Fans, saltwater, air conditioning, chlorine…there are lots of summer things that dry our skin out. If summer has taken its toll on your skin, this guide to getting rid of dry skin should help.
The top tip for getting rid of dry skin is to drink lots of water. If you are dehydrated on the inside, your skin on the outside will be too. Aim to drink around two litres of water a day (or eight glasses), although in summer when it’s hot and you’re sweating you may need to up the level of water you drink.
As well as nourishing your skin for the inside, you can help to reduce the dryness of your skin from the outside too. Serums and oils can help your skin to keep hold of its moisture. Top ingredients to look out for in your serums include vitamin E and rosehip extract. Rosehip oil is full of vitamins, antioxidants and essential fatty acids that are known to correct dark spots and hydrate dry, itchy skin. Vitamin E meanwhile assists in cell restoration and can help to heal skin with scars, burns, and sun damage.
When to moisturise also makes a difference. If you apply moisturiser to slightly damp skin, then it will help to lock in hydration. Carrying moisturiser with you so that you can apply it after you wash your hands will make a huge difference.
A top tip for if you have dry skin all over your body, and not just on your hands, is to try and limit the amount of time you spend in the shower. Keep your shower time down to 10-15 minutes, and keep the temperature on a medium setting. Incredibly hot water will only serve to irritate your dry skin.
Finally, if your dry skin is of a severe level and caused by psoriasis or eczema, then you could also try UV light therapy. This treatment uses UV rays to help the skin heal itself.
