Whether you live in an arid climate or are simply prone to dry, dehydrated skin, you may view this condition as a mild annoyance and simply resolve to use more topical moisturizer. However, living with dry skin for decades can cause the fine lines on your face, hands, and neck to appear more visible, and may even lead to further skin damage. Is there anything you can do to stop or reverse this damage? How can you heal your dry skin for good? Read on to learn more about the effects of chronic dry skin and what you can do to stop them.

What are the long-term effects of living with dry skin?

When you're born, your skin has very dense collagen -- the interwoven fibers that help your skin maintain a smooth shape and appearance. As you age, your ability to produce collagen decreases, and this gradual breakdown in the internal foundation of your skin leads to fine lines, wrinkles, sagging, and dimpling. Dry skin can cause your outer layer of skin to become flaky and slough off, and the more frequently your skin must regenerate itself, the less healthy the new skin will be. This constant regeneration could also compromise your body's ability to produce as much collagen as you need, which may appear to accelerate the aging process.

Are there any treatments that can eliminate the damage caused by dry skin?

Fortunately, there are ways to help treat your dry skin both from the inside and the outside that are effective long-term and should help improve your overall health. 

First, you'll want to modify your diet so that you're sure to get all the essential fatty acids and other vitamins and nutrients needed to improve collagen production and help your skin regenerate itself in a quick and healthy manner. Increasing your intake of unsaturated fats, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C can help your skin look and feel more nourished. You'll also want to significantly increase your water intake to help your skin "plump" itself, which will eliminate the visibility of fine lines.

While you're making these dietary changes, you'll also want to apply a daily topical moisturizer that includes sunscreen. Protecting your skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays will eliminate one of the most common risk factors of premature aging, and should help you maintain a more youthful appearance even after your dry skin has improved. You also may want to seek assistance from an aesthetic dermatology professional.