Dry Skin Care Help

    Dry Skin Care Help

    By: Teresa Hall

    If you suffer from dry skin, you know that it can be irritating, itchy and unattractive. Flaky patches, tightness and red patches are sure signs that you need to find a good dry skin care treatment. You might be surprised to learn that the treatment for dry skin is fairly easy.

    What Causes Dry Skin?
    Dry skin begins with the skin’s sebaceous glands. These glands secrete sebum, which is a fatty, oily substance that mixes with the secretions from your sweat glands. This mixture then spreads over your skin and creates a layer of oil and moisture that is called the acid mantle. The acid mantle acts to protect your skin by preventing dirt and grime from entering the outer layer of the epidermis.

    The acid mantle also protects the skin from drying and chapping. When the pH level of the skin is talked about, it is actually referring to the pH of the acid mantle. The acid mantle of your skin is naturally acidic. For most people, the pH range is from 4.5 to 5.5. This acidic quality protects your skin because it fights any bacterial invasion, but if the acid mantle changes from what is normal, your skin will show the effects.

    There are actually two types of dry skin. People with dry skin from underactive sebaceous glands have what is known as oil dry skin. Other people lack water in their skin, and this is called moisture dry skin. We often think of dry skin as being associated with older, more mature skin, but younger people can have dry skin as well. Diet and hormones can also contribute to dry skin.

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