How to care for dry facial skin is one of the most commonly encountered skin problems. Dry and flaky skin can be unattractive, itchy, painful and irritating. There are however, things you can do to help minimize the problem or to deal with it once it has occurred.
What Moisturizer Should I Use?
Dry skin is often associated with colder, drier weather. At times like this, it's better to use a moisturizer with high oil content, and to use it a little more frequently than you otherwise would. This helps to build up and maintain the skin's protective barrier against the elements. If the weather is warmer and you're spending more time outdoors, make sure the sunscreen you use contains moisturizer as well.
How Do I Care For Itchy, Dry Facial Skin?
Unfortunately, dry skin and itchiness go hand in hand. The good news is that it's a relatively simple problem to solve. Remember when Mom put you in an oatmeal bath to stop the itch when you had chicken pox as a child? Many facial washes and shower products contain oatmeal for this very reason. If worse comes to worse you can always run yourself a nice, relaxing oatmeal bath that will soothe your whole body and not just your face!
What About Cleansing and Toning?
How to care for dry facial skin in terms of cleansing and toning comes down to one factor - the gentler the better. Using facial skin care treatments that are too harsh, even those meant for supposedly normal skin, will only strip even more moisture from you already thirsty skin. With cleansers, it may be best to opt for those meant for sensitive skin, as fragrances and other chemicals can dry out your face. When choosing a toner, go for a freshener. These are the mildest kind, and as such will dehydrate your skin the least.
Washing And Showering Tips
Don't wash your face too often, particularly in cold or dry weather. Somewhat paradoxically, the more you wash your face the more it dries out. Similarly, don't shower in water that's too hot. At the very least, use a moisturizing body wash or shower milk, or else moisturize right after having a shower.
Solving the problem of how to care for dry facial skin is as much about preventing the problem as dealing with it. Thankfully, both of these issues can be solved fairly easily with a bit of common sense and know-how about how best to care for your skin.
