Dry skin is a huge inconvenience, no matter the causes behind it and regardless of the extent of the affliction. While this ailment rears its heads in different areas of an individual’s bodies, can be affected by environmental factors, and may respond differently to alternate treatments, it’s undoubtedly something that everyone wants to get rid of – and fast! – when it becomes an issue.

Keep reading to learn about why dry skin occurs, what can trigger it, how to treat it, and how to deal with the other ailments that are known to accompany it.

Why Does Dry Skin Occur?

Before we get into the factors that cause dry skin, let’s talk about the science behind it. Our skin is a water-containing barrier that protects us from the elements, although the amount of moisture held in each individual’s skin varies. This can be different from person-to-person depending on gender, age, and even by body part.

As you probably know, our skin is porous, which allows moisture to exit the skin through evaporation. Conditions or actions that accelerate this water loss process, which we’ll delve into below, results in dry, flaky, itchy, and even unsightly skin.

Dry skin can be caused by a range of factors. Some of them are environmental and hard to avoid, while other causes can be easily mitigated.

Cold weather

Have you ever noticed that winter is almost always accompanied by dry and itchy skin? It’s not a coincidence! Because the humidity level tends to drop during the cold winter months, it hastens the speed of evaporation of the moisture in your skin. Skin loses over 25% of its ability to hold moisture in the winter, and this number only increases if you live in a particularly windy area or if you enjoy winter outdoor sports.

Indoor heating

Indoor heating is another issue that comes up in the winter that contributes to dry skin. Being exposed to indoor heating dries out your skin as well as your mucous membranes, which leads to chapped lips and dry noses, too.

Dehydration

While the past two contributing factors to this condition are environmental, this is something you can more easily control! Even if you don’t feel thirsty, your skin is losing water. Since our bodies are 70 percent water, we need adequate hydration to feel good and for our skin to stay hydrated, supple, and healthy.

Long showers or baths

This dry skin culprit may seem counter-intuitive, as taking a long soak in the bath would be thought to add moisture to skin, right? Unfortunately, this does just the opposite. Hot water and soaking strips your skin of protective oils, leaving you feeling scaly and dry.

Treating dry skin conditions

Dry skin can occur with different levels of severity. While some may simply acquire dry skin patches that can be easily resolved, others may have a condition that evolves into eczema in its various forms. In this section of our comprehensive guide, we’re talking about treating dry skin conditions at every level!

Treating Mild to Moderate Dry Skin

If you’re facing dry skin, it’ll be obvious. Your largest working organ will appear to be rough and scaly–typically in patches–and these areas will be itchy and flaky. While this ailment is totally annoying, it can be treated relatively easily at home with a bit of effort and diligence!

The most obvious, and perhaps the easiest, way to ward off dry skin is to moisturize regularly, particularly when your skin is still damp from a shower. This is because your skin will be plump with moisture, and lotion will act to lock in that moisture before it evaporates.

One remedy is to practice a so-called “overnight cure”. Soak in a bath of lukewarm water until your fingers are pruny. Pat until you’re semi-dry when you emerge from the bath and  apply a layer of oil – even one as simple as something found in your pantry, like Crisco shortening. Put on an old pair of pajamas (and ensure you have old sheets on your bed) and go to sleep, letting your skin drink in the moisture of the oil and wake up feel soft all over!

Another remedy for mild to moderate dry skin is to use supplements. Fish and flaxseed oils contain essential fatty acids (EFAs), which are known to keep your skin hydrated. Supplement your diet with fish and flaxseed oil, especially in the winter months that exasperate dry skin, to ward off this irritation.

Eczema: Symptoms and Treatments

As mentioned, more severe forms of dry skin manifest themselves in conditions like eczema. But what are the differentiating symptoms of this condition and how is this ailment treated? Find out below.

Eczema is a common condition as over 30 million Americans struggle with it, according to the National Eczema Association. Eczema symptoms differ from one person to the next, but typically this condition is very itchy, sometimes the irritation results in red and inflamed skin or even bleeding. Dark colored patches of skin, rough, leathery scaly patches of skins, swelling, and oozing or crusting are all eczema symptoms. However, remember that all of these symptoms don’t need to be present for dry skin to be classified as eczema. In fact, eczema symptoms tend to come and go and cause those afflicted with the condition to experience “flare ups” depending on environment and other triggers.

Eczema is not curable, but it can be managed with regular treatment. While more severe cases may require medications prescribed by a doctor, over-the-counter medicines may be helpful for other cases. Alternatively, the best ways to keep eczema at bay are to know what may trigger your eczema specifically and avoid those triggers and implementing a regular bathing and moisturizing routine.

