Tips to Prevent Dry Itchy Skin

There are some easy tips to help prevent dry skin but before we get to those lets define what dry itchy skin is and why it happens.

You know you have dry skin when you feel a tightness of the skin. You may also see dry flakes coming off your skin and a slight red color. The more redness, the more sever your dry skin problem.

The most basic reason for dry itchy skin is your oil glands do not produce enough lubrication to the skin. This lack of lubrication is what dehydrates the skin.

There are many different reasons your glands may not be producing enough oil to keep your skin hydrated. Genetics play a factor as does a poor diet. Diets deficient in vitamin A and the B group vitamins often lead to the need for dry skin care.

Environmental factors also contribute to a lack of hydration in the skin. Winter months with blowing winds dry the natural oil produced by our skin. Air conditioning in hotter climates can have the same effect. Too much sun exposure also interrupts the skin's natural hydration process.

Now that we have a basic understanding of what causes dry itchy skin, lets look at some simple ways to prevent it.

#1 - Take lukewarm showers. It took me a long time to attempt this tip. I love my hot showers and I used to get out of the water with my skin red from the heat. Amazingly, when I turned down the heat, my skin stopped feeling so tight right out of the shower. I have to grudgingly admit that this tip works.

#2- Apply a dry skin care moisturizer immediately after the shower, or after washing your hands. Applying a moisturizer at this time will help to seal in the water you took on during your bath time.

#3 - Exfoliate regularly. When you exfoliate it removes layers of dead skin and allows your moisturizer to deeply penetrate the skin.

#4 - You will need more intense dry skin care in the winter. The warm air from inside coupled with the cold wind from out side robs your skin of its natural oils. Finding a natural moisturizer with intense hydration ingredients like Shea butter, avocado oil, or Coenzyme Q10, will aid you during the winter seasons.

#5 - Consider fish oil pills. Fish oil pills contain omega 3 fatty acids. This ingredient is a major benefactor in healthy skin. People who began taking the fish oil reported a positive difference in their hair, nails, and skin in only 6 weeks.