Why is My Skin so Dry Even When I Moisturize?

The top signs of healthy skin are glow, radiance, and elasticity. These show that your skin is receiving enough nutrition and is getting the kind of treatment it deserves. However, some people’s skin does not seem to be getting healthy, no matter how well they treat it and how regularly they moisturize it.

Many people find it distressing to have dry skin even after moisturization, which raises concerns about an underlying skin condition. 

So, did you find your way here while looking for the answer to “Why is my skin so dry even when I moisturize?”. Well, we listed all the possibilities for this skin condition here. 

Table of Contents:

• Part 1: Why is My Skin so Dry Even When I Moisturize?
• Part 2: How to Treat my Skin When it is Dry?

Part 1: Why is My Skin so Dry Even When I Moisturize?

Let us discuss every reason that might be causing chronically dry skin here.

Factors Contributing to Persistent Dry Skin

The wellness of our skin is a combination of several factors. Many of these determine its hydration as well. These factors are classified into 3 subtypes, which are given below.

Environmental Factors 

The following environmental factors contribute to the dryness of the skin.

• Low Humidity Levels: Low humidity in the environment adversely affects the skin by extracting its natural moisture and leaving it dry.

• Extremes of Temperature: The lack of hydration, along with increased sweating in the hot summer and dry and cold air in the winter, along with low humidity, are the main causes of dry skin.

• Excessive Sun Exposure: UV rays from the sun dries the skin from the inside and damage its barrier.

Lifestyle Factors

A bad lifestyle might be the culprit of extremely dry skin.

• Harsh Skincare Products: Harsh skincare products, whether they are expired, contain harsh chemical ingredients, or have fragrance, can irritate the skin, damage the barrier, and interfere with the normal pH.

• Hot Showers or Baths: Hot water might feel amazing on the skin, but it strips the skin of its natural moisture, leaving it cracked.

• Frequent Handwashing: In contrast to the assumption that external water may hydrate the skin, it is rather a dehydrating agent as it removes the oil from the skin.

 Underlying Skin Conditions

Sometimes, chronically dry skin indicates an underlying disorder. These are given as. 

• Atopic Dermatitis: Atopic dermatitis is a condition associated with skin allergies that can irritate the skin, damage its barrier, and reduce its radiance.

• Psoriasis: Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder with the major symptom of dry and itchy skin.

• Hormonal Imbalances: Hormones can control the production of oils in the skin. So, underproducing natural skin moisturizing agents because of hormonal imbalance is another cause of patchy skin.

Inadequate Moisturizing Techniques

Let us now discuss your skincare routine, which might be enough for you but is not adequate when it comes to moisturizing the skin.

Inappropriate Product Selection

Every skin type is different and needs products customized according to it. It means you need to use enriched and thick products for dry skin in contrast to lightweight ones for oily skin.

Similarly, check the ingredients in the products before buying to see if they contain alcohol, sulfates, alkalies, or parabens that dehydrate the skin. 

Insufficient Application or Coverage

Under or over-application of the moisturizer can also cause dry skin. Yes, you might be moisturizing regularly. But are you using a small amount of the product, or are you applying it incorrectly?

Additionally, over-application of the moisturizer can reduce the natural oil formation in the skin. In both cases, the result is dry skin. 

Over-reliance on Water-Based Moisturizers

Water-based moisturizers are made for oily skin to prevent the formation of comedones. However, our skin needs fats to be well-nourished. So, you might get scaly if your skincare routine only contains lightweight, gel, and water-based lotions and lacks oil-based products, especially in the winter. 

Lack of Consistency in Moisturizing Routine

Consistency is always the key when it comes to taking good care of your skin. You cannot apply a product for a week and then skin a few days and repeat the cycle.

Moisturizing the skin only once a day is not enough, and it will do more harm than good.

Internal and External Factors Affecting Moisture Retention

In addition to the topical factors, skin moisture also responds to some internal and external factors.

Poor Hydration from Within

When people say drink more water for healthy skin, they are not wrong. No matter how much moisturizer you apply on the skin’s surface, it will stay dry if it is not receiving enough hydration from the inside.

Diet Lacking in Essential Fatty Acids 

Skin needs fatty acids to produce natural oils and maintain its barrier. Additionally, fatty acids are an important component of the skin cells. So, a diet lacking in fatty acids prevents the supply of essential nutrients required for adequate moisturization of the skin.

