Winter – a term normally associated with cold mornings and even colder nights, heaters, warm blankets (possibly electric), fireplaces and itchy, dry, rough and flaky skin. Ask most people during the winter-time how their skin feels, the answer will often be ‘dry and tight’. But are they really dry, or are they just dehydrated? Understanding these 2 concepts will assist you in making the correct product choice to restore skin balance and comfort.
Dry Skin
Dry skin is regarded as a skin type, meaning that it is derived as a result of genetic predisposition. Dry skin tends to be a long-term concern, affecting both the body and face, where insufficient oil is produced within the skin leading to an impaired skin barrier. Oil assists to ‘trap’ water within the skin. Without the presence of oil, trans-epidermal water loss occurs, meaning that the water level in the skin decreases and the skin dries out. While genetics is the main cause for this, there are often accompanying factors which exacerbate the dry skin type for example an underactive thyroid, hormonal imbalances, or prolonged, untreated dehydrated skin. These factors can cause skin dryness as they interfere with the skin’s production of the natural oils that assist in skin protection. Less oil within the skin often leaves you feeling dry, with visible signs of flakiness and the skin often feels more sensitive in nature. Ageing occurs more rapidly as the skin loses the ability to provide suitable protection against environmental stress and damage. A dry skin tends to show more visible evidence of this damage, resulting in more prominent age lines and wrinkles.
How to combat skin dryness
As dry skin results due to a lack of oil within the skin, supplying the skin with additional water is not the solution to the problem as the oil layer necessary to trap or keep this water within the skin is absent. Supplementing the skin routine with additional, suitable oils is the best way to soothe a dry skin type. Look out for products that supply the skin with barrier protective properties while replenishing the necessary oil back into the skin.
DermaFix Argan Oil is a pure, 100% organically-certified source of essential fatty acids, a deficiency of which leads to skin dryness. Argan Oil further supplies the skin with Vitamin E, well documented for its barrier protective properties, Oleic and Linoleic Acids, supplying the skin with unsaturated oils for skin moisturisation, and other anti-oxidants that help to protect against environmental changes and ultra-violet radiation.
DermaFix Omega ⨁ Tissue Oil is another excellent choice to aid in skin repair. Omega ⨁ Tissue Oil assists in lipid metabolism (oil production) within the skin thereby further assisting to prevent trans-epidermal water loss. Containing skin emollients like Macadamia Nut oil and Coconut oil, along with Jojoba Oil, a liquid wax with outstanding skin compatibility. Jojoba Oil mimics skin sebum (oil), providing the skin with much needed protection.
Additional skin moisture can be found in DermaFix Bio-Effective Cream, an extra-rich moisturiser containing a high content of selected nourishing oils. Bio-Effective Cream acts as an essential fatty acid blend for ageing and extremely dry skin types.
Dehydrated Skin
Dehydrated skin is a skin condition, meaning that it is a developed skin concern, more temporary in nature. Where dry skin can be considered as oil-deficient, dehydrated skin can be regarded as being water-deficient, occurring as a result of insufficient levels of water being maintained within the epidermis. Dehydrated skin commonly feels flaky, taught and itchy and may be caused by many factors including over exfoliation of the skin, poor diet, alcohol consumption, use of stripping cleansers and harsh soaps, climate change, over-exposure to the sun and other environmental factors. Dehydrated skin is generally more crêpe-like in appearance with fine-lines being more visible. In certain cases of dehydration, the skin compensates for this water loss by over-producing oil and as a result, dehydrated skin can appear to become oily.
How to combat skin dehydration
As dehydration occurs as a result of insufficient levels of water within the skin, the best way to overcome this is to increase the amount of water taken up into the skin. In certain aspects, a lifestyle change may be necessary, as may be an adjustment of product usage. Consuming sufficient levels of water is important for overall health and well-being however, consuming more water within your diet may not necessarily overcome dehydration. The reason for this is that the skin is the last organ to receive water when ingested meaning that only a small percentage of all consumed water actually reaches the skin. Rather reach for topically-applied skin care products that are hydrophilic in nature, meaning they bind and retain water in the skin.
DermaFix ACC Hyaluronic Gel contains Hyaluronic, a highly hydrophilic, gel-like substance that naturally occurs within the skin. Hyaluronic plays a supportive role in skin hydration by holding water in the skin to prevent trans-epidermal water loss. Hyaluronic further plumps up fine lines and wrinkles while keeping the fibrous-proteins, collagen and elastin, firm and supple.
DermaFix Bio-Hydrating Cream rich in Hyaluronic and Sodium PCA, providing additional skin comfort as it increases the natural moisturising factor of the skin, improving the water content of the skin at a cellular level.
Other DermaFix products assisting with both Dry and Dehydrated skin concerns:
Hydra-Silk Cleanser – A light emollient cleanser that gently removes make-up and residue from the skin without stripping the skin of vital moisture. Restores skin barrier protection while restoring skin comfort.
Skin ResQ – Penetrates the skin, stimulating the proliferation of elastin and collagen fibers.
By implementing the above-mentioned product advice, your skin will respond by becoming smoother, softer and more supple, with an overall healthier appearance. For more information on these and other DermaFix products, visit www.dermafix.co.za or call us directly on 0861 28 23 23.
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