7 Causes of Dry Skin

It does not matter how firm or even-toned your skin is. If your skin is dry, then it would not look that beautiful. That is the jarring truth.

We can take certain measures to make sure that our skin does not remain dry for a long time.

But to take proper care of our skin, first we need to understand the causes of dry skin on the face and other parts of the body.  

Here, the question arises, what is the cause of dry skin?

Stated below are seven causes for dry skin—          

1. Climatic conditions.

There are multiple climatic conditions that affect the skin and make it dry.

Cold, windy and dry weather conditions can make your skin dry. It happens because such weather strips your skin of its natural oils.

Your skin’s natural oils are very important in keeping your skin well-hydrated.

Living in or visiting places with hot and arid climates can also cause dry skin. It happens because places with such climates usually have low humidity in their air.

Extended exposure to the sun not only causes dryness of the skin but it also damages the skin.

It can even make your skin display signs of ageing much earlier than deemed normal.

2. Medical conditions and medications.

One of the major causes of dry skin all over the body is medical conditions. Another one is medications.

Diabetes, kidney diseases, psoriasis and eczema are some of the medical conditions that have been linked to having dry skin.

Skin-dryness is a side effect of medications such as antihistamines, diuretics and blood pressure medications.

3. Harsh chemicals.

When you have done everything right and still end up with dry skin, you may be confused about the reason for having dry skin.

In such situations, harsh chemicals and substances might be the culprit.

Repeated exposure to soaps, detergents and cleaning agents containing harsh chemicals could make your skin go dry.  

4. Hot showers.

When we think about what causes dry skin, a hot shower is not the most obvious answer to us.

And yet, it is one of the most common reasons for having dry skin.

Hot water is responsible for stripping off the protective oils from the skin. Eventually, it leads to dry skin.    

If you like taking long, hot showers, chances are that you have dry skin.  

5. Inadequate moisturising.

Using the wrong kind of moisturiser that is not fit for your skin can make your skin dry.

Not using enough moisturiser or not moisturising your skin as often as you should can make your skin-dryness even worse.

So, the next time you try to figure out what causes dry skin on legs and other areas of your body, and how to remedy it, simply slather some moisturiser on your skin and get the desired result.                                

6. Diet.

What a person eats and drinks matter greatly to their overall health, including the state of their skin.

In addition to consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables to get multiple vitamins and minerals for a healthy skin, you need to keep yourself well-hydrated too.

Dehydration in the body would cause dehydration in the skin as well; which would ultimately lead to dry skin.

When it comes to your diet for a healthy skin, keep in mind that there are some foods which would make your skin dry.  

So, what foods cause dry skin?

If you are on a high-fat diet, love eating sugary food and are also a fan of baked goods, then you are at risk of having dry skin.

These kinds of foods cause inflammation that is a major factor in making your skin dry.

Plus, if you consume tobacco and/or drink alcohol on a regular basis, it can speed-up the ageing process; which in turn can reduce the thickness of your skin and also cause dehydration.

Consequently, it leads to you having dry skin.

Also, certain nutritional deficiencies in the body can make your skin go dry.

You may ask, which deficiency causes dry skin?

Dry skin can be caused by the deficiency of many vitamins and minerals.

To be precise, a lack of Zinc, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin A and Vitamin B2 in the body can lead to dry and flaky skin.

Subsequently, it may even cause skin irritations and allergies.

On top of that, iodine deficiency can affect skin generation causing dryness in your skin.      

7. Age.

As a person ages, the moisture-producing oil glands in their skin gets dried up. It makes the collagen in your skin dry up as well. The fat in your skin dries up too.

All of this makes your skin lose its ability to retain moisture. And it leads to dry skin.

People over the age of 40 years are especially prone to dry skin.

In case you have noticed your recently developed dry skin and wondered, why is my skin so dry and flaky all of a sudden?

Your age might be the answer.              

Causes of dry skin FAQs

Which fruit is best for dry skin?

To heal dry skin, you need to consume fruits that are rich in water and antioxidants.    

Limes, oranges, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, bananas and watermelon are great for your skin.

All these fruits aid in collagen production, hydration and fighting free radical damage; the lack of which can lead to dry skin.

Which type of soap is best for dry skin?

Soaps that boast of hydrating and moisturising qualities are supposed to be best for dry skin.  

While buying soap or body wash, look for the ones that have shea butter, aloe vera, glycerin, coconut oil and other natural oils as its ingredients.

Avoid the ones with sulfates or high pH levels as they can be harmful to your skin.

Which vitamin is best for dry skin?

Though many vitamins are good for dry skin, Vitamin C and Vitamin E hold special significance as they are responsible for keeping your skin moisturised and protected.  

Vitamin D is also helpful in keeping your skin properly hydrated.          

How to avoid skin dryness?

One of the easiest ways to avoid skin dryness is by making sure that your skin is properly moisturised. Moisturising helps in keeping your skin hydrated.

Use lukewarm water for baths and showers as hot water strips your skin off its natural oils. Oils that are essential to keep your skin hydrated.

Put on a good sunscreen and wear full-sleeved clothes when out and about on a sunny day to protect your skin from sun-damage.

During the dry seasons, use a humidifier in your house to add moisture to the air; as dry air can make your skin dry as well.

As much as possible, limit or completely avoid exposure of your skin to harsh chemicals and substances.

Last but not least, maintain a healthy lifestyle. Don’t indulge in too much alcohol and tobacco. These substances make your skin dry to a great extent.

Is curd good for dry skin?

When applied topically, curd acts as an exfoliator and a moisturiser.

When consumed as a food, the Vitamin D in curd helps in hydration of your skin and provides nourishment as well.

How to hydrate skin overnight?

In order to hydrate your skin overnight while you sleep, you need to create a moisture barrier and replenish all the lost hydration.

For this to happen, you need to apply a thick night cream. You can also use facial oils as they are pretty great in keeping the skin hydrated for a long period of time.

To add an extra layer of protection, use a humidifier in your bedroom.

This way, even if the air starts to get dry, the humidifier would add moisture to the air.

It is the best way to make sure that your skin does not get dry because of the air in your bedroom.