Dry Skin Irritants

Regardless of the severity of dry skin that you experience, this ailment may be accompanied by a range of irritants that exasperate it. To complete this guide, we’re delving into those below so you know how to cure or avoid these tricky situations as you navigate the waters of dry skin.

Razor Burn

Razor burn is irritating no matter what the overall condition of your skin may be, but it’s especially hard to deal with when your skin is already dry, flaky, and itchy. This is because razor burn makes skin even more irritated and itchy. For that reason, you’ll want to avoid this annoyance at all costs, even more so when your skin is dry.

To do so, always save shaving for the last step of your shower, as it ensures that your hair follicles are softened. Also, exfoliate your skin thoroughly before you shave to allow for a closer shave without being too harsh on your skin. Moisturize with an over-the-counter product shaved skin right when you get out of the shower to cut down on the chances of razor burn.

Acne

Acne is another skin irritant that is tough to deal with on top of already dry skin. Having the two ailments together can be dumbfounding, as excess oil is what’s said to cause acne, yet dry skin feels completely devoid of all moisture, including oil. So what gives? Excessively dry skin may cause your skin to over-produce oil to compensate for what it’s missing, thus clogging pores and leading to pesky and unsightly breakouts.

Since these ailments can coexist, you have to find a balance between treating dry and delicate skin and treating breakouts. First, find products with the right ingredients. Moisturizers with help control blackheads while zinc keeps your skin balanced and works against the possibility of an over-production of oil.

Understanding dry skin, its treatments, and the different levels of severity that accompany the ailment is the first step to ridding yourself of it for good. Remember that practicing normal moisturizing routines and avoiding environmental factors that contribute to these conditions is key. Allow this guide to be a helpful reference in your journey to soft, touchable, and comfortable skin all year round!

Spring is the season when outdoor fun in the sun returns with a happy vengeance. Heavy coats are swapped out for lightweight jackets, short sleeves, and, as the temps rise, swimsuits! Unfortunately, a long winter of bikini-line neglect might have many women reaching for the razor to remove unsightly hairs that threaten to break free of baring swimwear bottoms.

If it’s been a few months since you groomed your bikini line, the razor might cause major burn and lots of bumps. While a dull razor can cause razor burn and leaves the skin red and sore (or burning, thus the term), the bikini bumps you see after shaving are hairs trapped underneath the skin—or, ingrown hairs.

The Causes of Bikini Bumps: Poor Shaving Technique

Proper shaving techniques to ensure that ingrown hairs don’t grow out of control. Always use a fresh razor blade. A dull razor won’t remove the hair efficiently, and the dull blade also puts you at risk for nicks and other types of irritation.

Never, ever dry shave—this means shaving without a lubricant like soap, gel or oil. Shaving with water is still considered ‘dry shaving,’ as water is not a suitable lubricant to protect delicate skin. Instead, use a moisturizing shave gel to keep skin smooth during hair removal.

How you shave also affects your risk for ingrown hairs. Take your time to precisely shave each area; quick shaves aren’t effective and may increase the chances for cuts, irritation and ingrown hairs!

Post-Shave Routine Tips

There’s a reason why most men use aftershave products after they finish shaving. Lotions and toners may help prevent or soothe irritation and bumps from ingrown hairs. The fragile bikini line area should be treated with an aftershave product to protect the skin and prevent irritation—always check that the product you choose is safe for the bikini area.

If you find that other areas of the body—like the underarm area—also have been prone to bumps, make sure to treat these areas, too!

Waxing Your Bikini Line

Waxing removes the hair by the root, and it is a more long-term solution for women who wish to avoid daily maintenance. Like all hair removal processes, however, even waxing can cause ingrown hairs. Any time you remove or cut off a hair without proper technique, you risk the chance of it growing back improperly. After waxing, the area also may be sensitive and sore. You can use the same strategy as you would for shaving. An over-the-counter product can help prevent redness, irritation and help heal any ingrown hairs.

Depilatory Creams and Ingrown Hairs

Depilatory creams work by dissolving the hair, and these creams also seem like a magical solution to curb those unsightly bumps. If you don’t shave or wax, then there seems to be less risk for ingrown hairs.

Unfortunately, even dissolving the hair with creams can cause ingrown hairs. Depilatory creams also can cause redness and irritation just like other hair removal solutions. Some users of the creams have had more adverse reactions. Always make sure the cream you choose is safe to use on the bikini line—many brands offer formulas that are specifically for the bikini area.

Regardless of your hair removal process, take your time, prep the skin and always treat the area after shaving or waxing to help heal and nurture the skin. Hopefully, with the right techniques and skin care, those red bumps won’t threaten to ruin your summer fun in the sun.

