All of us have experienced dry skin, but ironically our skin contains over 80% water. The answer to how this can occur lies in the way skin grows and maintains itself throughout life. Youthful skin is soft, pliable, and smooth. The surface gradually becomes rough, dry and perhaps even crack open when too dry. What we do each day can make this worse. Teachers, beauticians, avid gardeners and health care workers tend to wash their hands many times each day and are more likely to suffer from painful, dry hands.  They literally leach out natural skin oils as they work or play!

Normal soft skin surface layers contain only about 30% water. Many of the skin care products we use (bar soaps, toners, alcohol, harsh cleansers, and products that contain drying or irritating ingredients) today are so effective that they gradually “wash away” much of the lipid content in the fragile moisture-retaining barrier system. When water content falls below 30% our skin begins to feel dry, is less pliable, and may even develop small cracks or fissures.

Common moisturizers merely coat the surface with a vegetable or mineral oil (cocoa butter, mineral oil or Vaseline) that cannot be absorbed into the skin, cannot repair the skin oil barrier, and is easily washed away during the next cleansing. Flaking occurs due to shedding of the dry skin cells held in place loosely. Pliability is lost and we begin to experience real discomfort.

Therapon utilizes a preventive approach to skin problems. Lanolin from sheep wool absorbs into the deeper layers of skin to repair, restore, and maintain the skin softness and pliability. Our specially formulated Extreme Dry Skin Therapy replaces the very lipids needed to prevent or restore dry skin.

Apply a generous amount to hands each night. It will feel “greasy” after application, but do not remove excess as it will go completely into the skin in a few minutes. You may wish to put on thin cotton gloves to sleep in. After 4-5 days your hands should be as good as new. Then use the Extreme Dry Skin Therapy as needed to keep hands in excellent shape.

 

The Skinny would love to hear your comments after a week or so of how your hands have responded.