8 Home Remedies To Deal With Dry Skin

Xerosis or dry skin is a pretty common problem among many of us, especially those who do not know its exact causes. While dry skin could be an indication of a serious health problem, in many cases, it is caused by certain environmental factors leading to removed moisture from the skin.

Other causes of dry skin are harsh soaps, hot showers, arid climates, and heat. Luckily, there are numerous home-based remedies to get rid of dry skin and easily restore the much-needed moisture.

The following are a few of them:

1. Coconut oil

The emollient property of coconut oil shows amazing effects on your skin, as it creates a smooth surface between your skin cells. This is due to the fact that coconut oil contains natural saturated fatty acids that can easily treat as well as quickly smoothen your skin.

Coconut oil is so beneficial that you can apply it to almost any part of your body. The brilliant thing here is that you do not have to mix it with anything else before applying it to your skin.

Besides, coconut oil is gentle enough to be applied to your skin almost every day.

2. Oatmeal bath

Apart from the various health benefits of oatmeal, many people do not know about its healing effects on irritated skin.

This is the reason why your grandmother or great-grandmother has been suggesting oatmeal bath to your father and probably to you as well.

Colloidal oatmeal has antioxidants and certain anti-inflammatory properties that are good enough to soothe irritated skin. In case you are looking for some home-based tips to relieve itching, an oatmeal bath is highly recommended to you.

Immediately after you have taken an oatmeal bath, make sure to nourish your skin to completely lock in the barrier.

3. Petroleum jelly

You must have heard your mother or grandmother applying Vaseline to their skin, typically in winter. Well, that's nothing but a well-known application of petroleum jelly.

Petroleum jelly is also known as mineral oil and it covers your dried skin under its protective layer. The best part is petroleum jelly traps all the moisture underneath, helping your dry skin heel and then removes itchy patches on your skin.

4. Avoid irritants and allergens at all cost

A sudden or unexpected incident of dry skin could be due to its exposure to cold air or the material of clothes you are wearing.

People who sat by a fireplace, spend a good amount of time in chlorinated water, particularly in a swimming pool, often experience issues like irritated or dry skin.

So, make sure you have an idea about what you are putting your skin through and try to treat it as gently as possible.

5. Omega-3s and other antioxidants

A simple logic that you can here is that the rate at which your skin cells are being damaged by its exposure to certain elements is higher than the rate at which your body repairs them.

According to a study, there are certain foods that help your skin look healthy when you consume them.

These foods are rich in antioxidants, and thus minimize the damages caused by toxins, making your skin look healthy.

The following are a few search foods:

  • Tomatoes
  • Beans
  • Lentils
  • Blueberries
  • Peas
  • Carrots

Certain foods that are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids (example Salmon) may also contribute to a glowing, healthy skin diet.

6. Manage your shower temperature

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, relieving dry skin, in most cases, is as simple as adjusting your shower temperature and time.

If you are taking a hot shower every evening, be ready for your skin to be dried and damaged. Chances are that you have already been experiencing the symptoms, aren’t you?

There are soaps and other moisturizing products that claim to do good to your skin but are often found doing exactly the opposite. Such products can trigger certain allergic reactions and lead to thinning skin because of the harsh chemicals they are made from.

7. Keep a humidifier at home

A humidifier is a great source to minimize the dryness caused by the environmental heat and home-heating system to your skin.

A humidifier typically set to 60% is good enough to offset the effects of dryness caused by stripped moisture through gas and electric heat, as per Harvard Medical School.

8. Wear gloves

It's your hands that tend to experience direct contact with all the irritants in the environment. It won't be incorrect if we include certain daily use items, such as laundry detergent and dish soap, in this category.

So, next time you need to put your hands in water for a long period of time, especially if you are a professional who deals with water and stuff, make sure to wear a pair of good-quality gloves.

Your hands certainly take a lot of abuse when you work outside in the cold without wearing gloves.

It is best to wear insulated gloves while doing some water-related household chores in winter or when you are exposed to extreme temperatures and environmental conditions.

The Bottom Line

You certainly understand the importance of healthy skin, as it is the first life of your defense against viruses and bacteria around you. If you experience itchy skin, it could be due to an environmental infection.

In such a condition, you should first apply a good-quality moisturizer to the affected area of your body, and then see a dermatologist in case it doesn’t do the expected good. Make sure you use homemade moisturizers to prevent any harm to your skin.

As discussed above, virgin coconut oil is the best natural moisturizer that you can get.

In winter, make sure you don’t wear skinny clothes as may feel start feeling scratchy when you go under the sunlight or any other source of heat.

In case you have extremely itchy skin, you may want to see a dermatologist right away to avoid any further skin-related complications.