When you wake up in the morning, lather your neck with shaving cream, and start shaving before hastily heading into work, you could wind up with razor bumps on your neck. That’s especially true if your technique is wrong, or if your tools — razor blade and shaving cream — are not up for the challenge.

Known clinically as pseudofolliculitis barbae, razor bumps are small irritations that can form on your skin after shaving. How do they occur? During the shaving process, hairs on your neck can curl downwards and grow back into your skin. This leads to a panic where you’ll want to get rid of these unsightly razor bumps.

Razor bumps can also cause pimples to form. In addition to being itchy, they can cause scarring, so it’s best to avoid razor bumps if possible. One way to do that is by always using a sharp blade, and good shaving cream. One ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

This article will guide you through the prevention process, with several simple tips to stop you from getting razor bumps on your neck.

Hot Towel

One of the first things you should try in order to get rid of razor bumps on your neck is a hot towel compress. Running hot water over a clean towel, squeezing out much of the water, and then applying the towel to your neck will not only have a soothing effect, but also open up your pores to free any ingrown hairs that had pierced the skin on your neck. Using this tip can help you get relief.

Aloe Vera

If you do happen to have an aloe vera plant at home, then all you’ll need to do is snip off a leaf. You can also get it at health shops and even some general retail outlets should you not have any on hand. It will sooth your irritated skin and provide an enticing cooling effect. Aloe vera will also relieve you of scratchiness and cut down on any redness that forms. Get crafty by cutting up the aloe into manageable pieces, adding them to a blender with water, and then applying the mixture to the razor bumps on your neck.

White Tea

Do you have white teabags in your cupboard? If not, you can easily find some at your neighborhood supermarket. And, yes, white tea bags can help you get rid of razor bumps on the neck. One of the components of tea is something called tannic acid, which can lessen inflammation. All you’ll need to do is dip the white tea bag into water, and apply it to the razor bumps on your neck for relief from redness and swelling.

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice isn’t just for lemonade. It can also be useful for treating razor bumps. Since this fruit is acidic, it can help prevent bacteria from invading ingrown hair follicles. All you’ll need to do is put some lemon juice on the area affected by the razor bumps. As a result, you’ll notice the redness calming while the affected area is relieved from a potential infection.

Baby Powder

Baby powder is useful if you’re feeling sore from razor bumps. What you’ll need to do is rub some baby powder into the impacted region, massaging it thoroughly. The result will be relief from irritation, and reduced inflammation.

Lotion Products

If you’re vigilant, you can find skin care solutions that will provide relief and promote healing if you get razor bumps on your neck. Some products, for instance, can reduce razor bumps, ingrown hairs, and redness caused by shaving, waxing, and electrolysis. It’s always a good idea to have these products for before and after care.

If your razor bumps appear to be chronic, you should seek out medical attention. But if you get them only now and again, then these simple tips will come in handy. These remedies can have a major positive impact for someone looking to get rid of razor bumps on the neck. While the right technique (and the right tools) will reduce your odds of experiencing this irritation, keep these tips in mind if you’re experiencing razor bumps on the neck.

While men tend to shave more often than women do, many women spend a lot of time shaving or waxing. One source says that women on average spend 72 days over their lives shaving their legs, shaving an average of 12 times a month .

Unfortunately, razor burn is one of the problems that can occur when women shave their legs. Razor burn on legs is a skin condition that can manifest itself with symptoms such as redness, bumps, and discomfort. What follows is a look, firstly, at 5 tips to prevent razor burn on legs and, secondly, what women can do if they end up on the receiving end of razor burn.

1. Soften Up Follicles

When women shave their legs, they sometimes opt to do so in the shower or bathtub. This is a good idea, but it’s important that they not shave too soon after getting into the shower or tub. Waiting for at least 15 minutes prior to starting to shave is a good idea because this will afford enough time for the hair to soften and for the follicles to open up. This will facilitate a smooth shave and reduce the chances of getting razor burn on legs.

2. Lubricate Skin

Whether shaving their face, legs, or armpits, women need to lubricate their skin — and, no, bar soap doesn’t count — prior to shaving. This is particularly true for women who don’t shave while in the shower. Using something like shaving cream will allow the razor to move more freely over the legs, and this will safeguard against cuts and nicks. Something like bar soap won’t offer enough lubrication to make much of a difference when shaving.

3. Avoid Single-Blade Disposables

While it might be okay to use razors of the disposable single-blade variety once in a while, it’s best not to make a habit of it. Multi-blade razors provide the best results since they make it easier for women to navigate the surface of their legs. While using single-blade disposables regularly will save money, it won’t make for a better overall shave. That’s why it’s best to use quality razors that have four or five blades.

