Men's Skinsaviour » men’s dry skin

Dry skin on hands

admin — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:35:04 +0000

Hands are often a neglected part of the daily skin care routine but are always on display and one the first parts of the body to show signs of aging. Simple steps to take care of them will give you better looking hands and nails and the first step is prevention of further damage. Hands are often exposed to the sun, particularly when we are driving, but often a forgotten part of the body when applying sun block. A broad spectrum sun block should be applied whenever we are outdoors – keep some in the car to remind yourself to apply it. Age spots we see on people’s hands are not really as a result of getting older but of accumulative sun damage.

Hand care

Hands tend to have problems with dryness rather than oiliness as there are fewer glands that produce sebum. Therefore we need to replace the moisture we lose from the constant immersion in water that they undergo daily. Cleaning agents and detergents can be harsh and drying to the skin so the use of rubber gloves when doing dishes or cleaning is advisable. The same applies to gardening – gloves will serve to protect the hands and less scrubbing will be need to clean them. If gloves don’t appeal, the use of a good barrier cream will help stop chemicals and dirt entering the skin.

What to avoid

Very hot and very cold water
Harsh soaps and detergents that remove natural oils
Sun damage from sun exposure
Cleaning chemicals
Nail products containing acetone or formaldehyde

What to do to look after your hands

Always use a broad spectrum sun block
Use gloves when gardening and using cleaning chemicals
Avoid immersion in overly hot water and harsh detergents
Use a hand moisturiser frequently to prevent the skin from drying out
Moisturise after washing the hands
Treat them to a warm oil massage for deep moisturising

Dry skin on the body

admin — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 22:30:41 +0000

While patches of dry skin can appear anywhere on the body it is most commonly found on the lower legs, arms, hands and abdomen. Sometimes dry skin is felt more than it is seen – uncomfortable feeling and itchy but severe dry skin can be both noticeable and embarrassing. Often we are more self conscious about this in the summer months when we have more of our bodies exposed. No more hiding under layers of winter clothes. Dry skin is also more noticeable on people with dark skins and can look a pale, ash grey colour.

Body Basics

Skin that is healthy is covered in a thin layer of natural lipids forming a lipid defence barrier. Lipids are a fatty like substance that helps to protect the skin from foreign invaders but also prevent excess moisture loss, keeping the moisture in and therefore the skin soft and supple. We need to look after this layer to keep our skin looking and feeling good.

External

Avoid long, hot showers.
Dry gently.
Moisturise regularly and immediately after bathing.
Combat drying from central heating and air conditioning with a humidifier.
Avoid clothing or detergents that irritate the skin.
Gently exfoliate with wash cloth or make your own by mixing soft brown sugar, a little olive oil and add water slowly to get the desired consistency.
Avoid soaps, detergents and sulphates.

Internal

Drink enough water to keep the body well hydrated.
Eat a balanced diet, a broad spectrum of all the colours in fruit and vegetables.
Keep the body ‘oiled’ with all the good fats such as cold pressed virgin olive oil, avocado, walnuts, flaxseed, evening primrose oil and cold water fish such as tuna and salmon.
Include wholegrain and foods that not overly processed.
Over consumption of alcohol can have a drying effect on the skin.

What do I avoid if I have dry skin?

admin — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 22:18:43 +0000

Keep your baths and showers short. Baths and showers can actually be drying for the skin – it temporarily adds moisture but we lose some of the lipid layer and this causes the skin to become even drier.

Use lukewarm rather than hot water for the same reason.

Pat dry gently rather than rub with a towel.

Avoid using skin care products with alcohol, perfumes, colourings and other ingredients that may be irritating. Dry skin is often sensitive.

Avoid cleansers with soap or detergents in them.

Prolonged exposure to heating and air conditioning and winds.