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Dry Skin: Causes, Prevention, and Treatment.

What causes dry skin, and what can we do about it? Here’s some info on dry skin, transepidermal water loss, UV radiation, photoageing, and hydrating ingredients.

What causes dryness and dehydration in the skin?

The cause for dry skin is quite simple: it is generally the result of the skin losing water too quickly. However, there can be numerous reasons for the underlying lack of moisture and skin´s impaired ability to retain it. Here are some of the main causes:

Skin during winter and colder season.

1. Exposure to certain climate or weather conditions.

This is probably the main cause for dry skin as most of us experience it. Cold temperatures and low humidity levels can affect the skin’s ability to retain moisture. For most of us, this means our skin is more likely to dry out during winter.

P.S. Be mindful of air humidity! Dry skin is a much-familiar consequence of dry AC air.

Damaged skin barrier treatment.

2. Environmental factors.

Our skin must endure a lot throughout the day. Environmental aggressors like sunlight, radiation, and pollution along with dust, dirt, and smoke all contribute towards skin dryness as they damage the skin barrier, affecting moisture retention.

Can lifestyle affect skin moisture?

3. Lifestyle.

There are so many factors in our daily routine that could affect our skin health. Just to name a few, certain diets, using harsh skincare products that strip the skin from its natural oils, insufficient water intake, bathing habits (e.g. long and very hot showers, aggressive scrubbing, bathing in mineral-rich water), and harsh laundry detergents can all contribute towards skin dryness and dehydration. Our skin also tends to react to tension or stress.

How to treat dry skin on face an chest.

4. Health.

In certain cases, dry and dehydrated skin is caused by genetices, medications, or underlying health conditions (e.g. eczema, psoriasis, diabetes).

Age and affect on skin.

5. Age.

The skin changes with age. It thins, loses elasticity and fine lines and wrinkles start to appear. Some early and premature signs of ageing skin can be delayed or prevented with healthy skincare habits and anti-ageing skincare products.

How to treat dry skin?

Mild symptoms of dry skin are very common and usually easily treatable. Keeping the main causes of skin dryness in mind gets you a long way: protect your skin from climate and environmental factors by using sunscreen or skincare products that strengthen the skin barrier and protect it from outside aggressors. Changing certain lifestyle habits, like your diet or bathing practices, can easily improve your skin health. Me mindful of dry AC-air - you could even plug in a humidifier to secure acceptable air humidity. Finally, implementing the ideal skincare routine, with mild, natural and effective hydrating ingredients, can vastly improve skin moisture levels and overall skin health.

Does sunlight affect skin hydration and moisture retention? How can we protect skin from sunlight?

Yes, most definitely. In fact, sunlight is one of the main factors affecting skin health. Contrary to popular belief, our skin is affected by sunlight year-round – not only during summer. As long as you are outside, the harmful UV rays may hit. In fact, snow and ice reflect sunlight, meaning you should be especially alert and aware of the winter sun.

Sunlight is probably the most significant factor contributing to photoageing (premature skin ageing). One of the results of photoageing is loss of skin elasticity and reduced ability to retain moisture. Additionally, harmful UV rays have been shown to penetrate the skin beyond the surface layer, causing damage to the deeper layers and as a result, affecting skin moisture levels. So when you’re lounging poolside, soaking up the sun at the beach, and even during your ski trip, remember to apply sunscreen regularly. You should also make sure to hydrate the skin generously after spending long hours in the sun.

What is skin water loss, and how can we prevent it?

Water loss, usually referred to as transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in skincare, is when water passes from the dermis (skin’s deeper layers) and through the epidermis (skin’s surface layer). If this happens too fast, your skin is losing more water than it can restore. This may be a sign of a damaged skin barrier. The result is moisture-deprived skin, which tends to get dry, itchy, and irritated.

Using the right skincare products may aid against transepidermal water loss and strengthen the skin barrier. You should look for products that hydrate while boosting skin’s natural ability to retain moisture. We especially recommend our EGF product range for the project containing our signature Barley EGF – a signalling protein with powerful moisture-binding and skin-rejuvenating abilities.

What are the best hydrating ingredients in skincare?

There are so many wonder workers out there aiding in moisture retention and rebalancing moisture levels. For us, it’s all about Barley EGF and Hyaluronic Acid. Together the two make for an impressively hydrating power duo.

Barley EGF is a moisture-binding, skin-rejuvenating signaling protein. It is the first of its kind to be produced in plants by BIOEFFECT scientists to combat the visible effects from the loss of EGF naturally found in skin. Barley EGF supports natural production of collagen, elastin, and Hyaluronic Acid, and is essential for keeping skin looking smooth, healthy, and youthful. It is a signaling protein, communicating with cells in the dermis. It sends messages to repair and rejuvenate while strengthening the skin’s ability to retain and withhold moisture.

Barley EGF promotes water retention, reducing loss of fluids from the skin. Increased moisture levels maintain skin thickness and density, reducing the depth of wrinkles. Barley EGF helps support the skin’s natural collagen production to visibly improve skin density and minimise the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Hyaluronic Acid is a vital substance naturally found in skin, and critical for maintaining skin hydration. Known for its incredible capacity to attract and hold vast amounts of moisture. Hyaluronic Acid can hold up to 1000 times its own weight in water, making it the optimal hydrator for all skin types. It also has restorative and soothing abilities.

Bundles to treat dry skin.

Our three holiday gift sets contain a variety of our bestsellers. Each set focuses on different skin concerns, but they all have a little something in common: to feature ideal skincare routines ideal for dry and dehydrated skin! Here some inside info on our amazing holiday gift sets.

Firming Favorites.

An impressive skincare routine focusing on face and eyes delivering real and lasting results. The EGF Serum and EGF Eye Serum boost hydration and moisture retention in the skin, and the Imprinting Eye Mask delivers deep hydration to the eye contour.

Saving over 15% off full price.

Hydration Heroes.

Our ultimate hydration heroes for deep and long-lasting moisture: The oil-free Hydrating Cream and our award-winning EGF Serum in a handy miniature version. Sure to bring your skin a rush of hydration.

Saving over 20% off full price.

Skin Saviors.

Super-nourishing products to save your skin from dehydration and combat visible signs of ageing. The EGF Essence hydrates the skin and preps it for the EGF Serum, making sure to maximise hydration and improve moisture levels in the skin. Finally, the Imprinting Hydrogel Mask makes sure to lock in the moisture.

Saving over 20% off full price.

Ideal products for dry or dehydrated skin.

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