Calvert Creak
Skin Care Information
Dry Skin
Although some people have dry skin for genetic (hereditary) reasons and their skin type is therefore classed as “dry”, dry skin can affect anybody at any age.
Dry skin lacks both sebum (oil) and moisture (water) in the outermost layer of the skin (the stratum corneum). To the outside world it appears fine textured, transparent, fragile and patchy. Dry skin flakes and chaps often. Expression lines may be more obvious. People with dry skin often have flaky patches that resolve with proper moisturising.
Causes of Dry Skin
Certain medications can cause dry skin as a side effect. Accutane (a medication used for the treatment of acne), and Retin-A (a skin cream used to diminish wrinkles) are known causes of dry skin. This occurs because these drugs accelerate the turnover of skin cells.
Although optimal intake of vitamin A helps to prevent dry skin, too much vitamin A actually causes dry skin. Some people who take megadoses of vitamin B (more than 2,000 mg per day) experience dry skin.
Exposure to the sun and air-conditioners contribute to the depletion of the skin’s much-needed water content, leading to dry skin.
Dry Skin is more prevalent in Winter than in Summer as cold weather causes the beneficial fatty acids that moisturize the skin to become slightly less viscous (meaning that they flow less freely to the skin where they are needed).
Skin becomes drier with advancing age - 77% of people over the age of 65 have dry skin.
Dry skin can also occur as a side effect of several health problems, including hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland), dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis.
Nutritional deficiencies are the cause of some people’s dry skin – insufficient intake of the minerals iodine, potassium or zinc; or biotin or vitamin A deficiency can manifest in the form of dry skin.
Calvert Creak to the Rescue
Dry skin requires special attention to moisturising, and avoidance of harsh soaps and detergents to prevent the loss of natural oils from the skin. Calvert Creak’s range of products includes numerous constituents designed to counteract dry skin, including:
- Beeswax: a rich and creamy emollient that softens, protects and soothes skin. Beeswax contains natural moisturisers that make skin soft and supple, particularly on dry skin.
- Coconut oil: a light oil useful for dry skin. Coconut oil has been used by Pacific Islanders as a source of nutrition, skin care, and medicine for thousands of years. Despite constant exposure to the harsh elements of sunlight, wind, and salt, these native Islanders have successfully used coconut oil as their only skin care treatment from which they attribute their remarkably low levels of skin cancer and their wonderfully ageless complexions.
- Shea Butter: an emollient (skin softening) lipid with superb moisturising properties, making it excellent for rehydrating dry skin. Shea butter is a product of the African Shea nut tree. African healers have used shea butter for thousands of years as the ideal treatment for dry skin. When used in creams, shea butter forms a breathable, water-resistant layer ofn the skin. Its high content of non-saponifiable fatty acids gives it the ability to moisturise and maintain skin elasticity. Shea butter also protects the skin against the damaging effects of the sun.
- Evening primrose oil: contains high levels of the fatty acid named gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Evening primrose oil is excellent for the treatment of dry skin. It can also restore moisture and smoothness to dry skin.
- Yellow clay is a mild clay, making it suitable for sensitive skin. It helps to stimulate blood circulation to the skin while gently exfoliating and cleansing the skin. It does not draw oils from the skin excessively and can therefore be used on most dry skin types.
- White clay is the mildest of all clays. White clay does not draw oils from the skin and can therefore be used on dry skin types.
- Cornmeal is a gentle abrasive that helps to exfoliate and smooth rough, dry skin.
- Bran is a gentle, natural exfoliant for the body and is an old Japanese secret for smooth, soft skin. It may help to moisturise dry skin.
- Orange flower water is a refreshing tonic for dry skin.
- Rosemary Oil improves dry or mature skin, and can clear dull dry skin by fighting bacteria and regulating oil secretions.
- Patchouli oil treats dry skin prone to acne problems.
Foods for Dry Skin
Many people find that if they consume at least one tablespoon of flax seed oil or cod liver oil per day, their dry skin diminishes. This effect is likely to occur from the high omega-3 fatty acids content of these oils.
On a more palatable note, avocados have a good reputation for treating dry skin. Once again this effect is likely to be attributable to their content of “good fats”.
