Dry skin, explains the Cleveland Clinic, is flaking or scaly skin that may be itchy but that isn't the result of inflammation or dermatitis. Extra-dry skin is a common problem in cold weather lacking humidity, and it typically affects the face, hands, elbows, feet, shins and sides of the abdomen. Severe and chronic cases should prompt a visit to your doctor, but there are numerous remedies you can try at home for relief.
Bathing and Dry Skin Care
Basic home care for extra dry skin begins with your bathing habits. Although it may seem counter-intuitive, bathing can do more to further aggravate a dry skin condition than it does to treat it, the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, or the AOCD, points out. Because excessive bathing removes hydrating oils from the skin, don't take a bath or shower more than once a day, less if possible, and keep them to under 15 minutes. Hot water is also detrimental to skin's hydration, so use only lukewarm water. Abrasive rubbing of the skin doesn't help either, so forgo the use of washcloths and only pat your skin dry after bathing. Use a moisturizing soap, and the AOCD notes that deodorizing soaps are particularly drying.
Moisturizing Dry Skin
Over-the-counter moisturizers, particularly heavy creams and lotions, are beneficial to healing extra-dry skin. However, you don't need special products for effective moisturizing. Dr. Howard Donsky, a dermatologist at the Toronto General Hospital, recommends petroleum jelly and mineral oil as the best moisturizers. Most vegetable and hydrogenated oils are safe and work well, too, he adds. The American Academy of Dermatology's Skin Care Physicians site explains that moisturizing dry skin is most effectively done within three minutes of bathing to seal water in.
Soothing Itchiness
Treating extremely dry skin often requires soothing the itchiness it causes. Dr. Donsky recommends adding 2 cups of colloidal, or finely-ground, oatmeal to your baths for relief. The practice of treating dry skin with oatmeal is believed by some to date back almost 4,000 years, cites MotherNature.com. Using milk is another option, explains University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine's Susan C. Taylor, M.D. Soak a cloth or some gauze in cold milk and press it gently to patches of dry skin for about five minutes.
Treating the Atmosphere
Adding moisture to the atmosphere will help hydrate your skin. While showering, Skin Care Physicians suggests keeping the bathroom door closed to lock humidity into the room. Use humidifiers in your home, especially overnight near your bed, with the room's door and windows closed. Consistently keep the temperature between 68 and 75 degrees F and humidity levels at 45 to 55 percent, advises the AOCD. Heating systems can dry out the atmosphere considerably, so humidifiers are especially important during cold weather.
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