Dry skin looks dull and life less due to lack of moisture. Well hydrated skin glows and exhibits a healthy look. Wrinkles develop at an early age due to prolonged dryness of skin. Dry, rough and wrinkled skin gives an aged appearance. Dry and cracked skin harbor microbes and cause fungal infections. Excess drying of skin leads to dry eczema.

Hence a proper care should be taken to increase the moisture level of skin and prevent drying. Soft, smooth and wrinkle free skin gives young and healthy look.

Causes of Dry Skin

Our skin is soft and smooth because of oil glands found under our skin. The skin becomes dry when these glands fail to supply sufficient lubrication to keep the skin soft and smooth.

1. The cold and dry weather of winter takes its own toll on the skin. The cold, dry weather of winter brings about drying of skin making it scaly. Lack of sufficient humidity out doors also leads to dry skin. Indoor heating further removes the traces of moisture and aggravates dryness of skin. Thus in winter the skin becomes extremely dry.
2. Dry skin condition may occur due to genetic factors.
3. Dry skin condition may arise from nutritional deficiencies due to poor diet.
4. Unhealthy practices like exposure to extreme weather conditions, bathing for long time in very hot water, using harsh soaps, swimming in chlorinated water, chemicals and harsh cosmetics.
5. The skin loses its capacity to retain moisture, as we grow old. The extreme climatic conditions to which we get exposed, as we grow old worsen the condition and skin becomes more dry.
6. Few underlying diseases like hypothyroidism, diabetes, eczema, psoriasis or seborrhea may also lead to dry skin.
7. Dry skin may arise as an effect of medications like diuretics, antihistamines and anti spasmodics.

What Ayurveda says about Dry Skin?

According to texts of Ayurveda dry skin is caused by vata dosha. When vata dosha increases in body it reduces kapha and makes skin dry and wrinkled. (Kapha keeps skin soft and smooth where as vata makes the skin dry and rough. Vata dosha's qualities are opposite to kapha dosha qualities). 

The causes which increase vata dosha in body

• Exposure to cold and dry climate
• Controlling natural urges like urination, defecation, hunger, thirst, etc.
• Staying awake at unearthly hours (late night). Irregular food habits.
• Excess physical and mental exertion.
• Consumption of spicy, dry, bitter food.

Here are the natural tips to take care of dry skin

• Do not use hot water to cleanse dry skin.
• Use a soft cotton cloth and pat dry your skin. Do not rub the skin with harsh, rough textured towels.
• Instead of washing with water use a clean sprayer to moisten your skin. Use mineral water instead of tap water for spray.
• Lightly pat dry the skin.
• Avoid using harsh soaps and face washes as they remove natural oil that protects your skin.
• Pamper your skin by massaging with moisturizer. Moisturizer increases the moisture of upper layer of skin and makes it soft and smooth.
• Regularly massage your body with herbal oil. Herbal oil softens and sooth the dry skin and help to trap the moisture between skin pores.
• Apply a thin layer of coconut oil before finishing the bath and pat dry the skin
  Avoid alcohol-based cleansers.
• Consume a balanced diet which includes foods from all groups like vegetables, fruits, carbohydrates, cereals, milk and milk products.
• Include yellow and orange vegetables like carrot which have rich anti oxidants.
  Avoid junk food like chips, deep fried food etc

Ayurveda Tips for dry skin condition.

• Keep yourself warm in dry cold climates.
• Massage whole body with body massage oil which is infused with vata balancing herbs.
• Do not sit near fire place.
• Avoid stale, over fried, dry food.
• Always consume fresh warm food with little fat like ghee or olive oil.
• Include sour and salty food in diet.
• Sweet juicy fruits are recommended.
• Drink 7-9 glasses of warm water everyday. (Do not drink cold water as it increases vata)

Home Remedies for dry skin

• Mix egg yolk, rose water lime juice, olive oil and orange juice (1 tea spoon each) thoroughly. Apply a smooth mixture of this ingredient on your face in morning and wash it off after 20 minutes
• A face mask of honey, egg, olive oil and rose water works very well for dry skin.
• Liberally apply gentle herbal moisturizer all over your body.
• Massage your body with herbal oil infused with vata balancing herbs, twice in a week.
• Increase the moisture level of skin by applying natural herbal gel which is rich in aloevera and essential oils.
• Consume herbal tea which contains vata balancing herbs regularly.  

Disclaimer: 
Information provided in this article is for the sole purpose of imparting education on Ayurveda and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, please consult your physician.