It occurs to one of the best of us. Even should you’re utterly dedicated to a hydrating face care routine, generally dry legs can catch you off guard.
In truth, probably the most frequent locations dryness exhibits up is on the legs — asserting itself with flaking, itching, and tough patches. Step one to combatting dry, itchy pores and skin on legs regardless of the season? Constant hydration.
However should you’re already a body-lotion loyalist, you may want to try what different components of your day by day routine might be counteracting your onerous work.
Let’s uncover why your legs may be drier than typical and what you are able to do about it.
1. You’re washing with water that’s too sizzling
As tempting as a sizzling bathe or tub may be, washing in water too excessive in temperature could make your pores and skin dry and itchy. Sizzling water can strip the pores and skin of its pure oils and trigger irritation.
What you are able to do: Attempt your greatest to take transient, heat showers. When you’re performed, gently pat your legs and the remainder of your physique dry with the towel — that is kinder to your pores and skin than rubbing.
2. You’re utilizing merchandise that irritate your pores and skin
In case your pores and skin tends to be dry or delicate at instances, utilizing sure physique washes could make issues worse. Some cleaning merchandise could be harsh on the pores and skin, disturbing its pure pH stability, and drying it out.
Why is the pH of your pores and skin essential? Its pure degree is mildly acidic, normally between 4-5.5. This acidic pH influences your pores and skin’s pure barrier operate, together with the manufacturing of lipids (pure oils within the pores and skin). Utilizing cleansers that don’t complement your pores and skin’s pure pH can strip the pores and skin of its protecting oils – generally leading to dryness and irritation.
To see in case your bathe gel or physique wash is the wrongdoer, swap it up and search for a mild product that may respect your pores and skin’s pure pH. Search for pH-balanced or for delicate pores and skin on the label.
3. You aren’t making use of the fitting moisturizer
With so many alternative textures, consistencies, and formulations to select from, discovering a physique lotion that works nicely together with your pores and skin generally is a journey. If you happen to’re experiencing dry pores and skin in your legs, attain for a focused physique moisturizer particularly formulated for dry or very dry pores and skin.
What elements to search for on the label? First up — urea. This hydrator helps the pores and skin retain water and promotes optimum moisture ranges. Emollients additionally work to revive your pure moisture barrier. Dimethicone and avocado oil are each fashionable emollients that you just’ll discover inside hard-working physique lotions.
What you are able to do: After your tub or bathe, pat your pores and skin dry after which apply moisturizer for dry pores and skin over your complete physique. Select a fast-absorbing lotion to keep away from a greasy or sticky feeling after you’ve gotten dressed, and moisturize as soon as a day to maintain your pores and skin hydrated.
4. Your shaving approach may use an replace
If you happen to shave your legs, it might be one motive behind the discomfort. You would be shaving too continuously, the flawed manner, or too shortly – resulting in razor burn, AKA itchy, purple, infected pores and skin.
Listed here are some easy ideas that can assist you keep away from irritation:
- Use a shaving foam or gel to assist prepared the pores and skin
- Attempt to not dry shave or shave in chilly water – lukewarm or heat is best
- Don’t shave towards the pure path your hair grows
- Preserve rinsing your blade as you shave
- Change your razor blade continuously
- After shaving, hydrate your pores and skin together with your physique lotion of selection
5. You aren’t ingesting sufficient water
The highest layer of your pores and skin is made up of round 30% water — contributing to its plumpness, elasticity, and resilience. If you happen to’re not ingesting sufficient water, then your pores and skin may lack hydration too.
What you are able to do: After your tub or bathe, pat your pores and skin dry after which apply moisturizer for dry pores and skin over your complete physique. Select a fast-absorbing lotion to keep away from a greasy or sticky feeling after you’ve gotten dressed, and moisturize as soon as a day to maintain your pores and skin hydrated.
6. You haven’t checked in together with your dermatologist
Sure medical circumstances generally is a reason for dry pores and skin. In case your dry pores and skin isn’t only a section (lasting for a number of weeks or extra) regardless of taking excellent care of it, it’s a good suggestion to go to your dermatologist. They’ll assist decide if there’s an underlying trigger for the dry, itchy pores and skin in your legs (or wherever else). They will additionally provide a personalised plan to fight dryness and irritation.
7. You’re getting older
As your pores and skin ages, it will get drier extra simply — changing into thinner and extra fragile. The pores and skin’s pure barrier operate additionally weakens because the years go by — which can lead to dryness, flaking, and irritation in some instances.
Bear in mind how we stated the water in your pores and skin helps to maintain it easy and plump? Overwashing and utilizing harsh merchandise can diminish hydration, compounded by the truth that your pores and skin’s water content material reduces as you become old.
What you are able to do: Embrace it! Wholesome pores and skin is gorgeous pores and skin, regardless of your years. Care to your pores and skin from head to toe with a day by day routine that fits your wants and maintain observe of any main modifications in look and texture to tell your dermatologist.
Sources and references:
Surber, C., Abels, C., Maibach, H. (eds): pH of the Pores and skin: Points and Challenges. In Present Issues in Dermatology. Basel, Karger, 2018, vol 54, pp 1-10.
Popkin, B., D’Anci, Ok., Rosenberg, I. Water, Hydration and Well being. In Diet Critiques (2010), Quantity 68, Difficulty 8, Pages 439–458.
https://www.nursingtimes.web/clinical-archive/maintaining-skin-health-in-older-people-29-11-2012/
https://www.nap.edu/webcast/webcast_detail.php?webcast_id=261
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