Does your skin often remain dry after a shower? Dermatologists say: this is a condition that can occur in people suffering from various pathologies and changes in the epidermis. We suggest talking about how to soften dry skin after water procedures: let's look at the most best methods and tell you about the reasons.

Dry skin and contact with water: is there a connection?

It may seem counterintuitive, but water is the main reason why the body's skin becomes dehydrated. So if you notice dryness and itching after taking a shower, main advice dermatologist - spend as little time as possible under water. What else can you do? Here are options that can bring relief.

Use suitable cleaning products

Those who suffer from dry skin should not use regular soap. You need to choose products that are ideal for dry skin. It should be a gentle formula that does not contain harsh cleansers or fragrances.

Apply moisturizer

Of course, there are a number of health problems that cause dry skin. These include atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. In this case, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist. In all other cases, it is necessary to use cream - it should be applied every time after a shower. Moreover, experts recommend using the cream every day - morning and evening. It is necessary to choose formulations suitable for dry skin. These should be good quality creams without containing numerous fragrances.

Wash only in warm water

In addition to limiting the time you spend in the shower, try to regulate the temperature of the water: avoid showers that are too hot. hot water. Even when you just wash your face, do it with cool or warm water. The point is that hot water irritates the dermis and deprives the skin of moisture.

If all of the above methods do not help you get rid of dryness, we recommend that you consult a dermatologist so that he can determine how to relieve you of this problem.

The human body is 70% water. We drink it to maintain hydration. We cleanse the skin with it. But along with its unconditional benefits, water can also cause some discomfort.

Constant contact with water affects the skin © iStock

Everyone knows that the quality of tap water is quite strictly regulated. Systems water treatment plants configured to:

removal of insoluble contaminants from water - sand, rust, etc.;

lightening;

softening - precipitation or removal of calcium, magnesium, iron, etc. salts;

desalting;

removal of dissolved gases and oxides of iron, manganese and copper;

biological purification from microorganisms.

Therefore, from the point of view physical health Tap water can't do any harm.

The effect of tap water on the skin

Chlorination is used to disinfect water, which can be a problem for sensitive skin. Hard water makes the skin drier, drawing out moisture, and can even trigger atopic dermatitis.

What to do

It is clear that it is impossible to refuse water. After all, even regular washing without cleansers helps remove approximately 30–35% of impurities from the surface of the skin. You just have to take into account that great value have:

chemical composition of water;

temperature.

These two indicators are especially important for people with sensitive and reactive skin. Problems can be avoided if you follow our advice.

When washing, follow "safety precautions" © iStock

1. 1

   Wash your face with water at room temperature; your skin doesn’t like it too warm (not to mention hot).

Every woman has a question from time to time: do I invest enough in caring for my body, and therefore, in my appearance and health? Why not try this new skin care product with rare algae or minerals? But most cosmetics for our skin are just guards. How often to shower, how to cleanse your face and wash the natural folds so that the skin does not deteriorate, says the author of the book “What the Skin Hides” Yael Adler.

When we lived in the forests, hunting and gathering, several hundred thousand years ago, we did not know about soap, eye cream, or ampoules with hyaluronic acid. We didn't use deodorant or shave our legs. Since then, our skin has not undergone any significant evolutionary changes, only its color has changed.

What would your skin say if you asked it bluntly how often it wants to shower or wash itself? Perhaps she would answer: "Maximum once a week!".

But what in reality? Most of us shower at least once a day, and if we exercised in the evening, then twice. At the same time, we thoroughly soap the entire body, wash our heads with shampoo, shave our legs and armpits, and sometimes the genital area and torso. Even the healthiest and hardiest skin reacts to such an attack with irritation: dryness, itching, and sometimes contact allergies.

The epidermis needs four weeks to create the thinnest top layer skin, carrying the entire protective barrier. And we destroy this barrier created with such difficulty, constantly leaching fats with foaming, odorous and colorful detergents, that is, mortar between the bricks of the wall. And at the same time we supply additional irritants to the skin: aromatic and coloring substances, emulsifiers, preservatives and many allergens... We are simply terrorizing our skin.

What we do to ourselves every day - and sometimes several times a day - Mother Nature did not provide for our skin. Until now, the skin has assumed that Stone Age conditions were the most optimal for it.

Yes, yes, I understand your objections; Of course, our ideas about hygiene have changed dramatically since prehistoric times. But don't worry: if you're healthy and didn't just run a marathon in a T-shirt you bought at a flea market, your body doesn't smell that bad. People turn up their noses just at the smell of old dried sweat.

