substance naturally present in your body) can improve your skin moisture. The Hyaluronic Acid Serum can boost your skin moisture and with regular application, your skin will be less dry in the long run.
Excessive washing of the skin may cause irritant contact dermatitis. This is when the skin is damaged by friction caused by external factors like over-exposure to water and chemicals. The friction can cause red patches and peeling of the skin, making your skin dry. Moreover, the types of cleansers you use can contribute to the dryness of your skin. SLS (Sodium Laureth Sulfate) is a cheap substance used commonly in cleansers. However, I would not recommend these cleansers as SLS can make our skin dry and even cause excessive oil production. Instead of using these cleansers, I would recommend double cleansing using good cleansers with natural and safe ingredients.
Drinking water will not really affect your skin dryness as it is possible to be well hydrated yet have dry skin. However, drinking enough water is mainly for good health. Generally, good health can correlate with healthy skin. Skin dryness is also caused by your genetic predisposition. Some people have eczema (atopic dermatitis) which makes your skin naturally dry, causing it to be red and itchy.
Dr. Teo Wan Lin
Dermatologist