Healthy skin not only looks beautiful, but also has an important protective function for our body. But what to do when the skin is suddenly dry and red? If the skin also tends to tension or even itches, it urgently needs help. So that your skin does not get out of balance, we give sensible tips for the care of our largest organ.
Protective function of the skin
With its few millimeters, the skin is naturally delicate and thin, but still has an amazing resistance to harmful influences – as long as it is healthy. Then the skin can provide protection against cold, heat and foreign invaders such as fungi, viruses and chemical substances. However, the skin itself also needs protection in order to fulfill its protective function.
As soon as the skin loses its balance, the permeability of the skin barrier can be increased, which can even promote skin diseases or allergies. To prevent this, sensible care of the skin is an important basis for health.
Stress factors for the skin
Day after day, our skin is exposed to considerable strain and stress factors that affect our skin. These include, for example:
- Frequent contact with water
- Environmental influences
- Too long sunbathing
- Alkaline care products
- Unhealthy foods
- The intake of medication
- Stimulants such as nicotine and alcohol
- An unhealthy lifestyle
When the skin is under stress: symptoms
The result of these stressors: the skin is irritated and complains. This is manifested, for example, by a feeling of tension, by dry and rough areas in places or a generally dry skin. The skin may also be red or itchy in certain areas.
What to do for stressed skin?
If signs such as redness and itching become noticeable, it is high time to soothe the skin and care for it regularly. Because stressed skin can not only cause unpleasant sensations, but also age faster.
Gentle care and generally prudent skin care is important. For example, always cream your skin after showering and avoid too long stays in the sun.
Suitable care products – ingredients
The skin loves gentle care. Aggressive care additives, on the other hand, can quickly overwhelm the skin. Care products used should therefore be checked for their ingredients.
Care products with ingredients that irritate the skin are best banned from the cosmetics cabinet. These include denatured alcohols and occlusive mineral oils, but also many artificial fragrances and artificial dyes can irritate the skin and make it sensitive.
Care tips for dry skin
For dry skin due to lack of care, special care products from the pharmacy are recommended as a remedy. A good care cream has rich formulas with a balanced proportion of fat and moisture-binding active ingredients, but they should also be tailored to the particular skin condition and type.
Thus, there is no cream that can meet the requirements for everyone and at all times. If the skin is more stressed, it also needs extra care.
By the way: If the body lacks fluids, it also draws water from the skin. If you drink between two and three liters of water a day, you will also make your skin happy.
When the skin needs a dermatologist
In acute cases, a dermatologist should be consulted. He can also make a medical measurement of the skin condition. This involves measuring transepidermal water loss (TEWL), which in turn allows conclusions to be drawn about the skin barrier.
Depending on what skin condition the dermatologist determines, medical treatment may also be necessary.
