Even the ancient Greeks wrote about the “matte skin” of their goddesses. And despite the fact that we are not gods and are far from ideal, every woman dreams of radiant, well-groomed skin.
Some representatives of the most beautiful half of humanity were lucky to receive this gift from heaven without making any additional efforts. Others, less fortunate, but therefore more persistent in their pursuit, wage a daily struggle with its shortcomings in search of an answer to the question: why is the skin on the legs dry and even peeling?
Conditionally, the factors of excessive dryness of the skin of the legs can be divided into two broad groups: external and internal causes
Main external reasons
Among the external factors contributing to the emergence of this problem, experts identify the following:
- Allergy;
- Stress and overwork;
- External aggressive environment (swimming pool, ecology, ultraviolet radiation, etc.);
- Age-related and hormonal changes, etc.
And if you contact a dermatologist with the question: why is my skin on my legs dry and flaky, with a 99.9% probability, eliminating the problem will be associated with drug treatment of external causes.
It is important to regularly take comprehensive foot care
An allergic reaction can be caused by food. Sweets, citrus fruits and milk sometimes cause bright rashes and itching.
An allergic reaction may be caused by food
In the age of global employment, a race with no room for error or stop, where the fashionable concept of “stress resistance” has become a decisive competency for each category of workers, when there is less and less time for sleep, the human body responds with unpleasant reciprocity. This is why the skin on your feet is dry and flaky.
The ecological environment of technogenic civilization, emissions of hydrocarbons into the atmosphere, and polluted water also affect the protective skin layer. Even going to the pool can cause an unusual reaction in the body.
Chemicals for cleaning and disinfecting water, while destroying microorganisms, can cause harm to the human body. More often, water ozonation is used for these purposes, as well as reagents containing chlorine or bromine.
Carefully! Chlorine is a poisonous gas. It was first used as a weapon of mass destruction in 1915 during the First World War at the Battle of Ypres, when about 6 thousand people died from poisoning.
It is believed that bromine is added to prisoners, patients in psychiatric hospitals and military personnel to reduce aggressiveness. However, we should not forget that this is also poison. A bromine leak that occurred on Knowledge Day 2011 in Chelyabinsk during a fire in bromine containers at a railway station, when, according to official data, more than 300 people sought medical help.
Chocolate tan lovers are also at risk. Why? Because the skin on the legs is dry, flaky, and prematurely ages from excess ultraviolet radiation. It is no coincidence that our ancestors hid from the sun under lace umbrellas and wide-brimmed hats, and showing off their legs was considered the height of indecency.
Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, a person, like any natural derivative, is born, matures, ages and dies. With age - as we know from commercials - all metabolic processes slow down, including the production of collagen and hyaluronic acid, necessary for a beautiful old age without wrinkles and plastic surgery.
From time immemorial, people have been looking for magical remedies to stay beautiful and young, jumping into a cauldron of milk, looking for “rejuvenating apples.” And I want to believe that one day scientists will create such a miracle yogurt that will do without a scalpel and stretched skin. Why not? Who wants to have dry skin on their feet? Let it be shiny and not peel off.
Main internal reasons
The famous Canadian psychologist Liz Burbos has been conducting educational work and writing books on psychosomatics since 1982. The main idea of her teaching is that pain and illness are only external manifestations of internal psychological problems and conflicts. Thus, dry skin can be caused by a psychological condition.
Modern medicine knows a disease called ichthyosis. The disease got its name because of the “fish” scales that appear on the skin. Scientists are of the opinion that this is a hereditary disease. However, its causes are still unclear and are based on unknown gene mutations. Who knows, maybe one of us is a descendant of a mermaid and an amphibian man?
Psychosomatics claims that dry skin indicates that its owner does not want to show vulnerability and softness to the surrounding society, and when this internal conflict is eliminated, the disease itself will go away.
Parasites - eternal companions of all living organisms - can also cause dry skin and flaking. These parasites can behave very quietly and unnoticed, but this does not mean that you are deprived of their attention. However, there is no need to panic, scientists say that we all carry them within ourselves. And taking magic pills from friendly China will not solve this problem.
Attentive attitude towards yourself and timely reaction to changes in the body will help to avoid serious problems
Fungal infections often affects the feet, the nails peel off, the skin in the folds between the toes becomes thinner and peels off. Thanks to advances in medicine, this disease is now easily treated.