Unfortunately, many people find their own body odor unclean. We are afraid of visible dirt and invisible bacteria, we carry bottles of disinfectant liquid in our purses, and we are disgusted by contact with other people.

Some of you are probably public places opens doors with his elbow so as not to touch door handle, or presses the shutter public toilet foot. Since childhood, we have learned not to sit on the toilet lid, but only to hang over it. We are afraid of infections and wash ourselves to the bones. Often one is closely related to the other.

How often to shower and what soap to use

For the health of our skin, let's compromise: Showering daily is okay as long as you use mostly water. Water has a neutral pH value and is not as drying to the skin as soap. If you want to use a detergent, that is, shower gel, it should under no circumstances have a smell and bright color and, if possible, should have almost no foam.

Synthetic detergent is preferable to classic soap. Soap is made from oils and fats combined with lye, and synthetic detergents contain artificially created ingredients. They cleanse better and, thanks to caring, moisture-binding and nourishing oils, can be better tailored to the skin's needs; in them the pH value is also adjusted towards greater acidity.

Amateur soap makers who add biological ingredients to their soaps vegetable oils, although they create a less irritating and more nourishing soap compared to products sold in supermarkets, it is alkaline, and not every skin can tolerate this.

Classic alkaline soap changes the acidic pH value of our skin up to a harmful value of 7-8 units. It takes two to six hours for the skin to struggle to restore its pH balance. During this time, the healthy bacterial flora on the skin remains defenseless! Harmful bacteria and fungi happily take advantage of the long regeneration period.

It smells like someone who is soaping! Because when the barrier is broken, bad microbes begin to multiply. Favorable conditions have been created for them because the pH value has changed. These microbes change the smell of our body, let's say, not for the better.

An acidic pH is especially important if your skin is already prone to infections, such as in the crease between the buttocks, under the breasts, or in the groin area. Here I especially advise you to use acidic detergents, and best of all in solid form, because with liquid ones we often do not know how to stop.

However, there is no need to soap your entire body every time. It is enough to treat critical areas a little more intensively: feet, armpits, groin area and gluteal fold. In all other places it is quite possible to get by with just water; it perfectly washes off sweat, dust and exfoliated cells. And we should preserve our natural sebum, created with such difficulty over the course of four weeks, and not leach it with soap.

How to wash the area between your legs?

Well, now let's move on to a sensitive topic: how to wash the area between your legs? It quickly starts to smell, there is stool, urine and other biological fluids nearby. Be careful! The vulva and under the foreskin contain mucous membranes, just like the mouth. There is no place for soap or detergents, only warm water.

All contaminants: excretions, urine, exfoliated cells - dissolve in water. That's why she's the only one needed. Or do you also soap your mouth? This would corrode the mucous membrane and kill the protective bacterial flora, resulting in everything itching and inflamed. This is exactly what happens to those who try to remove the smell of their scent glands with soap, believing that it is dirt.

The scent glands constantly produce additional essential oils, and the person ends up in a vicious circle: washing, itching and eventually going to the doctor.

A particularly sensitive place, as we know, is the anal sphincter. On our sphincter, skin and mucous membranes are closely intertwined. The anus (rose) reacts very sensitively to soap residues deposited in the folds. So if you wash your anal fold with soap, you should then rinse it very thoroughly with plenty of water.

How to care for your facial skin?

What about outside? It is on the face, in the most visible place, that we want to do everything right. Little by little, men are catching up and asking questions about optimal care and anti-aging skin products. Meanwhile, there are some individuals who do not care about this - and this is good. These guys don't look unkempt, they just leave their skin alone. And therefore it is in complete natural balance.

What is the secret of these children of nature? They wash their face with water, that’s all! Then they dry it with a towel - and you're done. In the morning or at night. Women could do the same. A towel is quite enough to remove possible cosmetic residues, especially if it is not a thick layer like plaster, which also does not contain mineral oils.

The traces of cosmetics remaining on the face after washing will cause less inconvenience to the skin than additional care with an alcohol-containing cleansing liquid, degreasing lotion or soap.

“Deep pore cleaning” is a very dubious phrase: our pores are what they are, they are not dirty. They are filled with some sebum, cells and a couple of fat-friendly bacteria: Malassezia furfur, Propionibacterium acnes (the so-called acne bacillus), possibly Demodex... All this can and should remain there, it should not be scraped off under any circumstances.

The same goes for peelings. Healthy skin does not need friction care because dead skin cells fall off on their own. Peels make sense only when the skin is prone to excessive keratinization, which is usually found with acne. In all other cases, they are needed only by manufacturers and can even be dangerous, because they perforate the protective skin barrier.

