Aging is accompanied by physiological processes that cause the skin to lose its ability to retain moisture. Additionally, there are diseases in which the skin cannot retain body water at normal levels, leading to significant water loss through the skin. For example, this occurs in atopic dermatitis and some other skin disorders caused by nutritional deficiencies.

The freshness and vitality of the skin are mainly due to its moisture. If the skin’s moisture decreases due to dryness and environmental heat or reduced blood flow due to cold or aging, the skin becomes wrinkled and loses its freshness. One of the times to be careful about skin dryness is when leaving the bath. Other times include the warm seasons, after washing the face, and during old age. Those with dry skin need to be more cautious than others.

It is important to know that to maintain skin moisture, it is not necessary to wash your face frequently. On the contrary, this can remove the protective oily layer of the skin and cause roughness. To keep the skin moisturized, you should use moisturizers. The moisturizing creams available in pharmacies are very suitable for this purpose. The method of using moisturizers is to apply the cream in dots on various areas of the skin, such as the forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin, after washing and drying the face after a bath. Then, spread it over the entire face and neck with gentle fingertip taps. It is best to apply the moisturizer every morning after washing your face with water and soap, wait a few minutes for it to absorb, and then proceed with makeup if desired. Moisturizing the skin once at the beginning of the day is sufficient, but if you take a bath, do it again after leaving the bath. If you are in a hot and dry climate or have dry skin, it is better to moisturize your skin twice a day. The water content of living skin (dermis and epidermis) is approximately 80%. The outer layer of the skin, the keratin layer, is made up of dead skin cells with a lower water content of about 10 to 30%.

Water gives the keratinocyte layer some softness and elasticity. When the skin’s water content is normal, the skin appears smooth, soft, elastic, and radiant. The skin becomes slightly swollen, making the surface of the skin somewhat smooth and fine wrinkles disappear. In normal skin, there is a continuous movement of water from the deeper layers to the surface layers of the skin. Eventually, water evaporates from the surface.

What causes dry skin? Dry skin is relatively common: most people experience some degree of dry skin from time to time. Dry skin may be due to external causes or changes in the skin’s ability to retain moisture.

External causes: The main external causes include exposure to dry weather and wind. Note that artificial heating inside buildings lowers relative humidity.
Therefore, the skin becomes drier in winter. Staying for long periods in a room with dry, cold air from an air conditioner also causes dry skin.

Other external factors affecting dry skin include: Washing: Frequent washing removes the protective oily layer of the skin. Some soaps also have a drying effect.
Exposure to certain substances: Many occupations expose individuals to substances that remove the natural oily layer from the skin, such as jobs requiring frequent contact with disinfectants or chemical solvents. Similarly, some medical treatments (such as acne treatments) also cause dry skin.

The importance of skin moisture: Dehydrated skin appears dry, cracked, and rough; a thin layer of flakes is present on the surface; fine skin lines become more apparent, and the individual feels dryness in the skin, which may be accompanied by itching.

Dry skin is more prone to skin infections, whether bacterial or fungal. The common dermatological term for very dry skin is xerosis.

Preventing damage caused by dry skin: The thin oily layer on the skin’s surface can protect the skin from exposure to environmental factors such as soot particles, pollution, and dust.

Temporary Improvement in the Aesthetic Appearance of the Skin: When the skin is well-moisturized, it temporarily appears smoother and more refreshed. Since the skin becomes slightly swollen, it looks smooth, fine wrinkles disappear, and pores appear smaller because the skin around them is slightly swollen. This temporary improvement is often exploited by advertisers to sell various moisturizing products that claim to have “anti-aging” effects.

Nevertheless, protection against environmental factors and damage caused by dryness is important in determining the composition and structure of the skin. This protection prevents the decline in the appearance and quality of the facial skin.