Dry Skin Help: Top Tips on Relieving Dry, Itchy Skin

At its best, dry skin can be an itchy annoyance. At its worst, it can cause real discomfort, severe pain and affect a person’s quality of life. Moisturiser is a tried, tested and valuable weapon against the ails of dry skin. However, it is certainly not the only tool at our disposal as these ‘Top Tips’ will show you.

Water 

Water + dry skin? Surely all that extra moisture is bound to have a positive impact on our thirsty bodies. Well, yes and no. Drinking water regularly throughout the day is not just great for your skin, it’s fantastic for overall health. Washing ourselves with water is also great for overall health, and hygiene obviously—but there are a couple of caveats. 

Do not over wash. Washing too often or for too long could dry skin out. Hot water will also do the same so keep the temperature lukewarm. If you can start your day off with a cold shower, even better. 

Wear Rubber Gloves

That hot water we’ve just mentioned, the same hot water we use to remove grease and oil from dishes; imagine what that is doing to your skin’s natural oils while you wash up. Rubber gloves – those old fashionable faves – are what you need. Wait, you’ve got a dishwasher? Lucky you. Rubber gloves are still worth having under the sink though. With all the different chemicals and solvents found in household cleaning products, they are equally as practical, and protective when it comes to cleaning up around the house.

Cover Up

You probably don’t want to be wearing rubber gloves out in public but it’s important you keep your hands covered in winter, too. Dry, wintry winds can wreak havoc with skin and prevention is always better than hunting down a cure. A nice pair of warm gloves will stop your hands from drying out. By the same token, summer months can be just as tricky to navigate. Sun-exposed skin can gradually purge the skin of moisture and essential oils. Wear loose, long-sleeved shirts and don’t forget to up your sun cream’s SPF.

Avoid Stress

Quit your job and move to the Bahamas. If only. We know avoiding stress is easier said than done what with work, families, Brexit—the list goes on.  But a healthy mind is fundamental to a healthy body.  We’re all aware of the psychological effects stress can have on our state of mind, but stress also takes its toll physically. Lack of sleep, poor eating habits, higher blood pressure. If you’re not looking after yourself, you’re not looking after your skin.

There are numerous ways to combat stress and one of our favourites is exercise. Try to incorporate walking, jogging or cycling into your daily routine. Exercise reduces levels of the body’s stress hormones while simultaneously stimulating the endorphin production, which are chemicals in the brain that reduce the perception of pain and lift moods. It will also help improve sleep. Win, win. 

Fragrance-Free Detergents

Doing the laundry is painful enough without your detergent adding to your skin woes. If you’re prone to dry, itchy skin then flare ups need no encouragement and that’s precisely what the harsh chemicals found in a lot of detergents do. Scout out fragrance-free options, and take your time to read the ingredients label; that way you’ll be able to wear your favourite clothes without fear of irritation. 

Stop Scratching 

We don’t want to sound like your mother, but, ‘stop scratching’. Yes, it feels good and yes, it can ease the pain for a second or two but scratching dry, itchy skin is only going to lead to further irritation and possibly infection. An ice pack applied to the affected area is a much more suitable and sensible approach.