How to dodge dry skin

1. Don’t over-cleanse

Use soaps or cleansers too often – or use ones that are too harsh for dry skin – and you run the risk of stripping skin of the very oils it needs to stay hydrated. So, to avoid skin that feels as tight as a drum, use a cleanser especially formulated for dry skin – or a soap containing a built-in moisturiser – and use sparingly.

2. Skip the alcohol

An ingredient often used in toners, aftershaves and facial wipes, alcohol has a drying effect on skin. The stuff you drink is dehydrating too, of course, so try interspersing alcoholic drinks with water to prevent skin from dehydrating.

3. Scrub away the flakes

Use a gentle facial scrub once or twice a week to help dislodge dead cells and smooth out flaky patches. Apply with your fingertips using circular motions, avoiding the delicate eye area.

4. Make friends with moisturiser

Moisturise morning and night and apply to damp skin within a few minutes of washing to help lock in extra moisture. Look for barrier creams, balms and moisturisers designed for dry skin, which tend to be richer, thicker and more hydrating than lightweight lotions.

5. Factor up

With dry skin especially prone to wrinkling, make sure you protect against the sun’s ageing UVA rays with the help of a moisturiser featuring a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Since UVA rays penetrate skin all year round, use daily, even in the winter.

6. Alter your environment

To minimise the drying effects of central heating and air conditioning try placing bowls of water near your work station or throughout your home or invest in a humidifier.

7. Feed yourself some fatty acids

Several studies have suggested that omega-3 fatty acids may have a positive on skin health, particularly when it comes to dryness and sensitivity. Walnuts, flax seed and oily fish like salmon are good sources but it they’re also available in supplement form.

8. Use a night cream.

Skin tends to lose more moisture overnight than it does during the day so apply a nourishing night cream to help keep skin hydrated and to support skin’s natural overnight repair process. This is especially important after your thirties when the skin’s natural oil production slows and skin becomes drier.