If you have dry skin, you’ll know that finding the perfect skincare regimen can be the difference between unsightly flaking and glowing, healthy skin. So in this quick 3-minute read, we explain the different types of dry skin and share our top tips on how to prevent and understand the right products to treat it.
What causes dry skin?
Aside from medical conditions, dry skin can also be caused by:
Cold or dry weather – In the winter, extreme temperatures can cause dry, flaky skin. Look to switch up your daily routine during these months by applying hydrating skincare products – like a rich night cream or moisturising cleanser.
Harsh soaps or ingredients – If your skin is prone to dryness, steer clear of drying ingredients like fragrances and alcohols.
Chemical peels and exfoliators - We love ingredients such as glycolic acid and salicylic acid for exfoliating the skin. But if your skin is extremely sensitive, these can cause further irritation by stripping it of its natural moisture.
Types of dry skin
Dry skin types can also be the result of a health condition:
Contact dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is a type of eczema triggered when your skin comes into contact with an allergen. It usually appears as an itchy rash, sometimes followed by dry, cracked and even blistered skin. The reaction usually calms down within a few hours.
Seborrheic dermatitis
Mainly affecting your scalp but can appear elsewhere on the body, seborrheic dermatitis appears when your sebaceous glands produce excess oil. The skin condition causes red, scaly and itchy skin.
Atopic dermatitis
The most common type of eczema, atopic dermatitis, is mainly caused by the skin's inability to retain moisture. But flare-ups are common as the dryness makes the skin more sensitive to certain triggers – such as irritants, foods and environmental factors.
How to prevent dry skin?
Cleanse – Avoid drying ingredients like fragrances and alcohols if your skin is prone to flakiness. Instead, look out for formulas specially designed for dry skin types, they’ll usually have nourishing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, fatty acids and coconut oil. Plus, a cleansing device like the FOREO LUNA 3 Sonic Facial Cleanser and Anti-Ageing Massager is a great way to massage those hydrating ingredients deep into your skin.
Repair and nourish – Go deeper with your skincare with the CurrentBody Skin LED Mask + Hydrogel Mask. The LED light kick-starts your skin’s natural repair process to rejuvenate your complexion from the inside out. Skin looks more even with a dewy glow in as little as 4 weeks.
How to get rid of dry skin?
If you suffer with extremely dry skin, your bathroom cabinet is probably bursting with creams, emollients and serums. But if you’re not exfoliating your skin, you’re just layering your products on top of dead skin cells.
First, remove the barrier to penetration and smooth your skin with an exfoliating device like the Dermaflash Luxe+. The micro-fine razor edge gently removes dry flaky skin and dead cells to reveal a smooth, glowing complexion.
You can also treat dry skin with a ultra hydrating moisturiser, after your LED treatment. Lancer Skincare The Method: Nourish is good for normal-combination skin and is enriched with olive oil, hyaluronic acid & avocado oil. This acts as a moisture magnet, holding onto water to keep your skin hydrated and plump
