Dry skin is annoying and can be painful if it gets that bad. It can be caused by several factors, including internal disease. Have you heard of eczema and dermatitis? This can also be the culprit behind your dry skin. To avoid this problem, one should know why they have the problem in the first place. Read more to find out the facts on eczema and dermatitis, then you'll read about 7 ways to avoid dry skin in general.

Dry skin:

To begin with, normal healthy skin is coated in a thin layer of natural lipids, or fatty substances. They keep in moisture, leaving the skin soft and supple. Usually, something in the environment, or something you're doing to your skin, is stripping away these fatty oils, leaving your skin unprotected. Less often, the cause is internal; a health condition or genetic predisposition is making your skin dry out.

Eczema:

Eczema is term for a group of skin conditions that cause the skin to become inflamed or irritated. It can be the result of allergies, asthma, or hay fever. Symptoms include extreme itchiness, dryness and redness. The area often becomes infected due to scratching, and the eczema can crack, causing oozing and weeping of the area.

Dermatitis:

Dermatitis is a general term that describes an inflammation of the skin, accompanied by redness and itchiness. The differences between dermatitis & eczema are not always easy to spot since the conditions are very similar. Dermatitis is an allergic reaction to a substance, such as a chemical in soaps or makeup, that comes in contact with the skin. Eczema, on the other hand, is often the result of allergies, asthma or hay fever.

Don't Want Dry Skin? Then Don't Do these 7 Things

Don't #1: Don't Wait too long After the Bath for the Lotion

For all three problems, apply moisturizer as soon as you step out of the shower. This will seal in the moisture from the bath. For dry skin in general, one tip is to apply natural skin care balms to your skin as soon as you get out of the shower to trap the water moisture that is already there.

Don't #2: Don't Take Long Showers

Limit the shower time. Long showers will steal the lipid layer from your skin, causing dry skin. It is very nice to take a long shower but if your skin problem is very bad, shorten the shower time.

Don't #3: Don't Take Super Hot Showers

Hot water in the shower makes a difference. When you shower with extremely hot water, the lipid layer that keeps in moisture on the skin is depleted. And so, the key here is shorter and colder showers. These two factors dry out the natural lipid layer from your skin, causing dryness.

Don't #4: Don't Wear Wool

Another factor to consider is the clothes that you wear. Wool dries out the skin and it should be avoided if your skin is severely dry. Try to wear softer fabrics, like cotton, or cashmere.

Don't #5: Don't Sit in a Dry Air House

Is there a dryness in the air of your home? This will aggravate your dry skin. A humidifier helps this second issue out, as it replaces the dry air with water vapor, soothing your skin in turn.

Don't #6: Don't Scratch Eczema!

Don't scratch at the eczema! This will cause more oozing and more dryness later.

Don't #7: Don't be Ignorant about Your Dermatitis

As for dermatitis, the allergen causing it has to be found. Try not wearing jewelry for a few days, or try taking a shower with a new soap free of perfumes and other allergens.

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