Dry skin is a fairly common condition that can be caused by a number of different things. Sometimes it’s a factor that is out of control, such as the weather or a genetic condition. Other times, it might be because we’ve left the heating on for a really long time and there’s not much moisture in the air. These are just two very common reasons for why your skin might be feeling dry, but is there a way to really narrow down the cause?

It’s hard to say.

Dry skin affects all of us in some way

There are a number of ways to deal with it, such as hand creams or different shower gels, but everyone’s situation is different and it’s hard to tell what might help your situation and what could exacerbate it. You see, everyone’s skin is different and some products can actually be harmful to your skin. What works for you might be damaging to someone else and vice versa, so it’s really difficult to tell if you’re using a product that is right for you.

But for general dryness of the skin, there are a number of basic things that you should check at home to help you get a better understanding of what your skin is going through. So in this post, let’s take a look at some of the more common reasons for dry skin and what might be causing them.

Fragrances can potentially cause problems with your skin

If you’re using any products on your hands that contain fragrances, then there’s a chance that it could be causing problems with your skin. Any skincare products that are scented or have a fragrance may contain compounds that irritate your skin. If there are any fragrances in the skincare products you use and you notice that they occasionally make your hands dry, itchy, or even red, then you should stop using them as soon as possible.

As an example, some hand creams can cause various types of hand eczema. This would likely be caused by irritants in the cream itself, and it might be exacerbated by an existing dry skin condition. To avoid this, we suggest buying skincare products that do not have any kind of fragrance on them. They may smell a bit funny at first because they’re not asked with some kind of perfume, but they’re a lot better for your skin than fragranced ones. If you’re unsure whether it’s the fragrance or not, then you could try other skincare products. However, the best way to find if your skin is being irritated is to visit a dermatologist.

Your shower or bathing routine might be stripping moisture from your skin

Moisture is important to maintain healthy skin, and a common health mistake is to accidentally strip your skin of any essential oils. For instance, there are many different soaps, washing liquids, and even shampoos that could actively remove moisture from your skin. This is most common with anything that is formulated to remove oil. For example, there are some shampoos that are designed for greasy hair that can do a good job of removing oils from your scalp, but can end up stripping the natural oils of your skin which can dry out your skin.

This is fairly common but can easily be stopped by being more aware of the skincare products that you’re using. It’s vital that you only choose moisturizing body washes, and to avoid things like a harsh bar soap that also has a strong fragrance. Another common occurrence is dry skin on your hands because of overzealous handwashing. If you wash your hands frequently with soap and hot water, then it can quickly dry out your skin and cause issues like flaking and cracking.

Your skin could be dry because of the air

Lastly, we can’t forget that weather can cause your skin to dry out. Dry air doesn’t blend well with your skin, and heat can cause the humidity levels to drop which ultimately causes itchy and dry skin. This is common for people in winter because they’re more likely to turn on their heating systems. If you leave these on for too long, then you might experience your skin cracking or even your lips becoming dry.

It’s a good idea to try and maintain as much moisture in the air in your home when it’s cold outside. You can use a humidifier if it’s particularly bad, but it’s also a good idea to reduce your reliance on heating when possible because it can strip the air of its moisture.

Whether you’ve just bought a home or it’s been a while since you’ve taken a good hard look at its condition, you should take the time for a home health inspection. Not only can you get an idea of what improvements you can make to the home, but you can also see and fix some issues that might affect the health of you and the family. Here are a few of the real risks worth checking for.

Mind your leaks

Hidden leaks from damaged pipes or appliances or roof leaks can lead to the growth of mold and dampness. This can damage the structure of the home and also worsen respiratory health conditions such as asthma. It is important to have a roofing specialist inspect the roof for cracks, missing tiles, and other signs of wear and tear. If you notice mold or dampness inside the home, contact a plumber to find and fix the source of the leak

A colorless killer

As a toxic gas that’s produced when burning fuels like coal, propane, and natural gas, carbon monoxide can be deadly when too much of it is inhaled. As such, installing carbon monoxide alarms and ensuring that they have working batteries is crucial Beyond that, you can prevent carbon monoxide leaks by ensuring that your heating systems, fuel-burning appliances, and water heaters get the routine maintenance that they need.

The risk could be under the home

Radioactive uranium can be found in the soil beneath plenty of homes. While not an immediate risk, when it decays, this can result in radon gas seeping up into the homes, where our HVAC systems can spread it throughout. You should look at the radon maps available online to see if your home is in an area affected by radon. If so, there are testing kits that you can get to find and treat it.

Older homes are at more risk

Although it is banned as a construction material, asbestos is still routinely discovered in older homes, though the rate of these discoveries is, thankfully, starting to slow. This form of insulation is linked to some deadly respiratory diseases, as you can see from the survival statistics of some forms, like mesothelioma. Having your walls and attic inspected for asbestos is crucial if you’re in an older home.

Even peeling paint can be dangerous

Lead paint was also used routinely before 1978, which can pose serious health risks, especially to pregnant women and children. You can test for lead paint in your home if you see any of the signs of it being there and, if you find it, you should get in touch with specialist services to remove it for you. 

Every home comes with its own quirks and risks. However, if your home does pose any potential risk of the issues above, you shouldn’t simply sit on it. The sooner that you move to address the issue, the better your chance of not experiencing some of the worse health outcomes related to them.

If you are about to have a child, or you already have children, you are probably keen for them to ensure that they have the best possible start in life. While there are many factors to this that you won’t have any control over, there are also a lot that you do, and actually you should be able to help your child to have a great start in life quite easily. Here are some of the things that you should bear in mind when it comes to trying to achieve that.

If there is a quality that will ensure your child has a really good shot at making the most of life, it’s confidence. Being confident will get someone very far indeed, so anything you can do to instill your child with as much confidence as possible is definitely going to be a really good idea. Mostly, this is achieved just by telling them that you believe in them, and encouraging them to believe in themselves – by making sure that they are trying their hand at activities which seem difficult, for instance, and celebrating the things they are good at too.

Get Treatment For Conditions

Often, children will be born with conditions or disorders that can affect their quality of life to some degree or other. You never know whether this will happen to your child, but if it does, you can ensure that they are getting the necessary treatment for the condition, whatever it may be. Let’s say they have a common disorder like cerebral palsy – it’s definitely worth knowing how to treat that, and looking at a treatment overview should help you figure that out as best as you would hope. That will ensure that they can still live a long and happy life.

Focus On Education

Education is arguably the most important thing of all when it comes to making sure that your children have a good start in life. As long as their education is good, they are going to have a much better chance of success in every sense of the word. That doesn’t necessarily mean paying for their education – this doesn’t ensure a better quality of education anyway – it’s more about encouraging them to learn and to get excited about what they are learning. If you can do that, it’s going to really help a lot and they will have a much better chance at life.

Let Them Know You Love Them

Ultimately, love is what carries people through, and if you can let your children know that you love them, then that is something that will make an enormous difference to their lives in so many ways. Being able to know for sure that they had a loving childhood and family will mean that they are much more naturally able to achieve whatever they want to. So that is something that you should definitely make sure you are doing in their childhood, as much as you possibly can.