How Do I Treat My Dry, Itchy Skin?

Red. Itchy. Flaky.  Whether caused by summer-favorite activities (getting too much sun and being plagued by pool chemicals ) or being bombarded with dry winter air, your dry skin is begging for relief. 

As your largest organ, your skin plays a crucial role in your confidence and overall health. If you’re struggling with dry skin, you may not feel up to putting your best face forward. But, by unpacking the causes of dry skin and offering some easy lifestyle changes, Mint & Needle is here for you. 

What causes dry skin?

Dry skin, or dermatitis, can be triggered by a number of lifestyle, seasonal, or health factors. Symptoms may include red, itchy, cracked, peeling, or flaky skin. Understanding the likely cause can help pinpoint your best treatment options. 

Certain soaps (especially brands with fragrance), hard water, hot water, and excessive hand washing can be rough on your skin. As can chlorinated pools, steamy showers, and dry winter air.  

Age, genetics, and other health conditions (eczema, psoriasis, allergic reactions, and the overproduction of oil) also may play a role. 

Below, the Mint & Needle team shares recommendations on combating your dry skin woes.

Start with a gentle cleanser. 

Don’t be afraid to cleanse your skin. A proper cleanser will not dry out your skin further. Some cleansers that contain colors, fragrances, and other

chemicals can irritate your skin. If you regularly struggle with sensitive or dry skin, it’s best to choose mild cleansers that do not contain alcohol or other irritating ingredients. 

Mint and Needle’s Gentle Cleanser is an ideal choice for these skin types. The gentle foaming cleanser  reduces irritation and doesn’t dry out your skin’s surface. It’s also a must for rosacea patients. 

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.

As you already know, moisturizing dry skin is critical. Timing and frequency will depend on the placement of your dry skin. For the skin on your hands, you’ll want to moisturize each time you wash your hands (if hands are a particular concern, check out our piece on hand rejuvenation here. For your face, moisturizing in the morning and before you go to bed should be sufficient. (Bedtime moisturizers will work wonders!)

More importantly, you’ll want to choose the right moisturizing products. This differs for each skin type. For dry skin, go for products that include hyaluronic acid, ceramides, or colloidal oatmeal. Avoid products that include alcohols, artificial fragrances or colors, dioxane, petrolatum or petroleum. While some prefer natural oils (like coconut oil or Shea butter), use these with caution, as they’re known to cause breakouts for normal, oily, or combination skin.

Mint & Needle’s HA Hydrator with hyaluronic acid and other medical-grade ingredients, boosts the moisture content within your skin’s surface for softer, smoother, and more radiant skin. 

The Mint & Needle team also highly recommends treating yourself to a hydrating facial every 4 to 6 weeks for maximum relief. Our Medical Grade Facial is tailored to your needs, and we have many hydrating solutions for that facial. 

Exfoliate to remove excess dry skin.

Your skin naturally creates new cells and sheds the old cells, typically replacing itself about every month. When those dead skin cells become stuck on your skin’s surface, skin can become irritated or dry.

“Your skin constantly sheds dead cells, about 30,000 to 40,000 cells every minute!” (DermSpecialists)

Refresh your skin and clear dead skin cells with regular exfoliation. But, be sure that you’re not over-exfoliating, which can actually make your dry skin worse. 

We recommend using Mint & Needle’s Exfoliating Scrub once per week for best results. It’s formulated with sugar cane extract and contains powerful microdermabrasion resurfacing ingredients to remove dead skin cells and debris from the skin’s surface. In addition to reducing fine lines and wrinkles, this powerful product improves skin tone, texture, and elasticity. 

Make lasting changes to your bathing and lifestyle habits.

In addition to using medical-grade products for cleaning, moisturizing, and exfoliating, consider these tips to balance your skin’s PH levels:

• Use sunscreen all year round. 
  
• Shower every other day, instead of every day.
• Keep your shower time to less than 10 minutes, and try to use lukewarm water (instead of hot). 
• Try to avoid itching or scrubbing dry skin patches. 
• Moisturize daily, after showers, and before you go to bed 
• Invest in a humidifier for your bedroom or home.  
• Drink plenty of water. Your body -- inside and out -- will thank you! 

The best part of the skin you live in? It’s yours! And it’s wonderfully unique. Still not sure which products and treatments best match your skin type? Book a consultation, and we’ll be happy to talk about a customized skincare plan.