Impaired water balance not only leads to obesity, but also spoils the skin. The miraculous two liters of water a day will cleanse the body of toxins, fill the stomach, preventing you from eating too much, and enrich the skin and blood with essential oxygen.
Lack of vitamin A and E especially in the winter months leads to peeling of the skin of the feet and fingers.
What signs should you be wary of?
Dry and flaky skin can be a symptom of a serious disease (skin cancer, diabetes, etc.), for which you need to consult a doctor immediately, get help and relieve nervous tension from alarming signals of the subconscious.
Pay attention to the following indicative phenomena of your body:
- new moles appear at a high rate;
- moles change their shape and size;
- severe itching;
- poor wound healing.
How to deal with dryness and flaking
There are many ways to deal with dryness and flaking:
Folk remedies
Apply any oil (vegetable, butter, aromatic), any fatty cream, whatever is suitable at home to your feet.
Medicines
Medicines can be purchased at the pharmacy. Take vitamin complexes during the winter months. Do not neglect medications prescribed by your doctor.
Baths
During exacerbations, it is better to avoid baths with hot water, giving preference to warm, comfortable water with aromatic oils, having first tested for an allergic reaction - that is, by dropping one drop on the inside of the wrist. Be especially careful with cinnamon and orange oils.
Baths are used as home remedies to reduce skin flaking.
Wrap
If you have the opportunity and desire, you can go to the spa for a body wrap: chocolate, honey, seaweed. Whatever your heart desires and your wallet will pay for. Carrying out this procedure at home is extremely inconvenient: soiled sheets and furniture, floor coverings, and clothes can ruin the pleasure of the skin care procedure.
Slogan: “Everything is in chocolate!” It sounds good on TV, but in reality it sometimes has a long aftertaste.
Changing depilation methods
If the angels, distributing virtues and virtues, deprived you of ideal skin on your legs, then you will have to be more attentive to the choice of depilation products. Be attentive to yourself!
If you see that after using an electric depilator your skin becomes dry, irritated and flaky, why not try applying wax or sugar paste to your legs.
If these means do not allow you to achieve the desired ideal effect, you can try the time-consuming method of manual depilation with tweezers.
And when your patience runs out (we think this will happen soon enough), read a book about how comfortably our predecessors lived, without self-flagellation in the form of painful hair removal from the armpits, legs, etc.
Before the procedure, you need to prepare the areas of the body where hair removal will be performed.
By the way, many modern fashion designers believe that a long skirt that covers a woman’s entire legs creates a refined chaste image and a certain piquancy for its owner.
In what cases is self-medication unacceptable?
Important to remember! Self-medication is unacceptable if we are talking about serious skin diseases, or there is a possibility of infecting others. If the skin is covered with bleeding ulcers and cracks, it does not provide the body with a protective layer against infections.
Especially if the itching becomes unbearable and interferes with effective communication and professional activities. An experienced, trained, and well-recommended dermatologist can provide expert care.
Prevention of dryness and flaking
- Drink at least 2 liters of water.
- Eat fish enriched with amino acids.
- If possible, reduce the heating power of the battery to 20-22 degrees in the room, providing the body with a more comfortable stay in it.
- Provide additional air humidificationby installing a humidifier or simply pouring water into a bowl and placing it on the radiator.
- Do not wear nylon tights in cold weather. Warm yourself when going outside. We have the same legs for life.
Proper water balance is the key to healthy skin
Perhaps we will go down in world history as a generation of selfless women who, of their own free will, subject themselves to regular year-round painful depilation.
Or maybe we will remain misunderstood creatures of the coming era, and we will be replaced by depilated handsome men. Time will show!
How to properly care for the skin of your feet
Very often, many women and men neglect their foot care. There are many reasons for this, but the consequences may not be recoverable. In order for your feet to withstand the dynamics of life and continue to perform their function, it is important to properly and efficiently care for them.
Cleansing. General concept
In order for the foot to look well-groomed and healthy, it is necessary to carry out cleansing procedures. To do this, you need to steam your feet and use a specialized machine or stone to remove dead and rough skin particles. You should definitely massage this area.
This will not only help restore blood flow, but also relax the entire body after a stressful day. It is worth remembering and giving preference to using the cream for its intended purpose. It should have a dense texture.
