Dry and uncomfortable skin
Redness, itching, allergic reactions… winter never gives your face a break, but your body is not safe either. The skin on your body needs care too. To recognize and understand all of the signs, Marion, our Retail Director and treatment expert, is here to explain everything to you and suggest a suitable routine to leave your skin baby soft this winter!
DRY AND UNCOMFORTABLE SKIN: THE CAUSES
On the body (just like on the face), dry skin is stingy skin: it works slowly and doesn’t produce enough fatty substance necessary for comfort and suppleness. Its hydrolipidic film is either totally inexistent or damaged through the use of incorrect makeup for your skin type, temperature changes, hormonal fluctuations, or certain medications. Genetic predisposition can also have an effect on the level of hydration or continued dryness of the skin. Exposed in this way, this type of skin can easily become dehydrated because, without its protective fatty shield, the skin will no longer be able to retain water. Dry skin can also be prone to thickening since this is a way for it to protect itself. Finally, this type of skin often comes hand in hand with hypersensitivity. And yes, as soon as the skin’s balance is disturbed, inflammation arises. You are most likely to notice itchy, flaky skin, irritated areas and redness.
This discomfort can also arise more sporadically. Most people will notice pulling sensations on their skin at certain times.
- At bedtime: a shower or bath that is too hot can be to blame as the heat dissolves the good protective lipids in the skin. Similarly, an aggressive shower gel containing chemical detergents is also something to remove from your bathroom.
- After swimming: chlorine is a powerful irritant. So, remember to rinse well after each visit to the baths. For those of you who spend a lot of time in the gym, it is worth noting that sweat can also have a drying, potentially irritating, effect on the skin.
- During pregnancy: skin stretches and can, therefore, become itchy, notably on the stomach and breast areas.
- During your period: with œstrogen production at its lowest, skin can become drier.
- Throughout medical treatments: certain serious procedures (such as chemotherapy) change the structure of skin lipids and can increase skin problems (even afterwards, during the remission period). Skin can also be more sensitive because certain medical treatments disrupt the skin’s immune system.
