Dry skin, known medically as xerosis, is generally more a nuisance and a cosmetic concern than a serious problem. Some simple home-based treatment efforts usually reduce or eliminate symptoms, such as redness, itchiness, cracking skin and bleeding, as well as improve the appearance of affected areas. However, chronic and/or severe cases that don't respond to your own treatment efforts call for a visit to your dermatologist, cautions MayoClinic.com. Such cases are often caused by underlying skin disorders, including psoriasis, ichthyosis and various types of dermatitis, and they may require a doctor's oversight and prescription-strength treatments.
Step 1
Bathe or shower only once per day and limit hand washing to only when necessary. Stay in the bath or shower for five to 10 minutes, recommends the American Academy of Dermatology on its AgingSkinNet website, as this helps rehydrate the skin while longer bathing begins to further dry it out. Keep water temperatures moderate, as hot water dries out the skin.
Step 2
Dab your skin after bathing to dry it off, but stop while your skin is still slightly damp, advises Dr. Kenneth Neldner of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine's Department of Dermatology in "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies." Apply a moisturizer quickly to seal this dampness into your skin. Use your moisturizer on an as-needed basis at other times during the day.
Step 3
Launder your clothing and bedding with dye-free, fragrance-free detergents to avoid irritating your dry skin condition or triggering a breakout of contact dermatitis. Forgo the use of dryer sheets as well, adds the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.
Step 4
Run humidifiers throughout your home to maintain indoor humidity levels of around 30 to 40 percent, notes "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies." Use them to counteract the drying effects of indoor heating units in particular.
Step 5
Review the ingredients in your cosmetics and skin care products and their possible side effects. Certain anti-aging products, such as those made with alpha-hydroxy acids or retinoids, can be drying to the skin, notes the American Academy of Dermatology. Many ingredients used to control acne can have the same effect. Ask your dermatologist for alternatives, if this is determined to be a problem.
Tips and Warnings
- Use body and hand soaps that contain moisturizers. Avoid deodorizing and scented soaps, as well as those made with alcohol, advises the American Academy of Dermatology. Oil-based creams make for effective moisturizers, notes the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. Products made with petrolatum, glycerin, dimethicone, hyaluronic acid, lanolin or mineral oil are other good options offered by the American Academy of Dermatology. Add 2 cups of finely-ground oatmeal into your bath to help soothe the itching associated with dry skin, recommends dermatologist Dr. Howard Donsky of Toronto in "The Doctors Book of Home Remedies."
Things You'll Need
- Moisturizer
- Humidifiers
- Dye-free, unscented detergent
- Moisturizing soaps
- Colloidal oatmeal
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