With the cool air of fall upon most of us and winter's cold, dry winds approaching, it's time to get serious about caring for the stratum corneum, the outermost layer of skin, the body's largest organ, which protects the vital tissues within.
Long thought to be biologically inert, the stratum corneum is now known to be an intricate, biochemically complex structure, the sanctity of which is critical to having healthy skin.
Skin, in fact, is 64 percent water, making water an essential ingredient of healthy skin. If the stratum corneum gets too dry, the skin can become itchy, scaly, inflamed, leathery and unattractive. For most people, whether their skin is dry or oily and especially if they live in a cold, dry or windy climate, routine use of a moisturizer can protect the skin's water supply.
But faced with the dizzying array of choices on store shelves, how is the consumer to select a moisturizer likely to be effective and unlikely to cause an unwanted reaction? Should you choose a lotion, cream or ointment?
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/16/well/choosing-the-best-moisturizer-for-your-skin.html?mwrsm=Email