5 Dry Skin Remedies

If you deal with dry skin on a regular basis, you might think it's a problem you'll always have to deal with. If that's the case, you're wrong! You may be committing some of the easiest skin care sins to fix.

Dry skin isn't mandatory, no matter the season or the location. There are easy things that you can change in your daily routine that will make a big difference to the health of your skin.

Follow these 5 dry skin remedies and see how quickly your skin makes a turn-around.

1. Watch the Temperature of the Water

If you're anything like me, you love a hot, hot bath. While it may feel relaxing, it's no good for your skin. Hot water will strip the moisture and oils out of your skin, leaving it parched, dry and scaly.

As hard is it may be, use warm water instead of hot water, and limit your bath to 15 minutes at the most. Showers, even less. You shouldn't have to wipe the steam off of the mirror when you step out. You'll notice that your skin is less dry if you play it safe and watch the time and temperature.

And as a side note, that hot water is going to make your hair frizzy and dry. It's best to rinse your hair in cool water.

2. Skip the Bubbles

Who doesn't love a bubble bath? It's something that most of us have grown up with, and many of us carry it on into adulthood. A few cap fulls of bubbles is almost a ritual. But, did you know that many of the bubbles you put in your bath will leave your skin stripped of the oils your skin needs?

Instead of using a bubble bath, find a soothing oatmeal or milk powder that will enhance your bath experience, and leave the oils where they belong. Another product you could try is a bath oil. A cap full of oil will leave your skin even more hydrated than before you hopped in, so you may be able to skip the moisturizer.

3. Skip the Shaving Mistakes

You probably have heard the age-old advice to shave in the direction of your hair growth for safe shaving. And while that's a nice thought, realistically most people shave in the opposite direction of hair growth to get the closest results.

If you want the safest shave, go with your hair growth. If you just can't follow that rule, make sure you follow these shaving tips:

• Use a moisturizing shaving gel or cream. The $1 bottle at the drug store is likely to leave your skin dry and more susceptible to nicks.
• Look for a product that offers moisturizing components such as aloe and essential oils.
• Skip the ones that have alcohol listed in their top few ingredients.

You can always use hair conditioner in a pinch for a close, nick-free shave.

4. Pat Dry, Don't Rub Dry

When you get out of the shower and grab your towel, gently pat the water off of your skin instead of rubbing your skin dry. This will save your skin the misery of "towel abuse" most men (and some women) hibitually inflict on their skin.

By patting dry (or gently rubbing), your skin will be able to retain more of the moisture you're going to seal in with our next step: body moisturizer.

5. Never Ever Skip the Moisturizer

The very most important step to remember is to moisturize every single time you get out of the shower or bath. It is never OK to skip, so find a favorite lotion, butter or oil and keep it in your bathroom.

When you skin has been dried off, it's important to seal in the moisture from the shower, and the quicker you do this after your shower, the better your skin will look and feel. And if you moisturizer of choice is a body oil, it's actually best to apply it to damp skin. Make sure you are careful for drops that might spill, oil will make your tub or floor very slippery.

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Blackhead Remedies

What Is a Blackhead?

Whiteheads and blackheads are very similar with just a very slight difference. They are both called comedones, which are a collection of sebum and skin cells gathered in your hair follicles. They get stuck and plug the hair follicle causing the breakout. The difference in whiteheads and blackheads is simply if the hair follicle is open or closed. When open, the oxygen in the air oxidizes the oils, turning them brown - a blackhead. (Think of how an apple oxidizes when left out.)

Though, contrary to their name, they are not always black. They can be a range of color from yellowish to black. The light reflecting on the hair in your follicle can also make the blackhead appear to be a dark color. A whitehead on the other hand is a closed, or almost closed follicle which prevents the oxygen from oxidizing the oil.

A Blackhead is Not...

Dirt. If you have blackheads, please do not think that it is because you do not clean your face well enough. The cause of blackheads is all below the skin's surface and if you are cleaning your face daily, you are not responsible for your skin's blackheads.

Where are the Most Common Places to Get Blackheads?

Blackheads are most common on your face, specifically on your nose and the sides of your nose. But some people get blackheads in other places, such as on their ears, shoulders and on their back, though whiteheads and blackheads can form anywhere there is a hair follicle.

How Can I Get Rid of Blackheads I Currently Have?

The key to getting rid of your black heads is unplugging the pores and dislodging the buildup. While it might be tempting squeeze it out, it's not something that we recommend. Your fingers have oils and dirt on them which could cause further breakouts. Instead, let's look at product ingredients to look for.

Look for cleansers, exfoliators and acne products that contain salicylic acid, glycolic acid or benzoyl peroxide - or a combination of those. Products that include these ingredients loosen the dead skin cells that can get clogged in your hair follicles. These ingredients can literally help unplug the follicles. These chemical exfoliators are different than the grainy exfoliators. They work evenly and effectively without causing your face any irritation.

You can also carefully use products like Biore strips. (Or make your own pore strips) The key is to be gentle, not use them around the eyes and not use them daily.

After the Blackhead is Removed, Can I Close my Pores to Avoid Another Blackhead?

In short, no. Everyone has pores. Some people have larger pores than others, specifically people with oily skin, but we all have pores and pores do not open and close. You can, however, do your best to keep good care of your skin so they don't become clogged. Here are some tips to keep in mind when it comes to your face.

• Keep your hands off of your face. Whether you rest your head on your hands by habit or your sleep with your hands up to your face, the oils and dirt on your hands don't need to be on your face.
• Check your phone. Take a look at your cellphone and I bet you see oil from your face. Clean your phone daily.
• Lose the lid.If you wear a hat every day, specifically if you have oily skin, chances are good you're seeing blackheads and whiteheads on your forehead. Back off with the time you spend with a hat on your head.

Long-Term Care

As we noted above, using products with chemical exfoliators will help unclog your pores. (See our list of 9 blackhead treatment products.) Used on a regular basis, you will see improvement in your skin. Remember that a Dermatologist is always a good person to visit, especially if your blackhead situation is severe. Dermatologists can prescribe stronger exfoliators than what you can buy over the counter and can provide in-office skin treatments for you, such as facial peels.

Best Vitamins For Your Skin

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Blackhead Remedies

Today, we're talking about blackheads.? When my husband found out that I was writing about blackheads, he said, "Oh, good! Tell me how to get rid of them and how to close my pores so they don't come back."

In our article, we describe what blackheads really are, (and what they're not!) how they form and how you can get rid of them.? We also talk about what you can do to keep them from coming back.? We also talk about pores and answer my husband's question - Can you actually close them?

Blackheads - What are They and How Can I Get Rid of Them?

Image Pierre Bourrier/Getty Images?

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