We all suffer from dry skin at one time or another, but what exactly is it, why do we get it and how can we maintain healthy glowing skin? We caught up with Dove's skin care expert Atoshi Ghosal to ask all about dry skin and how to prevent it. Let's face it, nothing makes that gorgeous LBD look worse than dry, scaly skin. So, read on to discover the answers to your questions here.
What is dry skin?
"Our skin stores the largest amount of water; it's the most abundant substance in our body - 70% of our body is made up of it. Skin needs water to maintain its beauty and function. Only with the right hydration level can skin serve in its critical protective function and sustain its beautiful, supple, smooth look and feel.
Dry skin occurs when your skin cells cannot maintain the right levels of water in and around each of your skin cells. When dehydrated, the skin becomes dry, rough, dull, and flaky; it is also more vulnerable to irritation and early aging. This can be down to genetics, unhealthy lifestyles and even changes in temperature can affect your skin."
Why do we get it?
"All kinds of factors affect your skin, in particular washing and bathing can play a huge part. Each time you wash your skin, the water and cleansers remove both excess oils and dirt from your skin, but also your essential natural moisturising factors which normally sit in the skin cells acting as a water reservoir to maintain your skin's optimum hydration levels. Also the natural oils that are needed in the skin to form a protective moisture seal over the skin to hold moisture where your skin needs it most is also removed through washing.
Another factor is often the change in weather, as the temperature drops the amount of humidity in the air also drops, which results in more water evaporating from your skin, making it difficult for your skin maintain the correct moisture levels.
Moisture is the key to beautiful skin, it helps the skin's natural enzymes to work effectively to remove old skin cells and maintains the regeneration process, each time you loose a layer of skin cells the lower layers of your skin begin to regenerate new one."
Does the colour of your skin make you more prone to dryness?
"The colour of your skin does not make your skin more prone to dryness, however the colour will affect how visible dry skin is. Dry skin is uneven and the skin cells do not lie flat on the surface, so when light reflects off the uneven surface where the skin is raised and flaking, the edges reflect white.
The darker your skin, the more visible the flakes are, so people with darker skin tend to moisturise more often. Many people with black skin have an amazing moisturising routine, like brushing their teeth they never forget to moisturise, and it really shows in their skin. Each person's skin is unique, and some people are lucky to have naturally moisturised skin, while others have to work hard to keep it in good condition."
Are there any factors that increase the chances of getting dry skin?
"The seasons play a huge part in the quality of our skin, as the temperature drops, the heating comes one, the humidity in the air drops, leaving your skin prone to drying out. Lips are a prime example of drying skin, especially during the winter months.
Apart from the temperature, the general quality of your health plays a huge role. Your skin is the largest organ of the body, but it is also the first to miss out on vital nutrients. Our bodies naturally make sure that the vital organs have the right levels of nutrients, water and so on, so making sure you have a healthy diet and plenty of water will keep your body healthy. In turn this will keep the base layers of your skin in good condition, but if you have dry skin, you need to tackle it with a moisturiser from the top down for a more immediate effect."
Should I moisturise every day?
"Your skin can never be over moisturised. The skin cells act like a sponge, it will absorb as much as it needs and the rest will simply sit on the surface of your skin. Moisturising daily will keep your skin in great condition and you will see the quality of your skin improve, from its general colouring to the way if feels. We shower every day, so really we should moisturise every day!"
When is the best time to apply moisturiser?
"The best time to apply a moisturiser is straight after the shower. Your skin cells would have absorbed water, but within 10 minutes the water will evaporate out of the skin, So moisturising as you step out of the shower on damp skin will do two things if you use the right moisturiser. It will pull the extra moisture back into the skin, plumping your skin cells to make your skin look firm and supple, but it will also hold it there through out the day, leaving an invisible layer of protection. You will also need to use less of your lotion since it will harness the moisture from your shower and incorporate it into your cells."
Are high street brands as good as more expensive ones?
"Absolutely, look for moisturisers with a combination of Occlusives (like petroleum jelly or oils) and humectants (like glycerin or sorbitol). But the most important thing about choosing your moisturiser is to choose one that you enjoy using. Many people buy expensive lotions and creams and save them for a special occasion; whereas using a regular high street lotion daily will give you a much better effect.
