Properly hydrated skin is beautiful: soft and smooth. But dehydrated skin — also known as dry skin, xerosis, and winter itch — is dull and rough. Not only can it look awful — especially if it leads to severe flaking, deep cracks, or inflamed pink or red patches — but it can also feel awful, especially if it causes such intense itching that you feel clad head to toe in wool.




Fortunately, most cases of dry skin are mild and temporary, usually the result of environmental exposures such as low humidity or harsh soaps. These cases can easily be prevented or treated at home. But severe or persistent dry skin may point to a more serious condition that needs medical evaluation and treatment.

The Causes of Dry Skin

Although dry skin can develop anywhere, it most often appears on the legs (especially the shins), the flanks (the area between the bottom of the rib cage and the hips), and the backs of the hands. Dry skin is especially problematic in people 60 and older because of the natural loss of protective skin oils.

Common environmental causes of dry skin include:

Low humidity. If you live in a northern climate, dry skin may be more noticeable during winter, especially if you have a forced-air heating system. But if you live in an arid climate, dry skin may be a problem all year long.

Frequent showers and baths. Hot water breaks down the skin's protective fats. So do harsh soaps and shampoos — particularly those containing deodorants and anti-bacterial ingredients.

Excessive sun exposure. Sunlight dries skin and exposes its lower layers to radiation that damages collagen and elastin fibers. This causes wrinkles, sagging, and the symptoms of dry skin.

Medical conditions associated with dry skin include:

Psoriasis , an autoimmune disorder that causes a buildup of dry skin and silvery scales.
Thyroid disorders, which can decrease the skin's production of protective sweat and oil.
Atopic dermatitis (eczema), an allergic condition that causes itching and inflammation.
In some cases, dry skin can result from a serious and potentially disfiguring disorder called ichthyosis. Other medical conditions that can cause dry skin include diabetes, malnutrition, liver and kidney diseases, lymphoma, and HIV/AIDS.

Home Care for Dry Skin

Simple lifestyle changes can effectively rehydrate the skin. These include:

Short showers. If you limit showers to five or ten minutes — preferably with warm but not hot water, and mild soaps such as Neutrogena, Basis, or Dove that contain added fats — you can add moisture to skin. Longer showers deplete skin moisture.

Moisturizers. Apply a moisturizer — preferably an ointment or cream instead of a lotion — within three minutes after bathing. Contrary to popular belief, moisturizers don't "moisturize" the skin, but provide a protective barrier that prevents water loss. Good choices include ointments and creams containing ingredients such as lactic acid, urea, hyaluronic acid, dimethicone, glycerin, lanolin, mineral oil, or petrolatum (also known as petroleum jelly). Also apply a moisturizer to dry hands after each hand washing.

Humidification. If the relative humidity in your home is below 40 percent, you may need to use either a portable home humidifier or one attached to your furnace.

Skin-friendly fabrics. Choose non-irritating fabrics such as cotton or silk. Washing clothes with unscented detergents may also reduce skin irritation.

Anti-itch strategies. Cool compresses or ointments containing at least 1 percent hydrocortisone may provide relief.

Antibacterial strategies. To prevent infection, apply an antibacterial ointment to cracks, especially those with a tendency to bleed.

When Dry Skin Necessitates a Trip to the Doctor, See your doctor or dermatologist if you:

• Experience no relief from home remedies.
• Have large areas of scaling and flaking, or a visible rash.
• Have dry skin accompanied by redness.
• Have open sores or infections from scratching.
• Have dryness or itching that interferes with sleep.

What Causes It? 
Oily skin is caused by glands that produce too much oil, or sebum. Who has oily skin? Mostly people whose ancestors had it too, since the trait is hereditary. Hormonal fluctuations (especially during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause) also play a role, as oil glands switch into overdrive during those times and produce excess sebum, especially in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin areas). This not only creates an oil slick but can also block pores and cause acne. Birth control pills can also exacerbate oily skin problems, although some pills can actually help the situation. (Men may also be affected by hormonal changes, although to a much lesser degree.) And while you may think that what you eat affects your complexion, experts say diet isn’t a key factor at all — so go ahead and have that slice of pizza!




Follow these simple steps and you’ll do your oily skin a huge favor...

Don’t overwash. This isn’t a hygiene issue, so washing more often won’t help. When you do wash or bathe, use lukewarm (not hot) water and a cleanser specially formulated for oily skin. Look for gentle products that contain glycerin or salicylic acid, which can help keep pores clear. Avoid cleansing “milks,” which contain lipids that can make skin feel greasier.

Consider retinoids. Talk to your dermatologist about medications that decrease oil production; retinoids come in both over-the-counter and prescription-strength versions.

Dry before you apply. Let skin dry completely before applying any topical medications or moisturizers so you don’t clog those pores.

Go oil-free. The last thing your skin needs is extra oil, so opt for oil-free skin-care products and cosmetics. And while you’re at it, make sure all products are fragrance-free and nonirritating too.

