Dry skin is a problem so many people have a concern with all year round. It can seem to get worse when the temperature starts to drop, as a result of using harsh soaps and chemicals, unbalanced skin PH, smoking and with different skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Lots of our clients have been telling us that dry skin has been a key issue for them during lockdown. So, lets talk about ways to keep your skin super hydrated during lockdown!
To start off, what is it? Well, Dry skin can be itchy, flaky, bumpy or even have red patches. This happens when the skin is not producing enough sebum (oil) and the skin then becomes dry. When your skin becomes dry and flaky and does not produce enough sebum this can then lead to dehydration in the skin, this is when the skin becomes dull in appearance and lacks water.
There is many ways you can treat dry/dehydrated skin by using different home care and specialised treatments that target your skin concerns.
1. Cleanse morning and night: You should always use a gentle cleanser morning and night. You are wanting to remove any dirt or makeup that may be sitting on your skin so when you apply your moisturiser you are getting the full benefits of all the ingredients it is not trying to fight it’s way through the dirt sitting on your skin. I recommended cleansing in the morning also as you are wanting to wash off any product you may have sitting on your skin from the night before so your day moisturiser and SPF can work to its full potential.
When you are purchasing a cleanser you want to make sure it is a gentle cleanser that is suitable for dry dehydrated skin. I would recommend the Lira Bio Enzyme Cleanser, as it has alpine rose plant stem cells and grape plant stem cells which help with cell repair, aloe vera which is soothing and calming for your skin, Vitamin E a potent antioxidant as well as pineapple and papaya enzymes.
2. Moisturise morning and night:
By using a moisturiser morning and night it is going to help improve your skins natural barrier function which helps promote water retention. Using a night moisturiser is going to add extra benefits for your dry skin. There is many products out on the market that contain many drying agents that may make your skin condition worse. My go-to is the LIra Bio Lift Creme!
I would recommend avoiding any products with:
- Alcohol
- Petroleum
- Artificial fragrance
3. Exfoliate:
Exfoliating helps remove any dead skin cells that are stuck to the surface of your skin. We naturally create new skin, and shed the old. However, sometimes the dead skin may get stuck to the surface- this is where we need to help manually remove the dead skin cells. To do this, we exfoliate the skin surface. But! You must be careful to not over exfoliate as this may trigger further dryness. AHA (alpha-hydroxy acids) And BHA (beta-hydroxy acids) are two ingredients we are looking for in an exfoliant. AHA’s help dissolve dead skin cells that are sitting on the surface and the BHA’s penetrate deeper into the skins layers to help remove any dead skin cells from you re pore which will then softens your skin.
The product I would recommend is Lira Mystiq illuminating Polisher. This is fantastic for all skin types and can be used as a mask by leaving it on the skin for 10 minutes before removing with warm water. This product is fantastic as it has salicylic acid, shea nut shell powder (mechanical exfoliant), colloidal silver (anti-inflammatory), Narcissus extract(cell rejuvenator) and many more amazing ingredients.
4. Treat from inside out:
We may sometimes need a little bit of an extra helping hand when treating dry skin, it may be coming from the inside not just the outside. You can eat foods which are rich in fatty acids such as fresh fish, avocados and olive oil which will help nourish your skin cells, drinking lots of water also is fantastic for your skin.
I also recommend taking an essential fatty acid supplement- my favourite is the JS Health Triple Strength Fish Oil+. This ensures that we are producing good oils and hydrating our skin, rather than making it oily and causing breakouts.
5. In clinic Treatments:
Once we are allowed back into clinic, I would also recommend visiting us for treatments such as chemical peels and hydration facials. In the clinic, we can assess your skin for you and advise you what is going to be the best treatment for you and your skin, they will then be able to treat your skin for you on the day.
There are many peels that are able to target your main skin concerns. The Lira chemical peels are made up of natural, active ingredients that have been formulated to work on the skins surface and are able to meet many different skin concerns. The Lira chemical peels for dry skin have mandelic acid which is an exfoliator, orange plant stem cell for cell production, narcissus extract a cell rejuvenator and bearberry extract which is a skin brightener, plus many more ingredients that will help with your dry dehydrated skin.
As you can see there are many different things we can use to help prevent dry skin and help prevent dry skin from becoming an issue such as in clinic treatments as well as home care. If dry skin is a concern for you book a complimentary web-consult with one of our amazing skin therapists at VC Dermal to tailor a treatment plan to you and your skin. Click here to book!
Thanks for reading! Stay safe in lockdown and I can’t wait to see you in clinic soon.
Kylie xx .