Written By: Editorial Team | Updated: March 10, 2015, 6:26 PM
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One of the earliest symptoms of diabetes is dryness in the skin. If you are experiencing dryness particularly in your hands and feet without any reason, it is a good idea to get yourself tested for diabetes. High blood sugar levels leads to poor circulation, and frequent urination further dehydrates the body. Detecting type 2 diabetes at an early stage can help you bring it under control with diet improvement and medication.
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One of the reasons that your skin’s getting drier by the day could be due to the usage of harsh soaps or detergents. Washing clothes, utensils with them takes out the moisture from your skin and makes it very dry. Also, if you have dry skin and you wash your hands or face too many times with face wash/liquid soaps, it can further irritate the skin and make it itch. Wear gloves while washing pots and pans and use mild soaps to wash your face/hands. Keep a hand lotion next to your soap and moisturise your hands after you wash them.
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If you are into taking long, hot showers, your skin is prone to get dry as the hot water affects the epidermis (top skin layer) which has keratin and a layer of oil which helps retain moisture. The heat of the shower mixed with soap strips this layer and moisture escapes your skin leaving it dry. The longer and hotter the shower is, the drier your skin will get. If you already have dry skin, the shower will worsen it.
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You could be suffering from hypothyroidism which can cause your skin to become dry. In this condition, the thyroid glands produce less thyroid hormones which lessen the activity of the oil and sweat glands which leads to dry skin. Moisturising the skin with creams or oils is essential to avoid this.
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When the weather gets too cold or too hot with low or no humidity, it causes the skin to become dry. The condition is aggravated when there are radiators and heaters indoors. The moisture is completely lost and the constant hot and cold blow irritates the skin even further. The solution is to moisturise the skin as often as possible. Keeping a bowl filled with water near the radiator to make the room more humid is also a good idea.
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Suffering from dry skin? There are various reasons that cause your skin to become dry – from the harsh weather to serious skin conditions. Read on to find 10 such causes which you probably didn’t know about.
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If you suffer from an illness and are on strong medications, you could feel your skin getting itchy and dry. This is due to the strong dose of your medicine. In order to cure this kind of dryness, you need to improve your diet. Eat raw fruits and salads, drinks lots of water and avoid junk food. You also need to moisture your skin well in order to stop the itchiness.
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Women nearing 40 will often find their skin getting drier than usual. This is because the skin starts losing its elasticity, in other words, it starts to mature. You can also find the appearance of other ageing signs – fine lines, wrinkles etc. Even women with oily skin will feel their skin getting dry. In order to control this, opt for hydrating creams/lotions. Start using anti-ageing serums and pick products that are water-based as it will ensure that your skin remains hydrated.
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Skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema occur more often in people who have dry skin. If your skin is too itchy and sore and you see patchy red spots, you could be suffering from a milder form of psoriasis. Eczema is a term broadly used for various skin conditions with symptoms like flaky, dry, blistered skin. Go to a dermatologist if you have dry skin and rashes too often to understand your skin condition.
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If your skin is exposed to the sun too much then the harmful UV rays can cause skin damage, leaving it dry and scaly. This is because the UV rays penetrate below the top layer of the skin and affect the collagen which is responsible for the upkeep of the skin. This leads to wrinkles, sagging and also dryness. Always apply a good sunscreen before stepping out in the sun and wear a hat or carry an umbrella with you to protect your skin from the harmful rays.
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Swimming is good for your health but not so much for your skin and hair. The chlorine present in the water isn’t the main culprit if it is added according to the set norm but over-chlorinated pools can cause harm. Long hours in the pool remove the oily layer of your skin which locks in moisture. It is important to apply a good moisturising lotion or cream before and after you swim.
