Desi Nuskhe: Home Remedies For Dry Skin That Are Simple & Effective

The problem of dry skin is encountered by every one of us at least at some point in time. Our skin produces a natural oil called sebum, which keeps the moisture locked in the skin. For your skin to look soft and young, it needs to breathe, feel hydrated and requires dry skin care. Quick home remedies for dry skin can be life-savers in this condition. 

Dry or flaky skin usually occurs when the topmost layer of the skin, the epidermis, does not retain adequate moisture. Without a daily routine for dry skin care, your skin stops feeling supple and appears lifeless and dull. 

People belonging to all age groups suffer from the issue of dry skin. There is no specific cause that makes the skin turn dry, it could be genetic or lifestyle-related. How to get rid of dry skin is a question that becomes challenging to address with growing age. This is a result of the age-related decline in a protein called collagen, which is responsible for keeping your skin elastic. In some cases, cold temperature worsens the issue of dry skin. Also, excessive skin cleaning aggravates it further by stripping your skin from its natural moisture.

Dry skin is also known as Xerosis. The word comes from the Greek root word ‘Xero’ meaning dry and ‘osis’ meaning a disease. What might actually look like minor trouble in your daily life, if untreated, can turn into a pressing concern. It might initially start as just mildly dry skin. But, continued negligence can turn it into a chronic medical condition. Since dry skin is itchy, repeatedly scratching your skin disrupts the natural skin’s barrier, requiring immediate dry skin treatment. It leaves you more vulnerable to allergens or irritants that could cause inflammation and reddening of the skin. As dry skin is prone to breakouts, you are at a higher risk of developing skin problems like Eczema or Psoriasis. Many times, your dry skin signals an underlying medical issue such as diabetes and dermatitis. 

Dry Skin Care Tips For Your Skin

Wondering how to get rid of dry skin? The answer is fairly simple. Timely action and regular  care to moisturise and hydrate the skin acts as an effective dry skin treatment. As skin dryness results from a variety of factors, opting for over-the-counter products or expensive creams, aiming to fix your dry skin woes, might not always be helpful.    

Remedies for dry skin can often be found in places you seldom look at. To combat the worrying issue of dry skin, nothing works better than home remedies for dry skin. Natural oils used in home remedies tend to be pure and thus, free from artificial chemicals, making them a better choice for you. From coconut oil to petroleum jelly or something as small as adjusting your shower temperature, can prevent your skin from turning flaky and itchy. Most of your skin troubles can be cured with simple home remedies for dry skin using common ingredients from the kitchen. The path to flawless, supple, and youthful skin is just a simple home remedy away.

Home Remedies For Dry Skin On Face

1. DIY Avocado Mask 

You must be wondering, how to treat dry skin on face? Since our face is exposed to all kinds of harshness, it is important to be regular and gentle in treating the dry skin on your face. Avocado, which is increasingly being used as a tasty snack across the world, also acts as a dry skin remedy. With its multiple nourishing benefits, it revives the skin to make it glowing. Even, ghee for skin works magic when it comes to moisturising your dull skin.

Application Process

1. Puree ½ an Avocado.
2. Mix it with 1 teaspoon of olive oil.
3. Add 1 tablespoon of honey.
4. Mix it well and apply the mask on your face.
5. Keep it for 15-20 minutes.

2. Sugar And Olive Oil Scrub

Scrubs play an important role in exfoliating your skin by removing dead skin cells. Your kitchen has several products; one of them being sugar, which can be used as a scrub.

Application Process

1. Mix ½ a cup of sugar with 2 tablespoons olive oil.
2. Add an essential oil like lavender to add natural fragrance.
3. Gently rub your face with the scrub and wash it off.
4. Do not forget to use a mild moisturiser to seal the benefits of a freshly exfoliated face.

3. Oatmeal Honey Mask

Oatmeal is known for its goodness and so is honey. The mix of these two godly elements is one of the most promising home remedies for dry skin. 

Application Process

1. Mix 2 tablespoons of oatmeal with 1 tablespoon of honey and a dash of water. 
2. Warm the mixture and rub it on your skin. 
3. You can exfoliate and wash it off right away or keep it for 15-20 minutes as a soothing mask.

How To Treat The Dry Skin On Your Legs

1. Dry Brushing With Regular Oiling

While dry brushing might sound harsh on a dry winter morning, it indeed is effective when it comes to removing dead skin cells from your legs. When combined with the good old coconut oil, it does wonders for your skin.

Application Process 

1. Dry brush before showering.
2. Take a lukewarm water bath.
3. Moisturise your skin with coconut oil.
4. Let the moisture soak in overnight.

2. Salicylic Acid With Aloe Vera Gel

Salicylic acid in body oil peels away scaly dead skin cells, while aloe vera gel acts as a healing balm to soothe irritated skin. One of the benefits of the gel is its easy accessibility and worldwide availability. Aloe vera plant can also be grown at home for you to reap its hydrating benefits. 

Application Process

1. Apply any oil containing salicylic acid all over the legs.
2. Massage for 5 minutes.
3. Rinse it with warm water.
4. Apply aloe vera gel all over the legs for the cooling effect. 

3. Exfoliating Scrub For Silky Smooth Leg

Scrubbing is an age-old way of removing dead skin cells, allowing the new skin cells beneath to thrive and breathe. Your kitchen has several products which can easily be converted into a hassle-free scrub for dry skin care.

Application Process 

1. Take 1 and ¼th cup of sugar.
2. You will also need ½ cup of olive oil or coconut oil.
3. Use 3 tablespoons of lemon juice.
4. Mix the ingredients and put them in a jar for storage.
5. Apply all over the legs.
6. Rinse off with lukewarm water and moisturise. 

Home Remedies For Dry Skin On Hands

1. Wearing Gloves 

For most homemakers, washing clothes, utensils and vegetables is a part of their daily household work. It is one of the major causes of dry skin on hands. Just wearing gloves can make a significant difference to the dryness on your hands. It is also important to use hand cream after doing any water-related household chores, to moisturise your hands. 

2. Jelly And Sugar Home Remedy 

Since hands are prone to the harshness of the weather the most, it is vital to take daily care of them. For all of you who are tired of having chapped hands, this is one of the best dry skin remedies for hands that will do the job just fine. 

Application Process

1. Take ½ spoon of petroleum jelly. 
2. Sprinkle ½ a spoon of granulated sugar.
3. Mix the sugar and jelly to make it into a paste.
4. Rub this mixture over both the hands.
5. Wash hands with warm water and liquid soap.

3. Yoghurt Mask 

Yoghurt works as a good alternative to those high-end creams. Coating your hands with full-fat yoghurt gently removes the dead skin cells due to the presence of lactic acid, while the creamy fat helps restore the moisture in the skin.

Application Process 

1. Take 1 cup of high-fat yoghurt.
2. Take 2 tablespoons of honey.
3. Take ½ lemon.
4. Mix it all together to form a silky smooth paste.
5. Leave the mask on for 10 minutes.
6. Rinse it off with lukewarm water and let it dry.

These simple dry skin tips answer your query of how to get rid of dry skin in a few quick, easy steps using only household ingredients. Routine follow-up of the above-mentioned remedies starts showing the results from the first application itself.

Apart from these dry skin remedies, there are a few quick-fixes you should practice as daily rituals:

• Apply coconut oil before sleeping and keep it overnight
• Avoid using products containing chemicals that can cause skin irritation
• Always moisturise your skin and wear sunscreen before going out in the sun
• Take showers in lukewarm water and use the body as well as face scrubs twice a week
• Last, but not the least, never ever scratch the dry irritable skin