DRY SKIN: WHEN WINTER GETS INVOLVED!

Jacket, scarf, hat and gloves are now your best weapon against winter temperatures. But they are not always sufficient to meet the great enemy that often accompanies the winter: dry skin.

Dry skin, the prerogative of all

The dry skin is an easier way to talk about a lack of lipids on the skin . And more specifically, a lack of ceramide (a family of fat) on the outer layer of our skin. Metabolised in the epidermis, ceramides associate with other lipids to provide a better epidermal cohesion, they also facilitate the production by the skin of some of his own skin lipids. When they fail, the barrier lipid of the skin no longer plays its protective role, it is more impermeable, and we lose water.This problem can affect almost everyone at any age, to varying degrees.

Causes and symptoms

Winter is often a cause of dry skin all over his body, in addition to hands chapped. Other factors - abuse hot baths, soaps, excessive exposure to sun or wind - promote drought, all alter the natural protective layer of skin , composed of fatty substances (sebum secreted by sebaceous glands) and water (produced by sweat glands). The role of creams and lotions is precisely to recreate that barrier, in addition to rehydrate the skin. As for symptoms, they can be summarized in five points:

• A feeling of skin "stretched", particularly after a shower, bath or swim, because skin loses its elasticity dry.
• A skin rougher than smooth.
• Itching and redness.
• Of scaling.
• Fine cracks.

Vademecum moisturizing ingredients

The application of cream or lotion is an effective way to rehydrate the skin .The composition of creams modeled after the film of water and fatty substances that cover the skin naturally. The creams contain therefore a watery part and an oily part. In addition to moisturize the skin , the oil from plants like oil blackcurrant , olive oil or avocado oil, prevent water from evaporating. A quick look at a few ingredients and their benefits.

• Glycerol or glycerine. This is the moisturizing agent most commonly used.We artificially synthesized for inclusion in moisturizers because this substance "holds" water. In addition to moisturizing, it acts as a lubricant and emollient.
• Urea. Urea is derived from protein degradation. Summary form, it moisturizes and softens the skin. Creams containing up to 10% urea help relieve dry skin associated with skin disorders (eczema, psoriasis , ichthyosis, etc.)..
• Shea (butter). From a nut, which grows wild in West Africa, shea butter has emollient and moisturizing properties.