Dry skin: proper care and cleansing (what to do about dry skin)

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Dry skin: proper care and cleansing (what to do about dry skin)

Dry skin is not uncommon: around a third of the population is affected and suffers from irritation, rough skin, often combined with blemishes. The reasons are diverse and can be both physical and behavioral... For example, oily skin creams are often counterproductive because they make the skin dependent, and it produces less sebum itself. We'll show you how, with the right care, to reduce dryness and restore the natural protective barrier in less than a minute a day.

What is dry skin?

Sebum normally lies in a thin layer on the skin's surface and forms a natural protective film. This is thin or no longer exists at all in the case of dry skin. Due to the skin's weakly developed protective film, too much water evaporates (also known as TEWL or trans epidermal water loss), and the skin dries out. Strictly speaking, dry skin is, therefore, «skin with a low sebum level».

Because the skin is dry, it becomes rough and cracked, allowing bacteria and dirt to penetrate the skin. Bacteria and skin flakes can clog the pores. Skin problems such as pimples, irritations or inflammations are the direct result.

What causes dry skin?

Dry skin and sebum deficiency have many causes, the main ones being related to weather conditions, physical predisposition or even bad habits, such as excessive use of moisturizing creams.

Weather impact

Harsh weather conditions can have a significant impact on our skin. In winter, people tend to have more blemishes on their skin. This is also mainly due to the reduced sebum production. At low temperatures, the sebaceous glands work on the low flame, which weakens the skin barrier. The lower temperatures often cause the sebum to thicken, which leads to clogged pores and often to pimples. For more information, see the blog post Blemished skin and pimples in winter.

However, the skin can also dry out if it is too warm due to the higher loss of moisture and too much sun exposure. Accordingly, it is essential to protect yourself from both low and high temperatures to improve the appearance of your skin.

Physical impacts

In addition to unfavorable weather conditions, physical and genetic influences also come into play. For example, people who sweat excessively are more likely to suffer from dry skin, since they lose more fluids and salts, which in turn makes the skin chapped and vulnerable for bacteria. Athletes can tell you a thing or two about it.

In addition, our mood can also affect the appearance of our skin, for example, stress. Age and hormones also play a crucial role. With age, the skin loses its elasticity and ability to bind moisture, so that it becomes drier and more sensitive. Here, again, the right care of the skin is crucial.

Bad habits

Many people with dry skin and associated skin problems have habits that contribute to their skin condition. Excessive alcohol consumption, extensive bathing or smoking can permanently deteriorate the skin and contribute to the symptoms mentioned above.

While most readers are aware of these habits, the wrong skin care can also make dry skin worse, for example, using oily creams. Consumers who use oily creams too often make their skin dependent on them. As a result, the skin produces less sebum, which weakens the protective barrier and further damages the skin. It's a classic vicious circle.

Reducing dryness: the right care is crucial

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A few small habits can help to sustainably strengthen dry skin. Using little make-up, disinfecting your hands, washing properly your hair and regularly changing your pillowcase can already create a good foundation.

However, daily deep cleansing and exfoliation (mainly in the evening) are crucial to remove bacteria from the skin and pores and thus remove the basis for inflammation and pimples. The evening supply of specific active ingredients and moisture is also essential for dry skin. Care should be taken to ensure that the skin is not exposed to additives.

During the day, light creams can help protect the skin from too much water loss. As you can see, the skin is an extremely resilient organ, but in modern life, it is often thrown out of balance.

The basis for healthy, natural skin is therefore a gentle, pore-deep cleansing in the evening to open clogged pores and reduce bacteria. This cleansing should be combined with the supply of the right active ingredients with as few additives as possible. The combination of this evening routine with a light cream for protection during the day is ideal for helping dry skin regain its natural balance.

Filabé is ideal for dry skin

Filabé is a deep cleansing high-tech microfiber cloth that combines care and exfoliation with the active ingredient supply in a single product. The microfibers transport the active ingredients deep into the skin and remove bacteria from the pores in less than a minute. Unlike creams, Filabé is the only care product that contains no additives whatsoever. This gentle care is especially important for dry skin, which reacts sensitively to all kinds of stress.