Posts Tagged ‘dry skin care’

Menopause and Dry Skin

Saturday, September 26th, 2009

Addressing dry skin during menopause takes a little more time and attention than during other times of your life. That’s because the same hormone behind so much of a woman’s body changes may be responsible for dry skin problems at menopause – estrogen.

Hormones, specifically estrogen – the hormone that initiates puberty in young girls and gives oily skin and pimples now starts to diminish leaving skin that is dry and even thinning in some women.

Estrogen is an important hormone.

  • It stimulates maturation of a girl’s body at puberty.
  • It helps keep a woman’s bones strong.
  • It even helps regulate the production of cholesterol.

Another thing estrogen does is stimulate the formation of skin-smoothing collagen and oils. The reduction of estrogen, and the changing ratios of hormones in  a woman’s body, don’t just slow down oil production, it also reduce the body’s ability to retain moisture.

As early as perimenopause, dry skin can begin appearing in selective spots – from the oil-gland-dense face, the back, and chest, the elbows, legs, and even nails.

Dry skin at menopause may take you by surprise, but fortunately you’ve got lots of choices to help you care for your skin.

  • Focus on smart fats:  Essential fatty acids — like the omega-3s found in salmon, walnuts, fortified eggs, or algae oils – help produce your skin’s oil barrier, vital in keeping skin hydrated. A diet short of these body-boosting fats can leave skin dry, itchy, and prone to acne. Omega-3s are also found in sardines, soy, safflower oil, and flax. 
  • Use sunscreen: Dry skin, wrinkles, moles, and skin cancers can all result from too much sun, so add a sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection to your line of defense.
  • Cool down your bath water: The aches and pains of aging and menopause may have you wanting to soak in the tub or spa more frequently. Hot baths and showers can be harsh to the skin and dry it out by stripping the skin of its natural oils. Take shorter showers and use warm water.  If you live in a hot climate, consider taking cold showers. If you must soak, be sure to moisturize intensely after.
  • Use a gentle soap:  Scented, antibacterial, or deodorant soaps can be harsh, removing your body’s essential oils, leaving skin even more itchy and dry. Instead, reach for an unscented liquid soap.
  • Remember you can hydrate from the inside out by drinking water: Drink plenty of water. Drinking water is vital for your physical health as well as the health of your skin.
  • Humidify your home: Purchase an inexpensive humidifier and place it in your bedroom to use at night. If you do not have a humidifier, heat a pot of water on the stove every day to release moisture into the air.
  • Remember to moisturize: Within a few minutes after your shower / bath, smooth on your favorite moisturizer.

Research has shown that skin care products that contain meadowfoam oil, macadamia nut oil or pomegranate seed oil bring great benefits to dry skin.

Meadowfoam oil forms a moisture barrier and will assist the skin with preventing moisture loss.

Macadamia nut oil is high in palmitic acid present in human skin, and its purpose is to maintain the moisture level. The skin’s natural palmitic acid depletes with age, and so macadamia nut oil makes a good choice for dry and mature skin.

Pomegranate seed oil adds moisture, has natural estrogenic properties, anti-oxidants, is anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, improves skin elasticity, and protects the skin. It provides relief from minor skin irritations and inflammation, including dry skin, eczema, psoriasis and sunburned skin. Several recent studies, including one conducted by the University of Michigan Medical School (published in the February 2006 Journal of Ethnopharmacology), have shown that pomegranate seed oil stimulates keratinocyte proliferation, promoting regeneration and strengthening of the epidermis. This study compliments other recent studies, which have also shown the beneficial results of using pomegranate seed o Pomegranate seed oil can be effective in treating dry skin, eczema, psoriasis and sunburned skin. It is a good choice for maturing skin.

Dry skin and menopause do not need to go hand in hand. There are ways that you can keep healthy, youthful, vibrant skin throughout menopause. Following the above tips can help you transition your skin through preimenopause and menopause to keep great looking skin.

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Controlling the Humidity Can Help Your Skin

Saturday, July 4th, 2009

Both extremes of humidity can harm the skin, so you may need to work on controlling your environment to get what is best for your skin. This can present a challenge, as many of us work in air conditioned / heated environments where we have no control.

If you have low humidity it simply means there is less moisture in the air. This not only dries out your skin, but also it makes your skin more susceptible to all other allergens. When the skin is very dry its barrier function is weaker.

This happens in the winter when heat systems dry out the air (i.e. forced hot air) or even in the summer when air conditioning can excessively dry the air. If you already have dry skin you may notice your scalp becomes flakier or if you are prone to eczema or psoriasis, the condition becomes worsened.

Even normal skin can be dried out by constant air conditioning and heating that found at many work places. Low humidity is an issue that we need to take into consideration when deciding what skin care products to buy.

In a study published by the British Journal of Dermatology in 2002, air conditioning was cited as one of the main causes of contact dermatitis- a common skin irritation from exposure to allergens or other irritants. 

Your skin works best when it is not overly dry. If you live in a very dry place or see your dry skin symptoms worsen seasonally you need to consider using a humidifier. You may have to experiment a little to get what feels right to you and see how it affects your skin. Stay well hydrated is also important. Drink water.

If you have high humidity it means there is too much moisture in the air. We control our body temperature by sweating. When there is excess humidity, our sweating does not cool us off as well. The air around us is already full of water, so it does not evaporate away our sweat, so we feel and get hotter. Our sweat also stays in contact with our skin longer and this is not good for the skin. It can develop red, irritated patches, and the sweat that stays there can irritate and clog pores and get itchy and rashy.

In very damp climates people often get weepy or oozing skin conditions, from all that excess dampness, showing up on your skin. This is why conditions like athlete’s foot or jock itch or even weepy rashes are often worse in humid weather.

So, when it is damp you need a dehumidifier. Trying to lower the humidity with the air conditioner  will cause the above problem.. Try to keep yourself cool by using a fan and dressing in fabrics that breathe and if you are still suffering, gently wipe away excess perspiration so it does not sit there and irritate your skin.

What you need  depends on where you live -a humidifier or a dehumidifier or both. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers recommend keeping humidity between 30% and 60%.

Most modern humidifiers and dehumidifiers have read-outs that will tell you the current humidity and allow you to set the desired humidity also.

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