Most of us experience dry skin at one time or another. This condition is especially common in the cold and windy months of the year. On windy days, the force of the wind rushing across the skin dries it out. During cold weather, the humidity drops, causing our skin to lose water faster. If at all possible, humidity should be kept at about 50%. In high humidity, the opposite happens. The body cannot get rid of water to cool off and it can overheat.
Causes of Dryness
The skin can also become dry from several disease processes, bites and from allergies to things that contact the skin. Certain fabrics are hard on the skin over time. These are wool, polyester and nylon. The best fabrics for your skin are natural ones, such as cotton or silk. To assist with bites and other red areas, using a hydrocortisone compound in addition to a cleanser is a good idea. If you think you have an allergy, only a doctor can confirm your problem. There are other types of skin dryness, called psoriasis that makes skin dry and red. Natural products can provide relief from both of these. Some skin itchiness can also be caused by an infection such as a fungus. One common fungus, Candida is becoming much more common and dry skin and itching are very common when a person is coming down with this infection.
Treatment
To help your skin stay moisturized, you can use an easy to make cleanser or masque for your skin. This cleanser is made out of honey and milk. Honey is easy to find and contains anti-oxidant chemicals. Honey will also act as a humectant, which is a compound that moisturizes. Milk, in the form of yogurt contains lactic acid which acts as an anti-bacterial compound. The protein in the yogurt will give body to your cleanser or mask.
For a cleanser, mix about ½ cup of honey with ½ cup of unsweetened, plain yogurt. Apply this to your face or other dry areas for about five minutes and then wash off with warm water. You can apply this compound to your skin two to three times a day safely.
If you want a mask, mix one tablespoon of honey with one tablespoon of yogurt. Leave this on your face for about 15 minutes and remove with warm water. This mask will also tighten up your skin and will help remove dirt deeper in pores than the cleanser will. However, some people don’t like the feeling of a mask on their face. Both products will increase the moisture in your skin and stop that itchy feeling.
Be careful not to undo the moisturizing treatment by then taking a shower and scrubbing your skin using a drying soap. Use a soft cloth on your skin will lower dryness and itchiness. Make sure any soap you use is for dry skin. You want a soap that will help moisturize your skin.
How to Purchase
Most households have honey and yogurt on hand or can obtain them will a visit to the store. Make sure your honey is real; the honey in the cute bear is actually sugar syrup, not honey. This low priced, useful treatment will not only moisturize your skin, but it will save you money on other products that you will no longer need to buy. Let’s hear it for milk and honey!