Therapy
Dry skin shows up particularly quickly on the face, elbows, knees and hands. Dry skin can be recognized by cracked, reddened and sometimes scaly areas. Although these features are all superficial, it is important to note that therapy for dry skin cannot be achieved by simply applying cream.
First of all, the cause of dry skin must be known. For many patients it is sufficient as a therapy to drink more fluid and wash less often. Showering once a day is enough for the body, but more frequent showers deprive the body of important protective fats.
In addition, care should be taken to use an additive-free shower gel. Too frequent bathing also dries out the skin and so avoiding it can already be considered a therapy. Further therapy options are the avoidance of too much sunlight and heat as well as the avoidance of extreme cold.
Also in winter, it should be avoided to expose oneself too often to dry heating air. If the cause of dry skin is more likely to be an illness, it should be treated first (for example, if the thyroid gland is underactive). In addition, stimulants such as alcohol or tobacco should be avoided.
Otherwise, as a therapy for dry skin, smearing a perfume-free and additive-free cream is helpful. In addition, you can use moisturizing products such as moisturizing shower gels or oils. Furthermore, there are medicinal oil baths from the pharmacy that help the skin to build up and maintain a protective fat coat throughout the day.
A further therapeutic measure is the wearing of wide clothing, which should be washed with a detergent that is as free of perfume as possible to counteract further irritation caused by harmful substances or perfumes. In addition, there are various Schüssler salts that can be used as a therapy for dry skin. Sodium chloratum helps with dry skin.
For very dry skin on which dandruff is already visible, potassium sulfuricum should be used. There are also numerous household remedies that are suitable for treating dry skin in various places. If the dry skin occurs especially in winter with heated air, the air can be additionally moistened by placing damp cloths on the heater or by purchasing a humidifier.
Moisturizing products are curd cheese and yogurt, which can be used to make a simple mask, which can be provided with cucumber (which also contains a lot of liquid) or honey and then applied to the face or affected body area. Furthermore, carrot juice is said to soften the skin when used as a facial tonic and rubbed into the face. A bath in milk (1l milk in a bathtub) or in oil (200 ml olive oil) also promises soft skin.
The olive oil can also be applied directly to the skin. Since dry skin is often caused by a lack of liquid, it is recommended to avoid this in the beginning and to drink enough. At least two liters of water or tea should take each humans per day to itself.
Coffee, on the other hand, only removes fluid from the body. A healthy, vitamin-rich diet is also important for a healthy skin. Vitamins A and B, as well as minerals and biotin keep the skin healthy and hair and nails strong.
The miracle plant aloe vera is particularly rich in liquid. In addition to the creams available, the slimy concentrate, which can be obtained directly from the plant, is also highly effective against dry skin. When applying in the eye area, however, care must be taken to ensure that nothing gets into the eyes.Baby oils are also excellent for dry skin.
Healing ointments can be made from the most effective herbs against dry skin. The miracle cures of nature are: Yarrow, zinc, speedwell, lanolin and marigolds, which have a particularly re-greasing effect. Thyme and chamomile additionally relieve itching and due to their antimicrobial properties they reduce the probability of infections in the skin areas.
Beeswax can also be used in creams or skin care lotions. Beeswax not only provides fat, but also smoothes the skin and closes small cracks. Dry skin is a problem that affects a large number of people.
Affected patients usually try to counteract the drying of the skin with creams or oil baths. However, it is important to know that not only external factors, such as too much sunlight or cold, can dry out the skin. A wrong diet can also lead to dry skin, in serious cases even be partly responsible for pathological findings such as the skin disease neurodermatitis, where the symptoms and manifestations are very rough and reddened skin.
A sufficient supply of fluids is very important in the first instance. Especially older patients often forget that they should drink at least 2 liters a day. If the body lacks water, it withdraws this water from the skin and this leads to dry skin due to an incorrect diet.
Especially nettle tea but also rosemary tea provide the skin with sufficient liquid. But with sufficient water supply alone the skin will not become healthy again. First of all, if your skin is dry, you should make sure that your diet is not too one-sided.
It is also important to make sure that you have enough minerals and vitamins. Especially vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin B12 should be taken in sufficient quantity. Biotin, which is contained in carrots and tomatoes, should also be consumed in sufficient quantities so that the skin does not dry out too much.
In addition, it is important not to expose the skin to too much sunlight, but to go out into the fresh air and the sun as sunlight is very important for the production of vitamin D and this vitamin also ensures a healthy skin. In general, a balanced diet is important to improve the appearance of the skin. Often a healthy nutrition is not enough and it should be paid attention additionally to suitable care substances as well as to suitable clothes.
In general, you should take care not to expose your skin to excessive chemical, thermal or mechanical stress and avoid “skin-hostile” stimulants such as alcohol, caffeinated drinks and tobacco. It is also important for your skin that you drink enough and eat a healthy and balanced diet. Regular exercise is also good for our skin, as it improves blood circulation and sweat has a positive effect, as it cleanses the skin.
In skin care, especially for dry skin, you should make sure to use pH-neutral washing lotions and apply cream regularly, especially after showering (where ideally the water should be lukewarm at most and you should not spend more time in the water than necessary). Avoid rubbing the skin with a glove or sponge to avoid irritation. For the same reason, creams, perfumes and the like should not be used if they contain alcohol.
When choosing your clothing, you should try to ensure a rather loose fit if possible. A too low humidity contributes very much to the development of dry skin. Therefore, if you know that you tend to develop this, you should consider using a humidifier if you have left the heating on for a longer period of time. Ideally, the air humidity should always be between 50 and 70%.