Problems with the skin can cause a lot of trouble and discomfort. Peeling skin is one of the most common troubles encountered by many women, and sometimes men. Having found out real reasons what is happening, you can choose the right one effective method to eliminate this cosmetic defect.

Why does my skin peel?

It has been found that dry skin flakes more often than other types. This is due to an insufficient supply of natural moisturizers - oily substances that are produced by the sebaceous glands.

Peeling scales and a feeling of tight skin can be caused by the following reasons:

• Incorrectly selected products for cosmetic care and cleansing of the face and body.
• Allergic reaction to fabric softener, dishwashing detergent, cosmetics.
• Taking baths or showers too often.
• Climatic conditions ( high temperature air, wind, direct sunlight).
• Dry air in winter.
• Bad habits.
• Insufficient fluid intake.
• Consequences of taking medications.
• Dermatological diseases.

Men also often experience peeling skin on their body or face. The reason for this may be alcohol abuse, smoking addiction and poor diet. Sensitive skin types react to mechanical stress with the appearance of redness and the formation of scales, so rubbing and using harsh cleansers is not recommended.

Is peeling a sign of illness?

This symptom may indicate a developing disease. skin. One of these ailments is psoriasis, the spots in which have a pink-red tint, are flaky and itchy. The reasons that trigger the process are currently unknown. The same symptoms include seborrheic and contact dermatitis, pityriasis rosea, lupus erythematosus, scarlet fever (an infectious pathology), and fungal infections. Hereditary diseases in which scales form on the skin include ichthyosis. The irritated surface of the dermis does not tolerate exposure detergents(shampoo, soap, gel), and the unpleasant symptoms intensify.

With a lack of vitamins A and B2, the skin on the forehead, nose and ears peels off greatly, and cracks may appear on the lips. During menopause, many women experience a change in the condition of their outer skin for the worse. This is how the body shows a lack of hormones, especially estrogen. Wrinkles, sagging, and loss appear. To find out the causes of peeling, you need to contact medical care. Specialists in this field are a dermatologist, an allergist, an infectious disease specialist, and a surgeon.

First signs of dry skin

Characteristic signs of dry skin type are:

If your facial skin is dry and flaky, you need to contact a cosmetologist who will select suitable remedy to restore water balance. This type of skin is prone to the early appearance of wrinkles, which are not so easy to get rid of, and rapid aging.

Dry skin (xeroderma) can be associated with metabolic disorders in the body and diseases of the thyroid gland. Dead particles, accumulating on the surface of the epidermis, begin to peel off. Dermatitis can cause itching, so first of all you should consult a dermatologist.

In severe cases, very dry skin begins to crack and ulcers appear. This is fraught with infectious contamination.

Peeling skin: treatment

Having found the root cause of xeroderma, you can begin to eliminate the symptoms. If the problem is insufficient moisture or rapid evaporation of moisture from the surface, it is necessary to choose one with a high content of fatty components. Medications are used only on the recommendation of a doctor. Such products should contain hydrocortisone (0.5-2%) in the composition.

If the skin on the body is peeling, you need to change the gel and soap. They can give this effect in the first place. It's better to wash your face clean water or a decoction of medicinal herbs. Cleansing lotions and tonics should not contain alcohol, which causes dryness and tightens the skin.

Proper care for dry skin

Cosmetologists recommend that people with dry skin take water treatments no more than 2 times a day. This will help the sebaceous glands to work properly and produce required quantity natural moisturizing agents. Dry skin “loves” slightly warm or cool water, but never hot. After washing, you need to gently blot the surface of the dermis with a soft towel. Rubbing will cause redness and irritation of the skin.

After taking a shower, always use moisturizing milk or cream. For very dry skin, you can try cocoa or coconut butter. Thanks to the components they contain, the epidermis receives nutrients, minerals and vitamins. All kinds of products for the face and body should be used no more than once a week so as not to injure dry skin.

What can a cosmetologist offer?

Beauty salons offer the following procedures to eliminate dry skin:

• Biorevitalization- is currently the most popular way to saturate the skin with moisture. By using various techniques(reinforcement, micropapule) hyaluronic acid is introduced, which will start the process of natural collagen formation. The framework, created from hyaluronic acid, collagen and elastin, will retain moisture and help smooth out deep wrinkles.
• Iontophoresis- if dry skin is flaking, then this method can restore water balance and relieve discomfort. The procedure involves treating the skin on which the drug is applied with a low-voltage galvanic current. Active ions transmit a signal to the central nervous system, and the body begins to renew itself.
• Mesotherapy- carried out for various indications: acne, dehydrated skin, wrinkles, rosacea, etc. The drugs are administered by injection and needle-free method (pulse iontophoresis). The goal of the procedure is to increase the activity of fibroblasts. These cells are responsible for the production of elastin and collagen.

