When it comes to dry skin everyone remembers cooler winter month that notoriously cause skin to scale, itch, or crack. Although not as common during summer, people with dry skin type can still suffer dryness, coarseness, peeling and itchiness of the skin. Excessive exposure to the sun, hot breeze and use of harsh chemicals may contribute to the lack of moisture during summer.
Causes of Dry Skin in the Summer
Dehydration
Most common cause during summer is dehydration. Dehydration leads to dry and saggy skin. In addition alcohol, coffee, and soda can leave the body more dehydrated.
Excess Sun Exposure
Excessive sun exposure is another cause of dry skin during summer. For some this leads to more oily skin while for other it results in dry skin. If you continuously get exposed to sun, your skin starts to peel, dry out and loose protection resulting in early aging. A good moisturizer and alcohol free sunscreen are crucial.
Swimming in the Pool
Who doesn’t enjoy swimming, but have you experienced dry skin immediately after swimming? Well, the chlorine in the water melts our skin’s natural protective sebum, causing loss of moisture and leaving our skin dry. Applying lotions prior swimming is good way to protect our natural skin barrier.
Over-Exfoliation
Gentle exfoliating removes the dull and dead cells from skin surface, but over-exfoliating can damage the skin’s barrier function resulting in more photo-sensitive and dry skin.
Harsh Chemicals and Soaps
Harsh soaps and chemicals can dissolve the natural moisturizer and oil in the skin leading to dry skin. Avoid using alcohol based products and soaps frequently.
Air Conditioner
Air conditioners during summer are another culprit for dry skin. Though they provide cool air, they tend to remove moisture from air as well your skin resulting in drier skin. Try avoiding continuous A/C and turn on your fan.
Alcohol based Sunscreen
Sunscreen is must for summer, but some gels and spray sunscreen contains alcohol that might further irritate or dry the skin.
How to Prevent Dry and Itchy Skin in Summer?
- Use a daily moisturizer after cleansing, swimming or spending long hours in the sun to provide long-lasting hydration.
- Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration during summer that can lead to dry skin.
- Eat fresh and healthy food.
- Avoid excessive sun exposure; always use protective clothing and broad spectrum sunscreen.
- Use Cool Mist Humidifier if possible, humidifier not only adds moisture to the air to prevent dryness, it also helps relief irritation or allergy symptoms and dry eyes.
- Take cooler water to shower, hot water tends to strip of moisture from the skin.
- Use a fresh towel and pat dry your skin, don’t just rub it.
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