Ashy skin, which is a white or grey colouring that shows up on the skin, is experienced by people of all skin tones, although usually shows up in a more obvious way on darker skin. If this is a problem that you have been dealing with, here are a few tips to help you to eliminate ashy skin.
A Thicker Moisturizer
While lotions are great for moisturizing, these tend to contain lighter ingredients, meaning that, in order for them to keep your skin constantly moisturized, they would need to be reapplied every couple of hours. If you do not have the time for this, you would be best off switching to a thicker, richer cream, as this will contain heavier emollients that will seal in moisture for much longer. If you find that your pores are getting clogged with a thicker cream in the summer months, use your rich cream as a spot treatment on ashy areas, and stick to your lotion for the rest of your body.
Make Use of Oils
If you have already been using a thick cream and this has not helped your ashy skin, then an oil could be exactly what you need. In order to obtain maximum benefits, make sure that you apply the oil as soon as you step out of the shower or bath, as this will greatly help with its absorption.
Increase Water Consumption
Even if you were to use the finest skin care products in the world, these would not make much of a difference if your body is dehydrated from within. Your skin needs moisture from the inside just as much as it does from the outside, if not more, so try to increase your water consumption as much as possible, as this will help your skin to stay smooth and plump. If you find this difficult, or are needing a sugar fix, infuse your water with fruit slices, or give some of the many fruit teas out there a try.
Exfoliation
Exfoliation is key for anybody that wants to have healthy, clear skin, but, since a part of the ashy look is caused by dead skin cells building up on the surface of your skin, you may need to increase the frequency at which you are exfoliating. A gentle scrub in the shower should be sufficient, and while many people tend to exfoliate twice to thrice a week, you can exfoliate more often if your skin is able to tolerate it.
Avoid Hot Showers
As satisfying as a hot shower or bath may feel, high water temperatures strip the skin of its natural protective barrier. This makes it much more prone to dryness and dehydration, which will only lead to more areas of ashy skin. Lukewarm temperature is ideal, and be sure to keep your time in the shower or bath to no longer than ten minutes.
While there are many different scientific terms to describe ashy skin, it basically means that your skin has become extremely dry. In order to eliminate this, you need to work on boosting your skin’s moisture levels as much as possible, doing this internally as well as externally.
