Extra-dry, itchy, dull-looking skin: it's a common condition, especially during the winter, when environmental humidity is low. Your skin can feel too tight or irritated in patches, and it might even keep you from getting a good night's sleep. Thankfully, there are any number of skin treatments on the market that can relieve dry skin symptoms and prevent them from reoccurring.
Choosing a Cream or Lotion for Extra-Dry Skin
When choosing a cream or lotion for your dry skin, look for one that says "hypoallergenic" on the label. This means it's less likely to lead to an allergic reaction. Dry and itching skin isn't up to its full health, so it's better to play it safe and avoid any unnecessary fragrances, sunscreens, or other ingredients that might make matters worse, even if your skin isn't usually sensitive.
Emollients and Humectants
Washing your skin removes dirt and impurities, but it also tends to remove the oils and lipids that keep your skin soft and supple. A good cream or body lotion for extra-dry skin will contain an emollient such as mineral oil, lanolin, or petrolatum. Emollients replace the missing lipids, filling in the cracks between skin cells and smoothing out rough patches of skin. Most creams or lotions for dry skin will also contain a humectant, such as glycerin or urea, which absorbs water from the air.
Lotions vs. Creams
Creams for dry skin are thicker and more viscous than lotions, which allows them to trap more moisture below your skin's surface. For this reason, a cream might feel a little greasier than a lotion, and take more time to absorb into your skin. Whichever you use, you should reapply skin cream or lotion often, as contact with clothing, hand-washing, sweating, and everyday activity will gradually remove the cream or lotion from your skin.
When to Moisturize
According to the University of Iowa Department of Dermatology, the best time to apply a moisturizing cream or lotion is right after a short, lukewarm bath or shower, while your skin is still slightly damp. This helps to seal the moisture into your skin. If your hands are especially dry and cracked, coat them with skin cream before bedtime--or else use a petroleum-based jelly, such as Vaseline--and then put on a thin pair of cotton gloves to protect them until the morning.
When to See a Doctor
If a skin treatment seems to worsen your skin's condition or introduce new symptoms, such as a rash or clear discharge, stop using it and contact your doctor or dermatologist immediately. Also consult your doctor or dermatologist if your dry skin persists even with careful treatment. The dryness might be a reaction to an allergen or an irritant, or a skin condition such as eczema. In that case, your doctor would likely prescribe a medicated cream.
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