4. Change Blades Regularly

Using the same blade for too long is a recipe for disaster for women who want to avoid razor burn on legs problems. Once any dullness is detected in the blade, it’s best to swap the old for the new. Old blades won’t cut properly and could ultimately lead to razor burn. For the problems they can eliminate, new blades are worth the cost, so it’s best to buy them in bulk if possible.

5. Try Shaving Your Legs At Night

While this suggestion might seem more like folklore, there is actually some science behind it . When people sleep, their legs swell a little bit, which can facilitate the process whereby hairs you may have missed go back into their follicles. This is why shaving at night, rather than early in the morning, can lead to smoother legs post-shave.

How to Treat Razor Burn on Legs

Razor burn can be an annoying, uncomfortable, and unsightly problem. But there are quite a few remedies that can bring relief. For instance, a cool compress can be applied to razor burn on legs to deal with inflammation and itching. As well, astringent liquids, like apple cider vinegar and witch hazel extract, can be applied to lessen redness and inflammation. Among other possible remedies are skin care solutions that can eliminate unsightly razor burn symptoms, such as bumps, that can result after shaving, waxing, and electrolysis.

Razor burn is definitely an unfortunate possibility for women who shave their legs, but it can potentially be avoided. And if despite their best efforts women get the skin condition, the good news is that it’s easily treatable. There are plenty of options for treatments to choose from. Start with the ones listed above to resolve razor burn on legs problems..

A recent survey revealed that nearly a third of millennial women feel as though that having a clean, close shave makes them feel more beautiful and optimistic about handling the day ahead. That’s why women spend an average of $10,000 over their lifetime on shaving,  on average more than 7,718 times–all in the name of beautiful, silky legs.

Today, we’re exploring the best practices of shaving and waxing to educate you on how to best remove leg hair to achieve those smooth and soft legs that everyone loves to show off in summer sundresses and shorts!

What causes ingrown hairs on legs?

Ingrown hairs occur when a hair grows back into your skin after you’ve practiced hair removal via waxing or shaving. Especially if you have curly or coarse hair, ingrown leg hairs are not unusual.

Ingrown leg hairs aren’t cause for major concern, however, they do prompt inflammation and irritation. Not only are ingrown hairs unpleasant to deal with, but they can also be unsightly.  With summer nearly here, no one wants to feel self conscious about ingrown leg hairs, exposed by the shorts, dresses,and bathing suits frequently worn in these warm months.

Best Practices for Shaving Your Legs

Preventing ingrown hairs is possible, especially when shaving your legs! To prevent ingrown hairs, exfoliate your legs well before shaving in the shower or bath. This will unclog pores and remove dirt and dead skin. Regular exfoliation also helps ingrown hairs to grow correctly out of the hair follicle rather than curling back into the skin.

Another way to reduce the chances of ingrown hairs is to use a shaving gel or cream on your skin. This helps your razor’s blade to easily glide along the skin, reducing irritation that leads to inflammation and hair follicle blockages.

Finally, use the right razor to shave your legs to ensure the chances of ingrown hairs are minimized. A multi-blade razor works best, and always ensure that your shaving tool is both clean and sharp for best results. Most razors are good for five to six uses. If you find yourself having to apply added pressure to your razor while shaving, that’s a  sign that it’s time to toss it and replace with a new one.

Best Practices for Waxing Your Legs

Another popular method of removing leg hair is to wax, which actually removes hair from the root. Waxing is oftentimes preferred to shaving due to the fact that it encourages hair to grow back more slowly than shaving and finer. However, waxing can certainly lead to unpleasant ingrown hairs, too.

To prevent this pesky issue while waxing, you should—again—exfoliate beforehand. This buffs away any dead skin cells and unclogs pores, which could be the start of ingrown hairs when you actually wax.

Both before and after waxing, be sure to moisturize your legs. Keep your skin hydrated as dry skin causes the hair to break at the surface rather than being removed from the follicle as it’s intended to be, which can lead to hair growing back into the skin.

Finally, use the right wax to encourage smooth skin afterwards. Waxes that are all-natural and made for sensitive skin and applied at body temperature cuts down on irritation.

If you have fallen victim to ingrown hairs on your legs from either method of hair removal, treat them with a over the counter product designed to help the issue or with a natural disinfectant. Substances like tea tree oil or lavender essential oil should be applied directly on the affected areas to begin the healing process.

Follow these steps and you’ll be on your way to blissfully soft and smooth legs that you’ll love showing off all summer long! Ingrown hairs are painful, irritating, and even embarrassing, but there’s no reason to suffer through them if you take the appropriate measures while shaving and waxing.