Moisturize wisely. If your skin needs a moisture boost, go with a light, oil-free product and apply sparingly.

Wear sunscreen. Look for an oil-free, broad-spectrum block with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. And wear it every day, year-round!

Soak it up. One easy way to absorb oil without having to wash your face and reapply your makeup is to use blotting sheets. Stash a pack in your purse or desk to soak up “puddles” throughout the day.

A final word: If your oily skin is also accompanied by breakouts or a more serious acne problem, talk to your dermatologist about acne treatments and a skin-care regimen you can follow while caring for your oily skin.

Don’t you hate when you wake up in the morning and see a gigantic pimple has sprung to life seemingly overnight, usually on the day you have an important work meeting or an even more important date? While it may seem like the pimple came out of nowhere, that’s not the case. “Acne is a function of how your skin cycles,” says Lance H. Brown, MD, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine. “Healthy skin sloughs off every three months. When this doesn’t happen properly, your pores become clogged and the oil feeds off the bacteria, creating white heads, blackheads, and pimples.”

Follow these dos and don’ts if you want to get rid of pimples...


Don’t wash too much. Washing your face in the morning and the evening is sufficient to remove acne-causing bacteria. Any more and you risk stripping your skin of its natural, and helpful, oils — which will only cause more redness and irritation.

Don’t pick a pimple at home. Squeezing can lead to an infection if it’s not done correctly. You should never pick a cystic pimple (the hard kind under your skin). For a pustule or white head, see a dermatologist or an aesthetician, who can remove it carefully with sterile tools, advises Robb Akridge, PhD, creator of the Clarisonic.

If you can’t resist the urge, very, very gently, squeeze it yourself. Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and warm water to remove bacteria and germs first, then use a tissue and squeeze the white head until it bursts, and then stop immediately. Extra squeezing can damage skin, spread infection, and leave a mark. Finish with a light application of an anti-bacterial cream, like Neosporin.

Don’t overtreat. While sulfur, benzoyl peroxide, and retinol products are proven acne fighters, when overused, they can cause your skin to dry out. This will cause more irritation and make your breakouts worse.

Do try an at-home anti-acne device, such as the Zeno Heat Treat Blemish Clearing Device ($40). It gently warms skin to kill 99 percent of the bacteria without harming healthy skin cells.

Do wear sunscreen. Sunscreen is absolutely not a cause of acne and sun exposure can cause acne scars to get darker, making them harder to get rid of. On top of that, some acne medications make skin more photosensitive — meaning you’ll burn more easily. Look for a non-oily, non-comedogenic light lotion variety, advises Akridge.

A pimple is a swollen elevation on the skin caused by bacteria in a clogged pore. Some causes of clogging include sweat, makeup, and certain face creams. If you have the occasional pimple outbreak, you may want to know how to get rid of a pimple fast.

The first step to get rid of a pimple is to implement a skin-cleansing regimen. Wash your face every day with a simple bar of soap. Soaps like Ivory Soap Bars 3 Pack, $1.49, at Walgreens, are good facial-cleansing soaps. Wash your hands first, and then wash your face using your hands or a very soft cleansing cloth to keep from irritating the skin further. Rinse your skin with lukewarm water. Very hot or cold water just irritates the skin further. Pat your face dry with a clean towel.


Once you've implemented your skin regimen, pimples can still creep up on you. There are home remedies you can try before turning to over the counter or prescription medication for acne. Tea tree oil has antibacterial properties that may help to get rid of a pimple fast. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, in a study comparing the effectiveness of using tea tree oil versus a prescription medication, both groups experienced improvement in their acne. Simply dab a small amount of tea tree oil on the pimple and let the natural properties go to work. Some people experience mild irritation to full-strength tea tree oil, but you can dilute it with water before applying it to your skin.

Another natural remedy you can try to help get rid of a pimple is to apply a dot of plain white toothpaste to the area before going to bed. When you rinse off the toothpaste in the morning, you should see significantly less swelling.

Try to avoid popping the pimple, no matter how tempting it may be. Stubborn, continuous breakouts may need professional help. You should seek the advice of your dermatologist for the best course of action.

Washing your face is a no-brainer, right? Well, not exactly. A recent study by Olay found that only 50 percent of women wash their face regularly. And even if you are among the half that does, most are not using the correct product, rinsing properly, or treating their skin with the TLC it deserves.




"I think probably 80 percent of women don't wash their face properly," says Annet King, director of global education for Dermalogica. "Good skincare starts with clean skin. There's no point in moisturizing or using anti-aging or anti-acne products on your skin if you don't have a clean palette to work with."

Overwashing your face can be just as damaging as not doing it at all. "Many people have the concept that skin needs to be squeaky clean," explains Hema Sundaram, MD, a Washington, DC-area dermatologist and laser expert. "But that means it's been stripped of its protective barrier. We must recondition ourselves on what clean skin means, which is dewy but not tight," Read on and discover the secrets to proper face cleansing and watch your skin glow.

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