Things that make skin excessively dry

Before discussing what to do to moisturize effectively, we should first discuss what NOT TO DO if one is to avoid excess dryness.

· Don't wash your face with regular soap or general purpose detergents. Soaps strip your skin of the so-called "acid mantle", an oil-rich protective film that locks moisture inside the skin and prevents bacterial and other infections. Skin without the acid mantle dries up very quickly. Even plain water can make your skin excessively dry if you wash it too often. Generally, skin washing or cleansing should be limited to once or twice a day. It is best to use special moisturizing soaps or wash with plain water and moisturize right after washing.

· Unless you have a very oily skin, do not use alcohol-based astringents, wipes and colognes (except when needed to treat skin lesions, such as cuts and abrasions). Just like harsh detergents, alcohol removes the skin's acid mantle, leaving the skin very dry and prone to irritation.

· Do not expose your skin to excess sun and wind

Who needs moisturizing the most?

Moisturizing is particularly important when relative humidity is low because the latter promotes faster evaporation of moisture from the skin. In particular, dry weather and indoor heating season call for extra attention to moisturizing.

Also, not all people are created equal in terms of the need to moisturize. For example, people with oily skin may need little or no moisturizing. (In fact, people with oily skin tend to develop fewer wrinkles as they age.) On the other hand, people with dry skin or even normal-to-dry skin need to moisturize. Skin dryness tends to increase with age. Most people over forty have some degree of skin dryness and need to moisturize. Skin dryness tends to be particularly severe in women near, during or after menopause - apparently due to low level of estrogens.

What are the best ways to keep your skin properly moisturized?

For best results, skin should be moisturized both from the inside and outside.

Moisturizing from the inside means keeping the body well hydrated. When dehydrated, the body preserves the water supply to critical organs, such as the brain and the heart, but "cuts off water" to peripheral organs such as skin. Therefore, keeping the body well hydrated is an important part of keeping your skin well moisturized. Adequate fluid intake is key. However, just as important is to avoid foods and beverages that cause excess water loss. (Yes, beverages too. Ironically, some drinks can actually cause you to lose more water than you take in.)

Moisturizing from the outside is based on proper use of moisturizing creams and lotions. Unfortunately, most moisturizing products are ineffective because their moisturizing action lasts less than two hours after the application. If you, like most people, moisturize from one to three times a day, then most of the time your skin will still be dry. Of course, you can moisturize every hour or two, but most people find such a regimen unsustainable. Besides, excessive application of creams and lotions can clog pores and promote acne. We recommend using long-lasting moisturizers, which will keep your skin hydrated throughout the day even if applied infrequently.

staple – основная тема

to view - рассматривать

centerpiece – ключевой момент

dismiss – зд. отвергать, отклонять

dubious - сомнительный

negligible - незначительный

value – зд. важность, значение

to carry out - выполнять

disrupt – разрушать, нарушать

susceptible –подверженный ч.-л.

detergent – дезинфицирующее средство

unsustainable – непреемлимый

1. Find in the text English equivalents to the following expressions:

обычная тема; в сущности; обезвоженная кожа; множество мельчайших трещинок, позволяющих нежелательным элементам проникать (в кожу); другими словами; лишить вашу кожу так называемой «кислотной мантии»; вяжущие средства на спиртовой основе, лечить повреждения кожи; вследствие низкого уровня эстрогенов; вызывают чрезмерную потерю жидкости; считают такой режим неприемлемым; может вызвать закупоривание пор и появление угрей.

2. Find Russian equivalents to the following expressions:

the traditional staple, a dubious routine of negligible value, harsh detergents, slow down any further damage, less chance to produce desired results, an oil-rich protective film, indoor heating season, tends to increase with age, some degree of skin dryness, be moisturized both from the inside and outside, adequate fluid intake, is based on proper use, long-lasting moisturizers.