Remember price does not mean its more effective, some of the best moisturising ingredients are those that have been used for many years. Petroleum jelly is the best occlusive for your skin, while glycerin is a fantastic moisturiser which actively pulls moisture into the skin. Both these ingredients do not cause allergies and are found in most moisturisers."
Is it OK to use a body scrub on dry skin?
"If you have dry skin, it is good to exfoliate away the old dry skin cells. However many body scrubs are salt-based or quite harsh and, while they will help to exfoliate away dry skin, they may leave your skin feeling even drier. Try using a loofah, with a moisturising body wash, or look for a moisturising body scrub and make sure you moisturise after your shower."
Is the main difference between a body butter and a body lotion just personal preference?
"Body lotions and body butters are both moisturisers, but they feel very different. Lotions tend to be more liquid like and easy to apply on to the skin quickly, so are ideal for every day use. Body butters tend to have a more luxurious feel to them, and many have special ingredients to make them feel silky. But the effectiveness of each body butter versus a lotion varies between products, both are great for your skin, it just depends on which your prefer using."
What key ingredients should I look for in a good body cream?
"There are many ingredients these days that offer fantastic moisturisation, but the basics have always worked well. Always look for products with glycerin - it is highly effective in pulling moisture into your skin, and mimics the skins natural moisturisers, acting like mini water reservoirs. Petrolatum is the most effective occlusive available, it will not block your pores. It is widely used by dermatologists and skin specialists as an occlusive because of the nature of the ingredients, and is inert so will not cause skin allergies, especially for people with dry skin or sensitivity.
Natural oils - these are fantastic because not only do they build on the skin's natural barrier. Natural oils don't need to be exotic to be rich in vitamins and essential fatty acids, sunflower seed oil or olive oil or even shea butter and cocoa butter are prime examples of brilliant natural oils."
Are there any 'no no' ingredients if you have sensitive skin?
"Sensitive skin is so unique to each individual. What one person finds intolerable another may be perfectly fine with. There are some types of ingredients which can affect sensitive skin, for example some people find their skin may tingle after using a product with AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) and some people find that lanolin or even some fragrances cause them allergic reactions.
If you have sensitive skin, try small test patches to see if the products suit you. Try calling the company carelines to ask for a sachet for you to try at home, most larger companies will be more than happy to send you a sample if they have any available."
If you suffer from quite flaky dry skin, especially on your legs, what should you do to bring them back to their former glory?
"Exfoliate then... moisturise, moisturise, moisturise. Dry skin on your legs needs a gentle exfoliator followed by moisturiser. It's really very simple, if you have dry skin, drinking eight pints of water and eating goju berries is not going to sort out dry skin, you need to rebuild the moisture levels in the skin. This will in turn will help the enzymes in your skin work effectively, resulting in better skin cell turn over and better quality skin - moisture is the key to beautiful skin!"
Why is my skin is cracking and bleeding?
"If you have severely dry skin, you may see cracked skin occurring especially on the heals of your feet, if your skin is bleeding this could mean your skin has become so dry, that even the lower layers have been affected cause tiny tears in your skin. If your skin gets to this stage you should visit your doctor to make sure there are no other underlying issues."
Is it true you should moisturise more in the winter?
"Yes, the winter months are colder, with less moisture in the air and central heating further drying out your skin. It needs extra care in the winter, so try opting for thicker creams for extra protection."
Does the sun cause dry skin and can suntan creams protect you from getting dry skin?
"The sun is great for your skin, but it's also bad for your skin too! It can dry your skin, but most of all it can cause serious long term damage to your skin, as it damages the lower layers of the skin. Try using sun tan creams with moisturiser in them, and also remember to reapply every two hours if you are out in the sun. If you cant find a suntan cream you enjoy using with a moisturiser you can use a moisturiser, let it soak in then apply a suntan cream for moisture and protection."
handbag.com's top five dry skin creams
Intensive: Dove Intensive Body Butter, £4.99, Boots and Superdrug nationwide, 0800 085 1548.
Pampering: Crabtree & Evelyn Pomegrante Body Cream, £16.50, crabtree-evelyn.co.uk
Sensitive skin: Aveeno Skin Relief Body Lotion Oatmeal & Shea Butter, £4.99, Boots nationwide and ocado.com
Designer: Marc Jacobs Woman Body Butter, £34.26, debenhams.com
Organic: Sensual Jasmine Body Cream, £25.10, nealsyardremedies.com
See more beauty products and news
