Dry Skin Problems - Try These Home Remedies

If you have been experiencing acute roughness, burning, itching, redness, and tightening of the skin, then chances are that you have what many may refer to as dry skin. You may have dry skin for many reasons, right from cold temperatures, poor nutrition, dehydration, using skin products that contain alcohol to bathing or washing hands with hot water, among other things. Whatever may be the reason, it is important to determine the cause and find ways to treat it, as failing to do so could lead to unnecessary complications. 

These complications include inflammations and frequent breaks or cracks in the skin that could lead to potential bacterial infections. To treat this condition, you will require moisturising skin care remedies that will keep the skin hydrated throughout the day, not drying it out further. In this article, let’s take a look at home remedies for dry skin.

Home Remedies for Dry Skin

The market is undoubtedly filled with numerous products to treat dry skin, but why not try out some home remedies for the same? In this article, let us look at some of the tried and tested remedies for dry skin in detail. 

• Shea Butter: Shea butter is known to contain high concentrations of fatty acids and vitamins, which makes it an ideal moisturizer for the skin. It can hydrate, condition, tone and soothe your skin. Additionally, it is known for its anti-inflammatory and healing properties, which particularly benefits dry skin. You can use it on your face as well as your body after a shower. That is why this is touted to be one of the best remedies for dry skin. 
  
• Aloe Vera: Aloe vera suits almost all kinds of skin, especially when it is dry, sensitive skin. It keeps the skin hydrated and moisturized for long, preventing any kind of breakout. It is also rich in micronutrients that enhance skin health. All you need to do is, scrape the gel of one aloe vera leaf and mash it up to a paste. In an airtight glass jar, store the gel and leave it to cool in a refrigerator. You can directly apply it to your skin and allow it to sit that way for 30 minutes before rinsing it off with water. You can also make a hydrating skin serum by combining aloe vera gel with a carrier oil or an essential oil of your preference.
  
• Creamy Avocado Mask: You can create a homemade mask for dry skin using avocado and a carrier oil of your choice, preferably olive oil to moisturize dry skin. If you have an extremely dry skin condition, you could also add a tablespoon of honey to the mixture of creamy avocado paste and olive oil. Once you do so, mix it well and apply it to your skin where you leave it on for nearly 20-25 minutes. Wash it off with water once done. Your skin will be left well hydrated after the application. You can maximize the hydrating effects by applying your regular moisturizer after that.
  
• Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is the go-to solution for all problems related to dry skin. It can help with cracks in the skin and loss of water and elasticity in the top-most layer of the skin by providing it with vital essential fatty lipids. Given that coconut oil solidifies at room temperature, you can use it as a moisturizing cream for skin before hitting the bed at night.
  
• Milk: Milk contains lactic acid, which helps to hydrate dry skin. It helps with sunburn and helps soothe acne-prone skin as well. It is also perhaps the best home remedy to treat dry skin at home. You can use cotton to apply milk over dry patches on the skin. Having said that, lactic acid can also cause cracked skin to burn, so it would be advisable to use it with caution.
  

While you may try out the aforementioned home remedies for dry skin, also ensure that you make moisturizing an integral part of your skincare routine. Avoid hot showers and limit baths to 10 minutes as it can lead to excessively dry skin. Understand your skin and use products that aren’t harsh. That’s why many prefer to use organic products or home remedies over products that are heavy on chemicals. Additionally, drink a lot of water as nothing hydrates your skin better than boosting your water intake. 

Lastly, you can try out Wellbeing Nutrition's Skin Fuel - India's First US Dermatologist Formulated Drinkable Skincare. Made using naturally derived, widely researched ingredients - L–glutathione, hyaluronic acid, Japanese collagen, and other essential vitamins, this delicious blueberry mint skin elixir will keep your skin youthful, supple and glowing. This definitely works as a great remedy for dry skin!

References

• Effects of Topical and Dietary Use of Shea Butter on Animals, Oluwaseyi Malachi, American Journal of Life Sciences, (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277021242_Effects_of_Topical_and_Dietary_Use_of_Shea_Butter_on_Animals)
  
  
• The therapeutic properties and applications of Aloe vera : A review, Abid Aslam Maan, Akmal Nazir, Muhammad Kashif Iqbal Khan, Tahir Ahmad, Journal of Herbal Medicine, (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322376384_The_therapeutic_properties_and_applications_of_Aloe_vera_A_review)
• Nutritional And Pharmaceutical Benefits Of Avocado Plant, Shiv Kumar Gupta, Prateek Singhal, Anuradha Singh, Ritu Chauhan, Journal of Advanced Research, (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329388661_NUTRITIONAL_AND_PHARMCEUTICAL_BENIFITS_OF_AVOCADO_PLANT)
• Sandeep R. Varma, Thiyagarajan O. Sivaprakasam, Ilavarasu Arumugam, N. Dilip, M. Raghuraman, K.B. Pavan, Mohammed Rafiq, Rangesh Paramesh, In vitro anti-inflammatory and skin protective properties of Virgin coconut oil, Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine,
  Volume 9, Issue 1, 2019, Pages 5-14, ISSN 2225-4110, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcme.2017.06.012.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2225411017300871)
• Moisturizers: Do they work?, Harvard Health Publishing, (https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/moisturizers-do-they-work)