Salon procedures can only be performed by specialists with appropriate education (cosmetologists, dermatologists).

How to choose a moisturizer?

Very dry skin on the face and body needs constant and proper care using moisturizing cream, lotion, milk, tonic. This will help protect the thin epidermis from adverse effects. environment- strong wind, cold air, ultraviolet radiation. Special attention should be given to the skin of the hands and face.

Funds for oil based perfectly eliminate the lack of moisture. Grape seed oil, almond oil, and shea butter are applied to the face. For washing, it is advisable to use milk, for example, Lait Demaquillant Absolu (Vichy), Natura Siberica. Problem areas on the body where there is flaky skin can be lubricated with olive oil.

Among cosmetic preparations, it is better to give preference to brands that are available in pharmacies: Vichy (Lipidiose Nutritive). Natural ingredients and proven effects through research will help restore freshness, firmness and elasticity to the skin. The disadvantage of such products is their cost, which is significantly higher than those available in cosmetic stores. When buying a moisturizer, you need to pay attention to the ingredients. The one that contains hyaluronic acid and vitamin E is better suited for the skin. The price will depend on the manufacturer and the naturalness of the ingredients. Sometimes the product may be chosen incorrectly, so it is better to seek advice from a professional cosmetologist or dermatologist.

Facial skin is peeling: what to do at home?

At home, it is quite possible to prepare products that will moisturize dry skin no worse than expensive ready-made preparations. To the benefits folk recipes include the availability of necessary ingredients, natural origin and confidence in the naturalness of the product.

The most popular home skin care products are masks. After the first use, the result will be visible if you take steamed flakes (1 tbsp) and add a spoonful of homemade cream to them. There are also options with honey, butter, full-fat cottage cheese (with added milk).

A mask with tocopherol (vitamin E) is suitable for dry skin. The price of the solution in the pharmacy is 35-45 rubles. (for 20 ml). Melt cocoa butter (1 tbsp) in a water bath, add 1 tbsp. l. liquid vitamin E and the same amount of sea buckthorn fruit oil. Tocopherol also combines well with lanolin (1:2). The masks are kept on the face for no more than half an hour, after which they are washed off with warm water or using a damp sponge.

Flaky skin? Homemade cream to the rescue!

Vitamin E Recipe

1. Brew chamomile (1 tbsp) with boiling water, leave and strain.
2. Add half a teaspoon of glycerin to 2 tbsp. l. chamomile decoction.
3. Combine the resulting mixture with camphor and castor oil (1 tsp each).
4. Finally, add 10 drops of tocopherol solution.

This cream can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Recipe for deep hydration

1. Mix the pulp of healing aloe (2 tbsp) with glycerin (0.5 tsp).
2. Add a few drops of olive oil.
3. Dilute the resulting composition with any essential oil(no more than 7 drops).

Beeswax Recipe

1. Coconut oil (3 tbsp) is mixed with clean water (3 tbsp) and a teaspoon of almond oil.
2. (1 tsp) melt in a water bath and mix with the previous ingredients.
3. Then add olive oil (2 tablespoons) and half a spoon of borax. During cooking, the ingredients must be stirred constantly.

Nutrition and diet

Peeling skin indicates a lack of useful microelements, vitamins and fluids, which enter the body primarily with food. Therefore, the diet should contain as much as possible healthy products. Vitamins E, A and B necessary for the epidermis are found in various vegetables and fruits. But you will have to give up fatty meats, lard, smoked meats, canned food, and fatty fermented milk products. In general, it is better to consume meat in minimal quantities, including chicken.

If your facial skin is dry and flaky, it may be lacking vitamin A. In this case, you need to increase the amount of carrots, apricots (dried apricots) and green vegetables in your daily diet. Natural vitamin E is found in nuts, liver, seeds, eggs (they can cause allergies, so you shouldn’t lean on them). A hypoallergenic diet should be followed if the cause of dryness, itching and flaking of the skin is a disease.

Prevention of dry skin of the face and body

• Try to shower no more than 2 times a day.
• Replace soap with cream-based gel.
• Body moisturizers are best applied to damp, clean skin.
• Use a barrier cream if flaky skin appears in winter.
• During heating season It is necessary to humidify the air in the house using special devices.
• On hot, sunny days, apply cream with ultraviolet protection to the face.

The problem of dry skin after taking a shower is very large number people. In dermatology, this phenomenon has a special name - xeroderma. Also, dry skin is accompanied by the following symptoms: peeling, an unpleasant feeling of tightness, the skin constantly itches, and sometimes cracks occur with possible pain.

