Dry Skin in Winter: Causes and Solutions

What is dry skin?

Our skin has a soft and supple texture thanks to the water it contains. For skin to be "normal," its top layer should contain at least 10%, and ideally 20 to 35%, water. To protect the top layer of skin from water loss, our bodies produce substances that create a lipid barrier—a protective, oily layer on the skin's surface that prevents water evaporation. If the protective lipid layer becomes less, water evaporates faster, and the skin becomes dry.

What causes moisture loss in the skin?

The causes of dry skin can be divided into external and internal:
Internal causes:

1. Genetics: Many people have dry, thin, sensitive skin from birth.
2. Diseases of the skin and internal organs: Conditions such as atopic dermatitis, ichthyosis, diabetes, thyroid problems, kidney problems, etc. lead to increased moisture loss from the skin.
3. Lack of vitamins and minerals: Vitamins A and D, niacin, zinc and iron are necessary for our skin to maintain elasticity and hydration.
4. Hormones: A decrease in estrogen levels, observed in women in The menopause period leads to thinning of the skin and a decrease in the production of protective lipids.
5. Aging: With age, the sebaceous glands almost stop working, which is reflected in the amount of the surface oily layer.

External causes:

1. Low humidity: Our skin reflects the level of humidity in the environment, which is why many people forget about dry skin in the summer or by the sea. In winter, cold dry air, winds, central heating, heaters and fireplaces - all this leads to excessive moisture loss from our body.
2. Hot water: A bath with hot water and foam - a true synonym for comfort and relaxation, which we need so much in winter, can cause the lipid layer to be washed out from the surface of the skin, and going from hot water to a colder environment significantly increases evaporation from our body. It's also worth adding that our taps contain hard water, which contains calcium and magnesium, which alter the acidity of the skin and promote the leaching of lipids.
3. Incorrect cleansing: Most cleansers (soaps, shower gels) have a high alkaline pH, which, on the one hand, effectively removes impurities from the skin, but on the other hand, destroys the natural lipid barrier, leading to dry skin.
4. Aggressive exfoliation of the skin: Using scrubs, hard washcloths or brushes, and steaming the skin may mistakenly seem like an effective method in the fight against flaking and dryness. However, damaging and forcibly removing scales only intensifies this process and leads to further dryness of the skin.
5. Medications: Drugs for acne treatment, blood pressure reduction, cholesterol level correction (statins), as well as drugs used in chemotherapy lead to a decrease in skin elasticity and hydration.

How to overcome dryness?

Having analyzed the main causes of dry skin, it is easy to understand that in most cases we cannot change internal factors, and correcting external ones requires significant changes in lifestyle, which, let's be honest, does not fit into the plans of a modern person. This is why we need a simple, effective and rational solution to this problem, capable of neutralizing the effects of all negative factors. This is a two-step skincare routine: proper cleansing and care.

Step 1: Cleansing

Contact with water, whether short or long, in the shower or in a bubble bath, is a challenge for our skin, as a result of which it always loses part of its lipid barrier. Librederm's soothing shower gel with protective properties for sensitive skin from the Cerafavit line not only gently cleanses the skin, preserving its valuable lipid barrier, but also protects it from the effects of temperature and hard water. It contains vitamin F, ceramides, and prebiotics, which help protect our skin at a time when it is most vulnerable. An equally important component is niacinamide (vitamin B3), which relieves irritation, stimulates the skin's defense mechanisms, refreshes, and restores a healthy glow.

Please note that contact with water, especially in winter, should be brief, and the use of any cleansers should be judicious.

Step 2: Care

Dry skin always requires basic care to compensate for the lack of a protective lipid barrier, and Cerafavit Librederm Lipid-Restoring Balm is ideal for this task. Ceramides, vitamin F, prebiotics, and niacinamide help restore the hydrolipid barrier, instantly eliminating the feeling of tightness, thereby immediately reducing itching and irritation. The balm has a thick, pleasant texture that doesn't leave a greasy film on the skin and absorbs easily, eliminating the need to stand in the center of the bathroom and wait to get dressed.

Regular, all-season skin care is the key to maintaining youth and beauty for a long time!

So, even in winter, when everything seems to be against our skin, in just two simple steps you can forget about flaking, itching, and irritation and achieve softness, elasticity, and radiance.