Usually, after applying such a product, it is recommended to wear socks from natural fabrics. It is also best not to stay awake after the procedure. This care regimen should be done at least four times a month. The skin will become perfect, and your legs will not feel tired.
Foot baths should be done not only during high temperatures outside, but throughout the rest of the year. For many problems, just systematic washing of this part of the body can be a protector.
Use targeted means based on the needs and problems of the limbs. Adding edible or aromatic oils to water during such procedures has a positive effect.
For the category of active people, baths with sea salt are suitable, as they do not take much time and effort. This will help relieve fatigue and pain, as well as restore blood flow to the extremities, which will prevent many vascular diseases, so that later you won’t have to wonder why the skin on your legs is dry and flaky.
There are many herbal formulations that will work ideally in this direction:
- Dry mint and St. John's wort refresh feet.
- The conifer family, thyme and oak are a reliable barrier against excessive secretion of the glands.
- Calendula and chamomile leaves disinfect and promote the healing of microtraumas.
- The liquid from boiling potatoes instantly softens your feet.
- Dry mustard powder stimulates the body's protective function.
Recommendations from dermatologists
Alternating temperatures have a positive effect on the skin of the feet when taking baths or contrast showers.
Regarding the temperature regime, it is worth understanding the root cause that prompts you to do such a procedure and determine the presence or absence of diseases of the veins and blood vessels.
The classic time period is 5 minutes, and with increased secretion it is minimized by half. The water should have a comfortable temperature.
For vein disease and accompanying inflammatory processes, it is recommended to use a cooling bath.
However, we are not talking about cold water in the full sense, but about preparing its temperature slightly lower than the main one that is available in the room.
Such procedures will normalize the optimal ratio of skin balance and the production of its secretion. As a result of foot care, the skin will become healthy and foot diseases will not be able to touch it.
We hope the information from our article was useful to you and you were able to determine the main reasons why the skin on your legs is dry and flaky.
Take care of yourself and be healthy!
When dry skin appears below the knees, it causes significant discomfort to a person. Of course, you can lubricate it with moisturizer and wait until the dryness goes away. But this can last for years, which is quite uncomfortable.
To finally get rid of the problem, you need to find out what causes peeling of the legs below the knee and eliminate them. If this is not done, the affected area may spread to other areas of the skin.
Causes of peeling
All the reasons that can cause dry skin on the legs are divided depending on the cause. Most of the factors are external influences that can be easily eliminated and then the skin of the legs will return to its normal state. But there is a small chance that the peeling is a sign of a serious internal disease that requires medical attention.
External factors
Peeling skin may be the first warning sign of serious internal diseases. But if it is localized in one area and itches, then most often it is the result of external influences. There are a large number of reasons that can affect the skin of the feet, and it is impossible to take them all into account. Therefore, it is necessary to know the main factors that affect the legs.
- Dry air due to heating or constant use of air conditioning.
- Allergic reaction to household chemicals.
- Allergy to cosmetics.
- Wearing clothes (underwear, pants, socks) that are small, which causes pressure on the blood vessels in the legs and uneven distribution of nutrients. This effect can also be caused by shapewear of the wrong size, or worn on the body for more than 5 hours.
- Dry skin due to excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays.
- Contact with skin of liquids with a high content of chlorine or other impurities that are used in tap water. This effect can be achieved both by home water treatments and by going to the pool.
- Infectious diseases affecting the skin.
- Wearing winter boots in a well-heated room.
Most of the external factors are easily removable, but if remission does not occur after taking preventive measures, you should consult a doctor. After all, this may be the first sign of the development of a serious disease. You should also do this if redness appears at the site of peeling, because this is most likely an infection.
Internal diseases
The causes of peeling legs below the knees may be a violation of the health of the body. Dry skin can occur either from local damage or from a general disease.
Common causes of dry skin:
- diabetes;
- disturbances in liver function;
- kidney dysfunction;
- erythroderma;
- psoriasis;
- eczema.
Internal causes also include a sedentary lifestyle. Because of this, veins and blood vessels are compressed, which leads to the supply of fewer nutrients necessary for the skin. This makes itself felt even if a person plays sports after a long day of work at the computer.
