Dry skin can be uncomfortable, irritating, and sometimes even painful. If you’ve noticed that your skin becomes particularly dry when you’re indoors at your home in the Greenwood area, it may be caused by a number of environmental and lifestyle factors. While many people associate dry skin with cold weather, there are many indoor conditions such as low humidity and indoor air quality that can make your skin feel dry and scratchy. We’ll examine these causes and what you can do to help maintain healthier, more hydrated skin.
Low indoor humidity
When the air inside your home lacks adequate moisture, it tries to find it anywhere it can. Your skin, for example. The more time you spend in dry environments, the more you’ll notice your skin feels dry. That’s because the dry air has been “stealing” the moisture from your skin. Using a humidifier during the cooler months is a great solution. The best approach for most Greenwood homes is a whole-house humidifier that works in cooperation with your heating system.
Heat sources
We love it when the furnace kicks on and we can feel the warm air flowing out of the vents. But that warm airflow is grabbing moisture from your skin. Radiators and space heaters make rooms and the people inside them feel drier, too. As noted earlier, a whole-house humidifier can make your home even more comfortable.
Indoor air quality issues
Dust, allergens, and pollutants in indoor air can irritate the skin. That’s especially true for individuals with sensitive skin or conditions like eczema. Common household irritants like pet dander, cleaning products, and cigarette smoke can make dryness and irritation worse … and poor ventilation can trap those irritants. Using air purifiers with HEPA filters will remove airborne irritants and improve air quality.
Long steamy bathing
A hot bath or shower can be so relaxing. Unfortunately, it can remove many of the skin’s natural protections, leaving it feeling dry and more easily irritated. Keep showers and baths short—ideally under 10 minutes—and turn the temperature way down. Pat your skin dry with a towel and immediately apply a moisturizer to seal in hydration.
Hard water
What do folks mean when they say the water in our part of Indiana is hard? That’s a way of describing water that contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. They can leave thin residues on your skin that can lead to dryness and irritation. A water softener may make a noticeable improvement in both your water quality and your skin tone.
Not enough
You may not assume what you drink has much to do with your skin, but choices you make with food and drink can affect your skin’s ability to stay properly hydrated instead of dry. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your skin hydrated from within.
Another birthday?
We hate to be the one to tell you, but the older we get, the drier our skin becomes. For many women, menopause and other hormonal changes can aggravate that dryness. Having a regular skin care routine can help to reduce complaints of dryness.
Choose the right expert
If you’re looking for a way to soothe your dry skin right away, we suggest talking to your dermatologist. But if you’re more interested in finding ways to make your home’s indoor air more comfortable and easier to breathe, you’ll probably want to talk to the experts at Johnson Comfort. They’ll be happy to answer your questions and explain how Johnson Comfort can help you obtain affordable financing. Why not reach out to us today? Give our team a call at (317) 881-7738
