Did you know dry skin can make you look older?

Moisturizing has become one of the main tenets of skin care. But why is it so important?

Moisturizing helps bind the water deep within our skin, to keep it looking plump and hydrated on the outside. But more importantly, keeping our skin hydrated helps the skin’s natural protection barrier function at its peak. When the skin barrier is functioning well, it protects the deeper layers of our skin from external aggressors like pollution, chemicals and other environmental factors.

Moisturized skin is better at keeping out external aggressors.

Dry, dehydrated skin is a common problem that affects many. For some, it may be a chronic condition that highlights a more serious skin concern. When your skin is dry and dehydrated, it starts to itch and peel. And if your dry skin is also accompanied by the appearance of fine lines, and deep cracks that bleed, you might need to seek the help of a dermatologist.

Dry skin can become itchy, flaky and in severe cases, fine lines and cracks appear.

But for most people, dry skin may be a temporary condition due to harsh weather or hormonal changes. It only becomes a more glaring problem as we age because of the lower production rate of oil and lipids in the skin. This can result in the breakdown of the support structure inside the skin, causing the signs of aging to appear, such as fine lines, wrinkles and dry patches.

Skin dryness can be caused by a chronic skin condition, weather, hormonal changes or aging.

In fact, dry skin can cause the signs of aging to appear prematurely. Keeping skin hydrated from the inside can slow down the signs of aging on the outside. Read more for cleansing solutions that are tailored to every skin type or learn about other factors that can cause premature aging.