Health Special: From dry to happy skin

1 What leads to dry skinInadequate hydration and moisture in the upper layers of your skin leads to dry skin External factors such as changes in humidity levels which are lower during winters also lead to dry skin ldquoOur skin naturally produces oils but external factors such as environmental changes also result in dry skin Dry skin also makes your face look sick you develop dry dark patches some people develop white patches too and certain sections of your hands or legs feel grainyrdquo says Dr Madhuri Agarwal consultant dermatologist2 Internal factorsLong term medication for illnesses such as diabetes or blood pressure also leads to dry skin Diet plays an important role too Erratic eating and sleep schedules excessive intake of processed food all end up showing on your skin3 Illeffects of dry skinDry skin is not just bad to look at but also makes the skin prone to infections And not just this dry skin can also lead to a host of other skin problems Dry skin is less flexible besides it tends to age faster when dry This leads to formation of wrinkles4 How to moisturiseThe best time to moisturise your skin is after having a bath ldquoYour skin is clean and its absorbs the moisturiser better Use sunscreen post application of moisturiser or just use a sunscreen with a good moisturising effect to save timerdquo says Agarwal Agarwal recommends application atleast twice in a day At night one can use a creamier version as you are less prone to attracting dust During the day reapply a light moisturiser to the exposed skin areas A good moisturiser easily gets absorbed into the skin ldquoPeople in a city like Mumbai use moisturiser only during winters One should use a moisturiser throughout the year so by the time itrsquos winter the moisturiser will not be needed to treat the skinrsquos dryness but will be needed to nourish itrdquo suggests Agarwal5 Itrsquos a man thing tooIt is not just women who need to moisturise their skin Men tend to have tougher skin hence need some more cream or lotion Not many men get into the necessary cycle of reapplying moisturiser Hence Agarwal advises to opt for a stronger moisturiser that lasts longer A postshave moisturisation routine is necessary6 Strict nonosDonrsquot take long hot water baths in cold weather as it will make your skin drier this goes for saunas and steam rooms too Loofahs are made of nylon hence can irritate dry skin too In winter wear a layer of cotton clothes beneath your sweater as it would avoid skin irritation7 Age mattersldquoAs you grow older the activity of your sebaceous glands reduces Hence elasticity of your skin reduces too This leads to wrinkles Dryness of skin increases with age However just like the quality of skin this varies from person to person There is no age group to pin point at this too Some people are okay even till their late 40srdquo reassures Dr Reshma Ahuja consultant dermatologist and cosmetologist Ahuja suggests that as you grow older avoid using medicated soaps instead use creambased soaps or glycerine based soaps If you are using an antiageing cream or an antiacne cream your skin is prone to drying up Again this calls for the use of moisturisersDiet planThe following nutrients are necessary for a healthy skingtgt Fresh fruits and green leafy vegetablesgtgtNuts like walnuts almonds pistachios flax seedsgtgtVitamin A found in yellow orange fruits and vegetables play an important role in maintaining healthy skingtgtVitamin B is essential for healthy skin and is found in fresh poultry whole grains pulses and seedsgtgtVitamin C helps to heal burns and is essential for the formation of collagen the protein that gives skin its elasticitygtgtZinc found in nuts and wheat germ also helps to heal burns Vitamin E from various nuts wheat germ and avocados are antioxidants that help in protection against free radical damagegtgtOf the many functions water has in the body water is essential for the regulation of body temperature and lubrication in the body As the skin needs enough moisture water is an equally important source Even the slightest sign of dehydration will start showing its signs on your skingtgtAvoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumptionmdashInformation courtesy Eileen Canday dieticianHome remediesgtgt Spritz your face with little water or use natural toners such as rose water for better absorption before moisturisinggtgtApply a mix of coconut oil and few drops of lavender oil on your body before having a bath Gently wipe your body post your bathgtgtFor normal to dry skin soak two almonds in a tablespoon of milk overnight Crush them together and apply on face wash after 15 minutes For extremely dry skin use milk cream instead of milk in this mixturegtgtFor regular skin mix one tablespoon papaya with one teaspoon milk powder and add a squeeze of limegtgtOne can also mix five drops of castor oil with a few drops of orange blossom oil neroli or jasmine oil and massage on face for dry skin Wipe off with a damp cloth