Dry skin is chiefly the result of the inadequate production of oil by the sebaceous glands that lie beneath the epidermis. The deficiency of vitamins A, B and E may be the reason behind this condition. The lack of humidity in the atmosphere in arid climates and during the dry, cold winter season also causes the skin to become dry and cracked.
Cures for Dry Skin
There are several simple remedies that you may follow at home to solve this problem. Avoid bathing with very hot water, as this robs the skin of its natural moisture and oil content and makes it dry. Add a few drops of lavender oil or oat extract to your bathwater in order to prevent excessive dryness of the skin. Pat your skin dry with a soft cotton towel after bathing, and then massage your body with vitamin E oil or aloe vera extract. This is an effective natural way of trapping the oil and moisture that the skin contains. You may grind 4-5 raw peanuts with some fresh milk, add a teaspoon of honey to this paste and apply the mixture on your skin. Leave it for 15-20 minutes before rinsing it off with cold water. This will leave your skin feeling smooth and supple. You may also add a few drops of lemon juice to the pulp of a ripe avocado and smear this paste all over your skin. Wash it off with water after it dries out.
Similarly, mash a ripe banana and massage your skin with it and wash it away after 15 minutes. This helps nourish the skin and heals fine cracks on its surface. In order to cleanse the dead skin cells that accumulate in the fissures on the surface of dry skin, you should soak your skin in mildly warm water for 15 minutes every day. Follow this up with a gentle massage using some glycerin or coconut oil.If the cracks on the skin are deep and painful, you should massage the affected areas with a little castor or avocado oil. These oils act as natural lubricants that soothe the skin and speed up the natural healing process of the skin. A full body massage with olive oil every night before going to bed is also recommended. For another remedy, mix a teaspoon each of olive oil and orange juice with the yolk of an egg and a few drops of lime juice and rose water and apply this mixture over your skin 15 minutes before taking a shower.