If the skin of the legs below the knees dries out due to an internal disease, then it is impossible to cure it on your own. Only a qualified doctor can accurately determine the cause and create the most appropriate course of treatment.
Therefore, before trying home methods, you should undergo a medical examination that will identify the source. And after treatment, you can use preventive measures and home methods for healing your skin.
Preventive measures
When the skin on a woman's legs peels below the knees, it is easier to cure the disease once, and then constantly maintain the condition of the skin. This is much easier to do than having medical procedures done every six months.
- It is very important to humidify the air in the apartment, especially during the heating season.
- You should avoid antibacterial soaps or those that contain many additional substances (dyes, fragrances).
- Use only proven high-quality cosmetics that do not contain toxic additives.
- Exfoliate the skin every week to get rid of dead particles from the feet.
- Moisturize your legs and feet with coconut oil or body milk.
- Reduce the amount of synthetic clothing adjacent to the affected area.
- Remove boots or other warm footwear indoors.
- When working sedentarily, alternate periods of immobility with walking. The most useful thing is to get up and walk every 20 minutes. This will have a beneficial effect not only on the skin, but also on work productivity.
Home care methods
External effects will be ineffective if the lack of nutrients that are necessary for the skin is not eliminated. Therefore, you should reconsider your diet. It is advisable to increase the amount of stewed fish and fresh salads seasoned with vegetable oil.
It is also important to eat grains rich in fiber. Doctors recommend starting courses of vitamin supplements in late autumn and early winter. This is necessary in order to support the body, which suffers from a lack of fresh greens, fruits or vegetables.
If the reason is insufficient subcutaneous blood circulation, then you can strengthen it with the help of foot baths. For this, procedures not only with warm water are suitable, but also quick dipping into containers of different temperatures.
If the skin of your feet is steamed, you can add a decoction of herbs that will help reduce peeling. Oak bark, chamomile, sage or St. John's wort are good options. It is advisable to alternate them throughout the course.
If the skin is insufficiently nourished, you can deliver beneficial substances using a foot mask. To do this, you need to purchase vitamins A and E at the pharmacy, which are sold in ampoules. You will also need 100 g of thick sour cream and 40-50 g of coconut oil.
Sour cream and butter are thoroughly mixed, then 1 bottle of medicine is added and the mixture is applied to the feet. The entire smeared surface is wrapped in cling film for 20 minutes so that the vitamins do not oxidize in the air. After completion, simply rinse off the substance with warm water.
Cleansing with paraffin. Depending on the affected area, you will need 2-3 thick suppositories. They are lit and gently dripped onto flaky skin so that the drop does not burn. When the piece hardens, cover the area nearby. Do not bring the candle very close to the skin, otherwise you may get burned. And after the entire affected area has disappeared, the procedure is repeated 1-2 more times. After this, the leg is wrapped in cling film, and after 1 hour it is thoroughly cleaned with fine pumice. The course consists of 5-10 procedures. When carrying out the last 4-5 wrapping procedures, it is advisable to use beeswax candles.
It is important to remember that this procedure can only be carried out if there are no scratches, otherwise the hot mass will corrode the wound.
Finding the cause of dryness and eliminating it is the best way to cure peeling feet. If you react early, you can avoid the cost of restoring the affected area. It is best to immediately consult a doctor who will help exclude serious diseases and skin infections from the group of causes.
It's no secret that every girl wants to be the most charming and attractive. To achieve perfection, girls spend a lot of time on caring for the skin of their face, body and hair, and also spare no expense on playing sports and trying to lead a healthy lifestyle. But sometimes, at the most unexpected moment, some unpleasant omission can ruin your mood. This includes severe peeling of the skin on the legs, which is much more difficult to deal with than problems, for example, on the hands. As a result, you have to give up short skirts. Let's figure out why the skin on your feet dries and peels, and how to stop this process.
Main reasons
There are many different factors, contributing to the appearance of scales on the skin.
To the most common reasons peeling and cracking on the legs include:
- Moisture deficiency. When the skin of the legs is very dry and dehydrated, the peeling process begins, and the calves and feet are especially affected. In summer, the cause of this problem is high air temperature, in winter it is a long stay in a heated room.
- Poor quality clothing - uncomfortable or rubber shoes, stockings or synthetic tights - leads to skin irritation, and a violation of the water-lipid balance - to the appearance of cracks in the legs and heels.
