Not just skin deep
Severe dry skin not only leads to serious conditions such as eczema but also causes low self-esteem, writes Nadia Badarudin
WHEN it comes to severely dry and sensitive skin, the damage is not just skin deep. It can lead to other serious conditions and may reduce one’s quality of life.
According to a recent estimate by Allergy Centre Malaysia, one in five Malaysians is living with severe skin conditions, and with increasingly hectic lifestyles and exposure to changing temperature and humidity, more are affected.
Pantai Hospital Cheras consultant dermatologist Dr Irene Lee Chew Kek says dry skin is caused by various physiological (such as ageing, post-menopause period) and environmental factors.
Dry skin looks dull (with a rough, scaly texture), less pliable and can be severely red and fissured, resulting from lack of moisture in the outer cell layer of the skin called stratum corneum.
“Dry skin can be associated with an increased water loss from this layer. Usually, moisturisation is sufficient to replenish the skin and help restore normal function of the skin barrier.
“But, in severely dry skin conditions, the stratum corneum becomes dysfunctional and is unable to repair itself, resulting in cracked, itchy and painful skin,” she says in her presentation on A Guide to Dry Skin during the launch of Dove DermaSeries skincare products in Kuala Lumpur.
“These conditions tend to be persistent and relentless. Sufferers learn to ‘manage’ their symptoms rather than cure them, guarding themselves from potential trig- gers such as heat or certain foods and often trying to hide their condition from others,” she adds.
Dry skin can lead to serious conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, infection or allergy. “It can also cause stress and low self-esteem. Dry skin should be tackled because it can lead to other conditions.”
A study shows that the problem can increase feelings of self-consciousness and anxiety when socialising, even when the symptoms are not visible.
“There’s a striking correlation between an individual’s mental health and their physical skin condition,” says Abri Integrated Mental Health counselling psychologist Cathie Wu.
“It’s like a skin-mind connection where you feel can affect your skin and vice versa.
“Focusing on the people behind the condition as well as the condition itself is critical to help them feel happy and confident in their skin,” she says.
Sufferers learn to ‘manage’ their symptoms rather than cure them, guarding themselves from potential triggers such as heat or certain foods and often trying to hide their condition from others.
Dr Irene Lee Chew Kek
COMPASSIONATE RELIEF
Dove DermaSeries is formulated exclusively for severely dry and sensitive skin. Hypoallergenic and fragrance-free, the range elevates the skin’s natural processes to help restore, replenish and rejuvenate dry skin.
It consists of a cleansing body wash, replenishing body lotion, hand cream and a repairing balm, tailored to the needs of dry and sensitive skin.
Unlike other dry skin treatments, which are often heavy in texture and can add to user’s discomfort, the new range offers superior nourishment to provide both effective skincare and compassionate relief.
The connection between anxiety and very dry skin is a significantly overlooked issue within the beauty industry, says UnileverDermaSeries global brand director Tati Lindenberg.
“Products are often focused at the surface level rather than on the people. With the series, we want to change the way individuals — particularly women — living with dry skin care for their skin and themselves by combining advanced technology of skincare to people’s needs and encourage women to feel confident, positive and proud of their skin,” she says.
The range is accompanied by Dove’s latest campaign Make Peace with Dry Skin which celebrates women living with dry skin conditions.
The aim is to address social challenges faced by individuals with dry skin conditions such as the common misconception that they are contagious.