What’s causing your dry skin?

It’s the middle of January in Minnesota and it’s around this time when I start seeing people with dry skin. The reason why this happens all starts with the function of skin’s sebum or oil.

One of the main purposes of our skin’s oil is to protect and keep the skin hydrated. It does this by being one of the main components of our acid mantle. The acid mantle is a film that sits on the surface of the skin. As a crucial part of our immune system, it protects our bodies against pathogens, supports a healthy microbiome and keeps the skin hydrated. 

Because this film sits on top of the skin it acts kind of like Saran Wrap locking in moisture. This is important because as the temperature drops so does the water content in the air. (As I write this the dew point is at 6%, comfortable is 40-60% for reference.) When the water content in the air drops the moisture on the surface of the skin begins to evaporate. 

We in esthetics have a fancy term for it called Trans Epidermal Water Loss. The more moisture that is evaporating off the skin’s surface, the more vulnerable your acid mantle becomes. When this occurs the skin becomes flaky, itchy, sensitive and if acne prone could potentially break out. 

What you can do to help?

• Get your humidifier out and get it running. 

• Use a thin coat of Aquaphor on top of your moisturizer.

• If you’re using a foaming cleanser switch to a milky creamy cleanser. It won’t be as striping to the skin as it will have more emollients vs. surfactants. My favorite is Ultra Calming Cleanser from Dermalogica

• Wash your face at the sink vs. the shower. Typically you will use cooler water at the sink which will be less stripping than the hot water in the shower.