- Improper drinking regime. You need to drink at least a liter of water every day.
- Cosmetical tools. Regular use of deodorants or other alcohol-containing preparations for sweaty feet can dry out the skin of your feet. To get rid of unwanted problems, you should stop using them, and also not use hard washcloths and use less aggressive means.
- Natural influence. Sometimes itching and dryness on the feet can be due to climate change or due to prolonged exposure to the sun or frost.
- Psycho-emotional state. Due to frequent stress, fatigue and negative emotions, the structure of the skin may change. In this case, you should relax and switch to positive emotions.
- Changes in hormonal levels. With age-related changes and menopause, the skin can become very dry and cracked.
- Increased sweating. Wet skin becomes overcooled and begins to dry out. As a result, cracks form between the fingers.
- Poor nutrition and vitamin deficiency. It is imperative to eat foods that contain vitamins A, B, D, E, zinc and omega acids.
- Fungal infection. If the skin between your toes peels off and itches, this indicates foot fungus. In this case, you need to consult a dermatologist and undergo treatment with medications, otherwise the fungus may spread to other parts of the body.
- Allergy. Itching, rashes and peeling can be caused by eating sweets and citrus fruits.
And also the reasons why the skin on the feet peels may be a violation of the regenerative abilities of cells; they manifest themselves as a result of diseases such as eczema, psoriasis, diabetes, dermatitis, etc.
Due to sedentary lifestyle many physiological processes are disrupted that affect the condition of the skin on the legs in the area below the knees. Therefore, to avoid these defects you need to move more and play sports.
Itching and dryness of the lower legs can occur with diseases such as dermatitis, mycosis, herpes and eczema, which manifest themselves in the form of a rash, and later merge into a spot. As a rule, with such lesions, rashes appear on the skin, which subsequently merge into a single spot.
How to deal with dryness and flaking
There are many ways to cope with dryness and flaking:
- Folk remedies. Apply any oil to your feet, for example: vegetable, butter, essential or any fatty cream.
- Medicines that can be bought at a pharmacy. In winter, take vitamin complexes.
- Baths. During an exacerbation, it is better to avoid baths with hot water, and choose warm baths with ethers. But before taking them, you need to test for an allergic reaction, especially if you use cinnamon or orange oil.
- Wrapping, for example, with seaweed or honey.
- Change your depilation method. Often, after an electric depilator, the skin becomes dry and irritated, so it is better to give preference to depilation using wax or powdered sugar.
It is very important not to self-medicate for serious skin diseases, as this can infect others, but seek treatment to an experienced specialist for help to prevent serious consequences.
Prevention of the problem
To prevent dryness and flaking, you need to drink at least two liters of water, eat fish, which contains a lot of amino acids, and do not wear nylon tights in cold weather. When indoor air is dry, moisturize it further, filling the container with water and placing it on the battery.
Often, women and men do not take the time to care for their feet, which results in many unpleasant surprises. After all, in order for your feet to withstand the dynamics of life and function properly, you need to take good and proper care of them.
- Cleanse: steam your feet and use a special machine or stone to remove dead skin particles, and also massage this area. As a result, blood flow will be restored.
- Use rich creams and wear cotton socks after application. Do this procedure four times a month. This will make your skin smooth.
- Try to regularly use sea salt baths. They will help prevent many vascular diseases and relieve fatigue.
Dry mint and St. John's wort will refresh your feet. The conifer family, thyme and oak will prevent sweating. Calendula and chamomile leaves are antiseptics and promote the healing of microdamages. Potato decoction will quickly soften your feet. Dry mustard powder will restore the body's protective functions.
Recommendations from dermatologists
A contrast shower for five minutes has a beneficial effect on the skin of the feet, and if there is excessive sweating, reduce the time by half. The water should be at a comfortable temperature. If you have venous diseases accompanied by inflammatory processes, it is necessary to use a cooling bath. The temperature should be slightly lower than the room temperature. These procedures will normalize the balance of the skin and the production of its secretion. As a result of such foot care, the skin will become healthier, and foot diseases will not bother you.
Thus, by taking proper care of the skin of your feet, you can not only get rid of dryness and flaking, but also prevent many diseases. So don't neglect it, because beautiful well-groomed legs always attract male attention.