Facial Care
Dry Skin
Your skin is made up of multiple layers. The top layer, the epidermis, is a protective barrier that prevents foreign substances from the environment from entering your system and keeps vital fluids in. The epidermis' primary role is to prevent water loss from the body as water in the skin helps keep it soft and flexible. A variety of oils in the skin help maintain normal hydration and your skin also contains a number of substances that help draw in moisture from the air. The epidermis is continually being shed and replaced with fresh, new skin and when the water content of the skin drops too low, this normal shedding slows down which can give skin that all-too-familiar flaky, rough feel of dry skin.
There are many reasons why the skin loses its ability to regulate its own moisture like humidity, use of harsh soaps or household cleansers, sun exposure, and age. The humidity in the air around you can drop drastically during the winter months. Frequent use of harsh soaps or household cleansers can strip the skin of the oils and other substances needed to maintain hydration. A lifetime of unprotected sun exposure can also damage the skin's ability to regulate itself. And as we age, our skin contains fewer natural oils and less water.
Dry skin feels itchy, uncomfortable and irritated. Dry skin, also called xerosis by doctors, often has tiny cracks that can allow the entry of bacteria and irritating or allergy-causing substances. Gentle cleansing with a mild soap-free cleanser is recommended for dry skin. This step should be followed by moisturization with a rich, emollient skin protectant lotion to help heal dry skin.
AVEENO® has a line of cleansing and moisturizing body care products — the AVEENO® Daily Moisturizing line, that are enriched with natural colloidal oatmeal and moisture-rich emollients to moisturize and soothe dry skin... for healthy, beautiful skin that lasts.
Source: Harding CR. The stratum corneum: structure and function in health and disease. Derm Ther 2004;17:6-15.
