Dependency on Moisturizers Can Make Skin Worse

Unfortunately, once you stop using moisturizer things seem to get worse before they get better. A 2008 study conducted by Izabela Buraczewska of Uppsala University in Sweden, as relayed by ScienceDaily.com, showed that constant use of certain moisturizers can make the skin drier.

The study found that oil treatments, such as those using mineral oil and vegetable oils, resulted in less robust skin that was not as capable of withstanding external stresses. Skin treated with more complex creams did not result in skin dryness and the skin was more resistant to external stresses. Her research also showed that when the skin’s protective barrier is weakened, the genes that produce the skin fats may be affected.

If you’re looking to wean yourself off the moisturizer addiction, don’t go cold turkey. As you decrease your use, increase your awareness of some alternative ways to keep your skin naturally hydrated and moist. For example, if you exfoliate often, consider cutting back. If you live in a dry area, investing in a humidifier may help. The way you shower could also have an impact on skin dryness.

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Save Your Skin in the Shower

Take a look at your shower habits, especially the three T’s: temperature, towels, and topicals. A steamy shower may seem like a great way to hydrate your skin, but Dr. Linda Stein Gold, clinical research director for Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital dermatology department, told WebMD, “It can dry out the natural oils in our skin more quickly.”