Let us face it. We have all experienced being in front of a mirror examining our skin
only to feel rough and scaly patches here and there. Now you might think that this dryness comes from a lack of
skin moisture, but it is actually caused by an impaired skin barrier that is deficient in the necessary healthy
fats in the top layer of your skin.1 Usually, the topmost layer of the skin is made up of dead cells
and natural oils, which both function to retain skin moisture to keep it soft and smooth. That is why dry skin
could result if there is not enough moisture in the top layer of the cells, which may happen when these
protective oils are depleted.1
It is important to note that this skin dryness is an
extremely common condition that can affect people of all ages. It can also appear on different parts of your
body, including your hands, face, legs, and even your stomach. This dryness is characterized by the discomfort
caused by red, flaky, or itchy skin.1
By just being mindful of your skin, you can even work wonders at home by simply adding
moisturizers to your daily skin routine, practicing sun protection all year round, or finding the appropriate
skin care products that best fit your skin to name a few.2 Nonetheless, here is a list of possible
reasons why you may be experiencing skin dryness.
Genetics
For many, genetics can
be the main culprit to innately dry skin. This genetic deficiency makes it difficult for the natural
moisturizing factors of the skin to produce natural oils that protect the skin’s outermost layer, which
contributes to moisture evaporating from the skin rather than retaining it.3
Choice
Of Soaps
Contrary to popular belief, many conventional soaps can actually be bad for your skin
because they are designed to remove dirt, sweat sebum, and oils. Because they strip away the natural oils in
your skin with most not even containing any moisturizing ingredients, they can disrupt your skin of its natural
pH balance and deplete it of its natural moisture leaving it irritated and dry.4
Acne Medications
Prescription or over-the-counter acne medications both carry the risk of
skin dryness as their side effect. Topical acne medications like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, although
not known to cause extreme dryness, still work to remove excess oil from the skin pores.5
Meanwhile, Isotretinoin is a vitamin A–derivative oral medication used to treat severe acne and can cause
excessive skin dryness and skin sensitivity.5
Long Hot Showers
Many people tend to take long hot showers to
wake themselves up in the morning or to relax and destress after a long and tiring day. This can actually be
harmful to one’s skin especially if the process is prolonged. Hot water actually strips away the skin’s natural
oils, leaving it dehydrated and causing it to dry quite quickly. This leads to various skin issues associated
with skin dryness like flaking and itchiness.6
Aging
As people age,
they become more susceptible to dryness. The skin slowly loses its natural elasticity as collagen production
decreases. Even sebaceous glands gradually have difficulty in producing natural oils which are important in
keeping the skin moisturized. These changes can cause the skin to become progressively thinner, more fragile,
less elastic, and even drier.7
Hard Water
Hard water is a term used to
describe water that is high in dissolved minerals, mostly calcium and magnesium. These minerals react with
the fatty acids in soap and shampoo to create chemicals that are harder to clean properly and leave a residue on
the skin. This disrupts the skin’s natural barrier and clogs the pores over time which causes it to become dry.
Although it is quite difficult to distinguish, people with hard water at home may experience their soaps and
shampoos not lather as much and do not feel as “clean” even after rinsing.8
Dry
Air
Believe it or not, the relative humidity in your home can greatly impact the overall
condition of your skin. During colder seasons, as the air gets cooler, it loses some of its ability to retain
moisture.9 With low humidity in the air, it draws out moisture from the uppermost layers of the skin
and causes it to become dry. These effects may vary from mild roughness, flaking, or even cracking of the skin.
This, in turn, makes the skin lose function of its natural protective barriers and allows microbes,
allergens, and other harmful chemicals to seep deep into the skin.10 If you’re suffering from skin
dryness due to any of these reasons, you may want to use Physiogel Daily Moisture Therapy. With over 165 years
of skin care expertise, Physiogel is formulated with BioMimic Technology TM which naturally mimics
your skin barrier that helps improve the absorption of skin moisture to protect against recurrent dryness. It is
also lightweight with the feel of a light emulsion cream giving lasting moisture of up to 72
hours.11
RE-LGH-PYSG
(ALL)-ART-PUC-0043-V0
References:
1 Lawler, M. and Ross Radusky, M., 2022. 10 Surprising Causes of Dry Skin. [online] EverydayHealth.com.
Available at: <https://www.everydayhealth.com/beauty-pictures/7-surprising-causes-of-dry-skin.aspx>
[Accessed 27 May 2022].
2 Mayo Clinic. 2022. Dry skin - Symptoms and causes. [online] Available at:
<https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-skin/symptoms-causes/syc-20353885#:~:text=It's%20a%20common%20conditi
on%20that,%2C%20harsh%20soaps%2C%20and%20overbathing.> [Accessed 27 May 2022].
3 McLean Dermatology
& Skincare Center. 2022. The difference between dry, genetically dry, and dehydrated skin - McLean
Dermatology & Skincare Center. [online] Available at:
<https://www.mcleanskin.com/difference-dry-genetically-dry-dehydrated-skin/> [Accessed 31 May
2022].
4 Brannon, H., 2022. Knowing What Soap Goes on Your Skin Is Important for Healthy Skin. [online]
Verywell Health. Available at: <https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-soap-does-to-your-skin-1069544>
[Accessed 27 May 2022].
5 Pellegrini, L., 2022. Common Medicines That Dry Out Your Skin. [online]
Wellrx.com. Available at: <https://www.wellrx.com/news/common-medicines-that-dry-out-your-skin/>
[Accessed 30 May 2022].
6 Gupta, A., 2022. Ditch long, hot showers during winter, or be ready for skin
problems. [online] Healthshots. Available at:
<https://www.healthshots.com/beauty/skin-care/heres-how-bathing-with-hot-water-can-affect-your-skin/>
[Accessed 30 May 2022].
7 Lazare, J., 2021. Careful Attention to Aging Skin, [online] Todays Geriatric
Medicine. Available at:
<https://www.todaysgeriatricmedicine.com/archive/091712p18.shtml#:~:text=Aging%20makes%20skin%20more%20susceptible,it's
%20important%20to%20monitor%20carefully.> [Accessed 30 May 2022].
8 Hong, H., 2022. How Bad Is Hard
Water for Your Skin? We Asked Derms. [online] Real Simple. Available at:
<https://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/skincare/hard-water-skin> [Accessed 30 May 2022]
9
Poslusny, C., 2022. Dry Air: What Is It and What Problems Does It Cause?. [online] Molekul.Science.
Available at:
<https://molekule.science/dry-air-what-is-it-and-what-problems-does-it-cause/>
[Accessed 30 May 2022].
10 Condairgroup.com. 2022. How dry air affects our skin. [online] Available
at:
<https://www.condairgroup.com/humidity-health-wellbeing/how-dry-air-affects-our-skin>
[Accessed 31 May 2022].
11 A randomized, single centre, single-blind, parallel, home use, cosmetic study
to investigate the safety, efficacy and acceptability of
W0154 Cream in subjects with moderately dry to
very dry skin and signs and symptoms of redness, irritation and inflammation,
2012, Dr. Suzana Louth
[Data on file]
