Dry skin is a common complaint by men and women alike and its incidence and severity increase with age. This condition is the result of an impaired barrier function, increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and a significantly lower level of ceramides in the horny layer that causes the skin to lose an excessive amount of water. This inability to retain moisture causes the skin to look dull and flaky, feel rough and lose elasticity. Dry skin can be due to genetic and metabolic factors, poor diet and certain conditions such as dermatitis, eczema or seborrhoea; however, in many cases, this type of skin is the result of chronic irritation by environmental and lifestyle factors.1 The conventional treatment of dry skin is to apply moisturizer or skin cream. These products work primarily by blocking the surface of the skin to increase the water content in the stratum corneum (SC), thus producing a state of hydration and imparting a temporary barrier to damaged SC.
Systemic Evening Primrose Oil for Irritated Skin Care
Jan 2nd, 2014
