No matter what our age, we all experience dry skin when the weather gets chilly. Let us hear from experts on ways to keep our skin healthy and moist.

Between heaters, air conditioners and general lack of moisture in the air, you have to admit that the skin gets a rough beating in winter. Dry skin and winter conditions are a deadly combination. Even the dewiest of skin can become dull and dry when the north winds start to blow. But if you already have dry skin, the cold conditions can leave it looking like a desert.

Let me make one point very clear, people are born with their skin type -- it’s all determined by genetics and ethnicity.  Your skin type determines how much oil is produced by the skin. When it comes to finding out your skin type, the first thing you probably need to do is forget everything you've heard before about it! What you've been taught by salespeople, estheticians, fashion magazines, and even some dermatologists are likely wrong, confusing, or designed to simply get you to buy simply more and more of their products.

Dry skin is the type of skin which does not produce enough oil. Its texture can be somewhat rough and stiff
 as 
there is no oil to maintain suppleness. The secretion of oil in our skin follicles helps us protect to large extent from environmental damage impairment and aging.  Dry skin thus requires extra protection because it lacks this natural protection. Stimulating oil production and protecting the surface are a must when it comes to taking care of dry skin.

Products that have moisturizing ingredients or are occlusive in nature are best for dry skin. And products derived from seaweed are highly recommended because of their soothing property. You can exfoliate your dry skin using ground almonds.  Shea butter, a natural fat, can also be utilized as a heavier occlusive moisturizer. If it is your face that is dry, try using cucumber juice which is antiseptic, to get a fresh look.

 

Skin care professional Itchya Karki, says that “Dry skin and dehydrated skin are two entirely different things. Lack of oil obviously results in dry skin while lack of water retention causes dehydrated skin.”