Water has amazing benefits for the skin. Internally, that is. Externally, not so much.
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When water comes into contact with the skin, it can take away many of the skin’s natural oils — called thenatural moisturizing factor(NMF). The more frequently skin is washed, the drier it can get, especially if the water is heavily chlorinated or excessively hot.
Water is just one of the many things that cancause dry, flaky skinbut, unlike soap, is pretty unavoidable in our daily lives. We shower, swim, and use things like saunas and hot tubs where there can be plenty of chlorine. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be “water smart” when it comes to our own, daily skin care routine.
Here are a few tips you should always bear in mind:
Dry skin can plague us during any time of year but is particularly common during winter months when temperatures drop and humidity plummets. Consider using a humidifier at night while you sleep.
Keep these “water smart” guidelines in mind, whatever the season, to keep your skin in its best possible condition.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Barel AO, Paye M, Maibach HI.Handbook of Cosmetic Science and Technology, Fourth Edition. CRC Press; 2014.Kenet B, Lawler P.How to Wash Your Face, America’s Leading Dermatologist Reveals the Essential Secrets for Youthful, Radiant Skin. Simon and Schuster; 2002.Mukhopadhyay P.Cleansers and their role in various dermatological disorders. Indian J Dermatol. 2011;56(1):2-6. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.77542Additional ReadingCoderch, L.; et al. “Efficacy of stratum corneum Lipid Supplementation on Human Skin.“Contact Dermatitis. 2002; 3:139-146.Johnson, A. “Overview: Fundamental Skin Care- protecting the barrier.“Dermatologic Therapy. 2004; 17:1-5.Mukhopadhay, P. “Cleansers and Their Various Rolesin Dermatologic Disorders.‘Ind JDerm. January-February 2011; 56(1):2-6.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Barel AO, Paye M, Maibach HI.Handbook of Cosmetic Science and Technology, Fourth Edition. CRC Press; 2014.Kenet B, Lawler P.How to Wash Your Face, America’s Leading Dermatologist Reveals the Essential Secrets for Youthful, Radiant Skin. Simon and Schuster; 2002.Mukhopadhyay P.Cleansers and their role in various dermatological disorders. Indian J Dermatol. 2011;56(1):2-6. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.77542Additional ReadingCoderch, L.; et al. “Efficacy of stratum corneum Lipid Supplementation on Human Skin.“Contact Dermatitis. 2002; 3:139-146.Johnson, A. “Overview: Fundamental Skin Care- protecting the barrier.“Dermatologic Therapy. 2004; 17:1-5.Mukhopadhay, P. “Cleansers and Their Various Rolesin Dermatologic Disorders.‘Ind JDerm. January-February 2011; 56(1):2-6.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Barel AO, Paye M, Maibach HI.Handbook of Cosmetic Science and Technology, Fourth Edition. CRC Press; 2014.Kenet B, Lawler P.How to Wash Your Face, America’s Leading Dermatologist Reveals the Essential Secrets for Youthful, Radiant Skin. Simon and Schuster; 2002.Mukhopadhyay P.Cleansers and their role in various dermatological disorders. Indian J Dermatol. 2011;56(1):2-6. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.77542
Barel AO, Paye M, Maibach HI.Handbook of Cosmetic Science and Technology, Fourth Edition. CRC Press; 2014.
Kenet B, Lawler P.How to Wash Your Face, America’s Leading Dermatologist Reveals the Essential Secrets for Youthful, Radiant Skin. Simon and Schuster; 2002.
Mukhopadhyay P.Cleansers and their role in various dermatological disorders. Indian J Dermatol. 2011;56(1):2-6. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.77542
Coderch, L.; et al. “Efficacy of stratum corneum Lipid Supplementation on Human Skin.“Contact Dermatitis. 2002; 3:139-146.Johnson, A. “Overview: Fundamental Skin Care- protecting the barrier.“Dermatologic Therapy. 2004; 17:1-5.Mukhopadhay, P. “Cleansers and Their Various Rolesin Dermatologic Disorders.‘Ind JDerm. January-February 2011; 56(1):2-6.
Coderch, L.; et al. “Efficacy of stratum corneum Lipid Supplementation on Human Skin.“Contact Dermatitis. 2002; 3:139-146.
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