Skin can peel and dry out after a shower for a variety of reasons. This process can be influenced by both external and internal factors.

TO internal factors should include:

• fair skin and blonde hair– in such patients, dry skin is observed much more often, this is explained by genetic predisposition;
• non-compliance with the diet, as well as eating prohibited foods that are harmful to the skin;
• malignant formations in the body;
• skin diseases;
• intoxication of the body of a chronic nature;
• diseases of the genitourinary system, as well as liver (hepatitis, cirrhosis);
• sleep disturbance.

External factors include:

• incorrectly selected cosmetics for the care of dry and flaky skin. If the skin is initially prone to dryness, then it will be detrimental to the effects of surfactants contained in liquid soap, shower gels, and shampoos.
• unfavorable climatic conditions in the place of residence;
• everyday use of aggressive chemicals, which are contained in masks, peelings, and detergents.

Rules for taking a shower for dry and flaky skin

After a shower, the skin on the face peels off, and also after washing your hair, the skin on the scalp begins to peel off, which leads to a certain discomfort, as well as constant itching and unpleasant sensations.

When shower gel interacts with hot water, the structure of the hydrolipid film on the skin, which is necessary to protect the surface layers of the epidermis from moisture loss, is disrupted.

To somehow avoid these negative consequences, you should follow certain simple rules when taking a shower and other water procedures.

1. It is necessary to select the optimal water temperature. To do this, you can conduct a certain test: on the back of the wrist, the epidermis is the thinnest, and there is no fatty tissue. A stream of water must be directed at this area. optimal temperature so that it does not burn, but brings pleasure and warmth.
2. Use a water filter. Tap water, which enters housing, does not differ good quality and negatively affects the skin. Usually in large populated areas it is tougher and contains a large amount of salts. This mixture can draw moisture from the skin and also settle on the hair, causing it to become dull and brittle. With the installation of a filter, the hardness of the water will decrease, and it should also be taken into account that the water pressure will decrease and this will entail certain economic costs.
3. The right choice of cosmetic products for the care of the dermis. The ideal remedy must contain components that will moisturize and soften the epidermis. To determine their presence, you need to familiarize yourself with the texture of the product you are purchasing. It is necessary to choose products that have a creamy texture. Also, when choosing a shower gel, you need to pay attention to its pH - this indicator should be 5.5 units.

When choosing a bathing product, you should familiarize yourself with its components. Most lotions contain lanolin, which can cause allergic reactions.

1. Using a scrub. The scrub should be used once a week. Particular attention should be paid to those areas of the skin that most often come into contact with clothing, namely: neck, elbows, knees and shins.
2. After bathing, a newborn’s skin also peels off, so for the baby’s delicate dermis you should choose only children’s cosmetics that contain a set of necessary components specifically for small children, with a minimum amount of detergents and aggressive substances.

Skin care cosmetics

There are many cosmetic products for the care of dry and flaky skin. Here is the main list of proven products for which the dermis will thank you:

1. Eau de Fleur Rose, shower gel. The components included in this gel are capable of restoring the damaged stratum corneum of the epidermis.
2. Arctic Spa, cream for use in the shower. Does not contain parabens, mineral oils and synthetic dyes. The creamy texture fits well on the body and moisturizes it.
3. Davines, nectar for cleansing body and hair. It has an oily structure and a completely organic composition. Perfect for those who like products that can wash all parts of the body.
4. Cold Cream, a super nourishing cleansing gel. Very good remedy For those with extremely dry dermis, it is enough to apply twice a day.
5. Weleda, toning shower gel with sea buckthorn. Due to sea buckthorn and sesame oil, which are included in the composition, the epidermis will become soft and silky.

Nivea rinse-off body conditioner. Apply to previously cleansed skin using other means, leave for several minutes and rinse off. After using it, you do not need to use additional products to care for dry skin.

Folk skin care products

To prevent the skin from peeling after washing and taking water treatments, you must use the following products or procedures.

• Hydrocortisone cream is considered a very good and quick remedy for moisturizing and eliminating dry skin. It can be used both for hands, especially when, and for the face. If the integrity of the skin is damaged and there are skin diseases, it is not recommended to use it.
• Facial cleansers. It is best to use them before applying cream or ointment, as preparatory stage to apply a deeper action product.
• Olive oil is the simplest and effective remedy to combat dryness. It absorbs very well and is best used immediately after a shower: apply thin layer and let soak for 15 minutes.
• To prevent the skin on your face from peeling after washing, it is good to use yolk masks.

In conclusion, we can add that all skin care products, both folk and cosmetic, are good, it is important to choose what suits your skin type.