What’s Causing Dry Skin?
There are many factors that influence what’s causing dry skin or dehydrated skin. The most obvious concerns are easily recognised such as, air conditioning, heating, environmental factors, lack of water intake, diuretic beverages and alcohol.
Did you know that some products draw moisture out of your skin? Petrochemicals and potentially harmful ingredients are suppose to supply moisture to the skin or form a protective barrier on the skin. They often do the reverse and ‘pull’ moisture out of the skin, causing dehydration!
Our health also plays an important part in the hydration of our skin! If we are dehydrated on the ‘in side’ we will be dehydrated on the ‘outside’. If we are oil dry on the ‘outside’ we will be ‘oil dry’ on the inside.
Short term correction
Most over the counter moisturisers contain non-physiological ingredients that temporarily moisturise skin and shut down the skin’s natural mechanism to behave youthfully & effectively condition itself. This action causes the skin to register that it’s adequately hydrated creating a dependency on false moisturising properties, as the skin without this application feels tight, dry, uncomfortable and often aggravated due to the natural barrier having been depleted.
Long term correction
SuperNatural Skincare uses ingredients that occur naturally in the skin helping stimulate normal skin function. The skin learns to rehydrate itself naturally by producing its own Natural Moisturising Factors, promoting less dependence on unnecessary and ineffective ingredients.
Dehydration Facts
Four internal skin deficiencies that lead to dehydration & dryness:
Intercellular lipid (Oil) deficient – nutrient deficiencies in our diet and skin care
Oil deficient – as we age our oil glands produce less oil.
Natural moisture factor deficient (NMF) – the skin loses its ability to produce NMF’s
Oestrogen deficient – as hormone levels change over the years, skin becomes thin and parched.
Suffering from one or all four of these can result in a constant reliance on ‘thick’ greasy moisturisers.
Other factors causing dry skin
Sun damage
Ageing
Hormonal imbalances
Medication
Barrier impairment – soaps / cleansers / peels / laser treatments
Environmental factors
Air conditioning
Lack of sleep / recovery
Ingredients & products that help rehydrate skin
Hyaluronic Acid – Increases moisture retention. As we age, skin moisture can drop significantly, which makes the skin lose elasticity and expose the signs of ageing. Hyaluronic acid plays a critical role in skin health with its unique ability to hold in moisture (1000 ml of water per gram of hyaluronic acid). Hyaluronic acid is also a “smart nutrient” as it can adjust its moisture absorption rate based on the humidity—relative to the season and the climate.
Sodium PCA – Natural Moisturising Factor: provides long term Hydration and promotes skin healing.
Sphingolipids & Phospholipids (ceramides) – help maintain moisture in the deeper layers of the skin.
Essential Fatty Acids – potent anti-inflammatory contain’s omegas 3+6, improves skin health and permeability
