What causes dry skin

Dry skin is often hereditary. Environmental influences such as UV radiation, cold, wind and stress, or the wrong care through foaming soaps and gels, over-care with strong actives such as acids or retinol, water that is too hard, as well as air in the home that is too dry or too warm, can all dry the skin out. The skin also becomes drier as we get older.

How to recognise dry skin

• Small pores.
• The skin feels rough to flaky, above all on the outer areas of the face, meaning outside the T-zone. But on the hands too.
• It tends towards sensitivity (for example red patches).
• Tends towards fine dryness lines and premature wrinkling.
• After washing, or even a few hours after moisturising, the skin feels dry again. It feels "tight".
• The skin does not absorb care products easily.
• Milia (milk spots) and blemishes can occur.
• If the skin is dry and also oily or blemished, then it is dehydrated, meaning it needs both moisture and oil.

Care tips for dry skin:

1. Use a mild cleanser without strongly foaming surfactants or drying alcohols. If your tap water is too hard, use pure floral waters (hydrosols) instead of water for cleansing.

2. Care: Enough moisturising care such as hydrosols, moisture-binding ingredients such as hyaluronic acid or glycerin are the answer, along with nourishing oils and plant butters that give the skin the lipids (fatty acids) it needs and protect it against moisture loss and aggressors.

3. Supplements: Omega fatty acids (as found in linseed and fish oil) can support dehydrated skin. Realistically, first visible effects on the skin appear after 3-4 months.