When living with dry skin, it can be frustrating to deal with uncooperative skin. It can be even more frustrating to not have any help that works. You try moisturizer after moisturizer and oil after oil but you’re still left with the same results, dry skin. Sometimes you may even feel like giving up when it comes to finding relief after no success. But what if you’ve just been going about the whole process wrong. Instead of trying to find a good moisturizer, what if you need a healthy acid?
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Who Suffers From Dry Skin And Why
Unfortunately, many people suffer from dry skin for many reasons. Dry skin can come from weather changes. When the fall and winter seasons appear, the air begins to lack moisture the way it does in the warmer seasons making it drier which leads to dry skin in some people.
Another reason for dry skin is due to certain skin conditions. People who suffer with problems such as eczema, psoriasis, and other dermatitis skin conditions are subjected to dry skin.
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These skin problems come about mostly because of inflammation in the skin. When the skin is inflamed, it can cause dry, rough, itchy patches and rashes that could even leave sores and scars.
Other reasons for dry skin are because of certain medications you may take, people with iron or vitamin deficiencies, people who do a lot of work with water (hairdressers, swimmers, chefs, nurses, etc.), people who are living with HIV or even people who constantly smoke whether it be cigarettes, hookah or marijuana. There are many reasons why someone might suffer from dry skin.
5 Acids To Incorporate In Your Daily Skin Routine
When trying to combat dry skin, the first thing you want to learn about are AHAs. AHA stands for alpha hydroxy acid. AHAs are water-soluble acids made from sugary fruits and are best for dry skin and surface-level skin concerns.
When using AHAs, it’s important to know which ones they are:
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- Glycolic Acid- most common AHA, great for penetrating multiple built-up skin layers to reveal better skin. Also great for hydrating.
- Lactic Acid- similar to glycolic acid except it doesn't have the ability to penetrate as fast as glycolic acid but is still good for hydration.
- Malic Acid- just like glycolic and lactic acid, this type of acid is a surface exfoliant that cleans and hydrates the skin. It also has antioxidant benefits as well.
- Tartaric Acid- used for helping glycolic, lactic and malic acid work their best ability because its focus is managing the skin's pH range. This means that though it can work by itself, it works better with others.
- Hyaluronic Acid- a molecule that holds 500 times its weight in water, which is great for hydration. Now, this acid isn’t an AHA but it’s still one of the best acids to incorporate into your skincare regimen to soothe and hydrate dry skin.
The Products To Use And Where To Find Them
If you’re looking to really get started on combating your dry skin, it’s best to start with a licensed dermatologist who knows how to work with people who look like you. They will teach you about your skin and the dos and don’ts of what you need and what will help you best. If you’re not able to do that at the moment, you can start on your own.
Look for a product that sells hyaluronic acid by itself. The Ordinary and The Inkey List (sold at Sephora, Ulta, Amazon and more) has a great hyaluronic acid serum for a very low price that can be a great start. When shopping for other acids such as glycolic, malic and lactic, your best bet is to look for skincare products that include these acids.
Since these are more penetrating and can be intimidating, start out slow and buy moisturizers or cleansers that include these acids in them (The Ordinary and The Inkey List sell these products as well). Target, Sephora, Ulta and even Walmart have great drugstore and high-end products for you to choose from. Remember one thing: always wear your sunscreen after applying these products, regardless of the season!
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How Taking Care Of Your Skin Helps With Aging
Now there is nothing wrong with aging, in fact, aging can actually be looked at as a beautiful thing because it shows that you’ve lived but in order to feel good about your aging, it’s important to make sure you are aging healthy.
As important as it is to feed your insides with healthy foods and make sure your body gets all the nutrients it needs to function well, it’s also important to make sure your outsides are being taken care of too.
Unbeknownst to a lot of people, the skin is actually an organ and when that organ is exposed to constant dry or smokey air or dealing with skin conditions, it’s bound to wear over time and start to age faster. Taking care of your skin with healthy acids and moisturizers is a big factor in making sure you age healthier.
