How to Choose the Best Body Cream for Extremely Dry Skin
It’s quite enviable to see women who really have clear, smooth, soft, glowing healthy skin. But the truth is you can also achieve these even when you have dry skin.
Let us define first what really is dry skin. Rough, tight, flaky, or even scaly feel means that your skin lacks moisture which best describes xeroderma or dry skin. Many factors result in this dryness such as environmental factors in the weather, especially in colder months and dry climates, frequent washing made worse by using harsh soaps, aging that lessens the oil our skin produces, dehydration caused by the inability to drink a sufficient amount of water that our body needs, or medical reasons.
If you have these predicaments, don’t worry, body creams can remedy the situation. These creams contain a blend of water, oils, and other hydrating ingredients specially formulated to address skin dryness experienced by a lot of people. Choosing the best body cream will solve the issues of hydration, protection, and nourishment of the skin. So, with the many skincare promotions at hand, how do you choose the best body cream for dry skin?
Hydrating ingredients that can grant your skin moisture and retain it are valuable. Humectants like glycerin, and hyaluronic acid, for instance, can attract water to control constant dryness. Emollients like shea butter, cocoa butter, jojoba oil, and even avocado oil are excellent softeners of the skin and at the same time smoothen it. Whereas occlusives in the form of petrolatum and lanolin can provide a barrier and seal in moisture.
Fragrances or other potential irritants may worsen dryness, so opt for hypoallergenic creams instead.
Prioritize body butters which are thicker over lotions for they can lock hydration. For extremely rough skin, thick ointments like petrolatum are very effective.
Ceramides which restore the natural skin barrier are good for long-lasting moisture retention.
In addition to these ingredients, aloe vera, colloidal oatmeal, and allantoin can soothe the skin as they reduce irritation and itchiness that often come with dry skin.
On the other hand, if you have extremely dry skin due to a medical condition such as eczema or psoriasis, look for creams that are specifically formulated to target inflammation and barrier repair.
High-end creams are quite expensive but effective, however, drugstores also offer brands that are dermatologist-recommended but still affordable. Of course, look for brands that are dermatologically tested and recommended for your very dry skin.
Just a little reminder, that before fully committing your skin to body creams, patch test it first on a small area of your skin, better be sure than sorry later.
Using moisturizers and gentle cleansers regularly helps you manage dry skin. Plus, avoid hot showers because hot water can shed the skin of its natural oils. When going outdoors, it wouldn’t harm you to wear protective clothing and use sunscreen. And while indoors, moisture your dry surroundings by using a humidifier.
Taking all of these into account can relieve you of your worries about dry skin. Investing in the best skincare products for your dry skin is one of the most important decisions you will never regret doing.