Medications With Drying Side Effects

Topical and oral medicines can also lead to dry skin through several mechanisms. Some of the drugs implicated in drying the skin out include topical retinoids and benzoyl peroxide, oral beta-blockers, statins, contraceptive pills, and diuretics.

Excessive Alcohol or Caffeine Consumption 

Excessive alcohol or skin exerts a diuretic effect on the body. Diuresis means an increase in the excretion of water in the form of urine from the body. This results in dehydration. Consequently, the skin also becomes dry.

Part 2: How to Treat my Skin When it is Dry?

The ultimate treatment for dry skin that does not respond to moisturizers is removing the cause. So, let us discuss the treatments of above mentioned causes one by one.

Tips for Addressing Persistent Dry Skin

Choosing the Right Moisturizer

First, determine your skin type and then buy the moisturizer specifically built for it. Some examples are provided in 12 Best Face Moisturizers to Buy (Includes Every Skin Type). 

It is important to note that the moisturizer for oily skin should be non-comedogenic but not entirely water-based to treat the dryness. Also, people with dry skin need thick body and face moisturizing creams.

Incorporating Hydrating Ingredients

Choose a moisturizer with well-balanced nutrients. The best choice may be a nutrient that does not contain alcohol, parabens, or other drying ingredients.

Also, look for ingredients like glycerine, urea, hyaluronic acid, butter, oils, aquaporins, salicylic acid, vitamin E, and niacinamide to nourish your parched skin. The 12 Best Lotions on Crepey Skin for Legs and Arms can be found here.

Adjusting Cleansing Routine

If you are washing your face thrice or more times every day, give it up. Overwashing is damaging your skin. Only wash your face once at night with double cleansing and plain water in the morning.

You can also wash it twice every day using a gentle and moisturizing cleanser. Also, moisturize the face after washing it while the skin is damp for the best results.

Using Humidifier 

If you use an air conditioner at your home, office, or even in the car, the air is not humid enough. Therefore, get a humidifier for your living space and use it often to adjust the humidity of the environment and prevent your skin’s natural moisture from drying out.

Protecting Skin from Harsh Environmental Conditions 

Protect your skin from the sun by applying sunscreen liberally, from hot weather by staying in the shade and wearing hats, and from cold winter air by covering your body with clothes and your face with a scarf.

Also, body lotions can help strengthen theallown barrier and allow it to protect the skin from environmental damage. Also, read Body Lotions: Benefits, Disadvantages, How to Use & FAQs.

Lifestyle Changes for Improved Skin Hydration

Here are some lifestyle changes for improving skin hydration.

Drinking Sufficient Water

Drinking sufficient water can be your best bet to treat the dry skin. Not only dry skin, it also reduces acne, improves skin rejuvenation, and adds a healthy glow to it. So, drink at least 2 liters of water every day. 

Consuming a Balanced Diet

A diet containing a well-balanced proportion of vitamins, fatty acids, fluids, minerals, and amino acids is the ultimate solution to lead your skin to a glowing texture with a radiant complexion.

So, eat more fruits, vegetables, and fish. Moreover, you can include supplements in the diet for extra yet required nutrition.

Avoiding Excessive Heat and Hot Water Exposure

Stop sitting close to the fire and avoid hot showers in cold weather, as these might cause dry skin. Use lukewarm water instead.

Furthermore, if you have any underlying skin condition or your skin is itchy in addition to being dry, it is best to avoid chlorinated swimming pool water as well.

Practicing Gentle Skincare Habits

Build a basic yet nourishing skincare routine and use it consistently to prevent and treat dry, scaly, and parched skin. Include a gentle cleanser, a hydrating toner, a nourishing serum, and finally, an enriched moisturizer in your skincare.

Also, use it at least twice a day and after hair removal as well. The 10 Best Lotions to Soothe Skin After Hair Removal are here.

Protecting Skin from UV Rays

Do not let the UV rays harm your skin in any way, whether evaporating the moisture from the skin or causing premature aging. Therefore, you must apply sunscreen, wear UV-protective clothes, and wear hats and goggles when going out.

Conclusion 

While people might blame the extremes of weather for making the skin dry, the truth is that it results from a combination of factors. These factors include those that withdraw moisture from the skin, damage its barrier, reduce supplementation, and increase dehydration.

We discussed all these factors in this article. Furthermore, the solution to persistently dry skin is nourishing it from the inside out and preventing the harmful effects of the harsh environment.

Therefore, we also mentioned the fool-proof ways to treat dry skin earlier.