Treatment for Dry, Ashy Skin: The Best Emollients

Ever wonder why some women seem to suffer from dry, ashy skin more than others?  For most of my life I have suffered from facial dryness, characterized by dry, white blotches or patches.  I first noticed them during puberty, and they were especially prominent during the cold winter months.  The lower the temperatures, the blotchier my face became.  Although other parts of my body also suffered dryness (my hands, elbows, knees and feet) my face is what truly bothered me.  The blotches are most noticeable around my mouth and cheeks. 

While I am thankful that I don’t suffer from eczema or psoriasis, these blotchy symptoms have been quite annoying.  They ruin my appearance and have caused me much embarrassment.  When we don’t look good, we tend to be self-conscious and other people can sense this.  So what should I do about this annoying dilemma?  How can I rid myself of these embarrassing patches, once and for all, and finally experience beautiful skin? 

Determined to find a solution, I began doing some research.  Before I began my search I knew that moisturizers and emollients would help, but I needed to know which ones were the best, especially regarding my particular situation.  I decided that once I found answers, I would share my findings with other women who were suffering similar situations.

My research uncovered some important truths, some of which I had forgotten.  First, the harsh winds and often extremely cold temperatures of winter, coupled with the effects of indoor heating, tends to dry out our skin.  Additionally, the use of very hot water for our baths or showers can also lead to dry, ashy skin conditions.  According to a leading dermatologist, winter dry skin can be prevented by maintaining the proper moisture level in our outer skin layer.  In addressing this problem, Dr. Marcy L. Street suggests ‘using a room humidifier, while we sleep to maintain the air’s moisture balance.’ 

Dr. Street also suggests that because our bodies primarily consists of water, we should drink plenty of it to keep our skin properly hydrated.  The 8 glasses a day recommendation not only applies in the summer, but during the winter months, as well.  This is especially true when we are physically active (ie. exercising or performing household tasks).  By keeping our bodies hydrated with water, we can maintain healthier, more radiant skin tones.

Another truth I discovered was that darker, older skin tones are more prone to suffer from overdry skin than their lighter, younger counterparts.  This is why African American women who are 50 plus and possess dark complexions, tend to have ashy skin.  Studies have shown that it is not enough to hydrate the skin, women should also exfoliate the dead skin cells.  One way to exfoliate is to use a body scrub.  It is recommended that we use lighter scrubs on our face than on our other body parts. 

Suggested exfoliating cleansers include, African Black Soap, Shea Butter Soap, Olive Butter Soap, and Peppermint Aloe Facial Cleanser.  African Black Soap combines the deep cleansing ingredients of dead sea mineral oils and oats with the moisturizing properties of shea butter to revitalize our face.  Shea Butter Soap is a mild cleanser blended with lavender to soothe and heal the skin.  Enriched with the softening, antioxidant properties of olive oil, green tea and shea butter, Olive Butter Soap fights dehydration and premature aging.  Peppermint and Aloe Facial Cleanser contains natural clay combined with the soothing properties of peppermint and aloe to absorb impurities while simultaneously increasing oil production.

Our cleansing and exfoliating routine should be followed up by applying the right moisturizer or emollient.  Some dermatologists suggest using petrolatum based products such as Vaseline or other petroleum jellies.  These skin specialists maintain that petroleum jellies are the best emollients because the rich greasiness protects against dryness.  However, critics would beg to differ, arguing that the grease clogs our pores and prevents natural moisture absorption from the air.  I agree with the latter group.  Besides the pore-clogging properties, petroleum jellies stain your clothes and give your face an unwanted shiny appearance.  I don’t know which is worse, a dry, ashy face or a slick, shiny one. 

Many women, myself included, prefer lighter emollients such as creams or lotions, some of which contain the hydrating properties of glycerin, lanolin, vitamin oils, aloe vera gel, or vegetable and fruit oils or extracts.  Of the many recommended emollients on the market, I suggest the following as being among the best:  Aveeno Moisturizing Cream with Oat;  Burt’s Bees Carrot Body Lotion (contains carrot seed, sunflower, coconut, vitamin E and aloe vera); Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion (formulated by dermatologists); Cutemol Cream; Esoterica Dry Skin Treatment lotion; Jergen’s soothing aloe moisturizer (a combination of aloe, cucumber and eucalyptus); Johnson’s Baby Oil (guaranteed to lock in ten times as much moisture as lotion); Keri Cream (contains Vitamin E oil and glycerin); Kiss My Face Olive and Aloe Moisturizer (contains Vitamins A and E oil, olive oil, aloe vera, and herbs and flowers); Lubriderm lotion (proven to lock in moisture when used daily); Neutrogena lotions, oils and creams (contains sesame oil and glycerin); Nivea Sensation Body Oil (contains Avocado oil); and finally, Palmer’s Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter products (combines the rich moisturizing agents of cocoa butter and shea butter with Vitamin E oil for maximum moisture balance).  

Not only do the aforementioned emollients heal dry skin, but most tend to provide a pleasing, aromatic experience, adding to their appeal.  Most recently I have tried the Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Lotion, and it seems to be working quite well.  The aromatic experience provided by this lotion is wonderful.  Of course not all women possess skin that can handle fragrance based moisturizers.  So if you know your skin is sensitive, you should sample fragrance based products before actually applying them.  Older African American women can treat their face to either oil-based, mud or clay based, honey based or herbal based soaps to obtain the best cleansing, soothing, non-hydrating experience.  Then we should follow up our exfoliating procedure with the proper emollient. 

And, the good news is you don’t have to go over your budget to get these products.  Most are available at your local drugstores (ie, Walgreen’s or CVS).  You might have to purchase the more sophisticated products at specialty stores (ie, The Body Shop or Bath and Body Works).  Some can be found at department stores (ie, Carson’s or JC Penney).  To further stay within your budget, you can choose generic forms of these products with similar results. 

We should always remember that all women have different skin types.  Therefore, we should select those products that work best for our individual complexion and skin tone.  We don’t have to settle for ashy overdry skin, we can take action to protect our skin and obtain the healthy, radiant glow all women desire.