The most sensitive areas of your skin - the face, ears, neck, and chest - replace themselves more often than any other area on your skin. This daily loss of skin cells leaves these areas vulnerable to the dryness and the elements - in fact, they are highest-risk areas for skin cancer.
Moisturizing can help give your sensitive skin the boost it needs to repair itself and stay healthy. Moisturizing fights wrinkles. According to the British Journal of Dermatology , people with properly moisturized skin accumulate wrinkles at just a fraction of the rate of those with dry skin. Because of rubbing alcohol isopropyl alcohol , we tend to think of alcohols as drying — and out of place in moisturizers.
But some alcohols octyldodecanol, for example are excellent emollients. Topical retinoic acid — a form of vitamin A — reduces fine lines and wrinkles in the skin by stimulating the production of collagen and is the main ingredient in prescription antiwrinkle creams. But the vitamin A used in some moisturizers is retinyl palmitate, which has the virtue of being a very stable molecule but isn't nearly as biologically active as retinoic acid.
It's unlikely that retinyl palmitate in the amounts found in moisturizers has much, if any, effect on collagen and wrinkles. If retinyl palmitate has a benefit, it may be as a humectant.
Vitamin C, usually under the name ascorbic acid, and vitamin E, usually as tocopheryl acetate, are added because of their antioxidant properties. Studies of topical vitamin C have shown some effects, but in high concentrations. Doubts linger about its usefulness in moisturizers because light and oxygen inactivate the vitamin C. Vitamin E as tocopheryl acetate is biologically inactive and probably functions mainly as a preservative.
Moisturizers that bill themselves as itch remedies like Sarna often contain menthol. Although menthol doesn't attack the underlying problem, the familiar cooling sensation does seem to cancel out the itching sensation.
Lactic acid. Skin over the heel can get especially thick, leathery, and dry. Try using a pumice stone or callus file to get rid of the outer layers of skin and then using a moisturizer like AmLactin to soften it up. Sometimes products containing lactic acid sting.
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Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School. Recent Blog Articles. Why is topical vitamin C important for skin health? Preventing preeclampsia may be as simple as taking an aspirin. Caring for an aging parent? Tips for enjoying holiday meals. A conversation about reducing the harms of social media. Dermatologists recommend using a lip balm that has an SPF of at least This can help reduce signs of aging and skin cancer on the lips.
If you suffer from dry skin and these tips do not bring relief, make an appointment to see a doctor. If you need help finding a doctor, let us help you find one. Very dry, scaly skin may require the attention of a medical professional. A dermatologist can examine the skin and explain what will help alleviate the dryness or irritation.
They will talk to you about what insurance you have, what type of doctor you need and what days are most convenient for you. Call them today at to make an appointment. The Health Information Center is a library staffed by medical librarians and certified health information specialists. If you let us know your health information needs, we will do research for you and mail or email the results to you for free.
You can call us at We also have a large collection of health books covering a variety of topics. The Health Information Center in located on the first floor the hospital. Made with an optimal ratio of ceramides, natural cholesterol, and fatty acids, this cream counteracts the aging process and nourishes skin on contact. It promises to not only smoothe, but also protect the skin's surface, encouraging it to improve dryness and pores.
Think of your skin like a muscle and moisturizer like a pair of Spanx: It may give you a temporary fix, but strengthening from the inside out will give you better long-term results. And when in doubt, just ask your derm. Obagi says your skin's needs change about every year or so, and a professional who truly knows it will be able to help you achieve your glowy skin goals. Dual effects of alpha-hydroxy acids on the skin.
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I Accept Show Purposes. Skin Skincare. By Faith Xue. Faith Xue.
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