If your skin has become severely dehydrated due to exposure to sun, wind, chlorine or other desiccants, you can probably treat it on your own. If an allergy, long-term irritation or bacterial infection has caused the problem, a doctor's help might be necessary. Start by using an intensive moisturizing product, and follow up with daily skin care to restore smoothness, elasticity and health to your skin.
Hand Lotion
Your hands can dry out from work abrasion, contact with chemicals or exposure to extreme temperatures. Without special skin care, your hands and feet might become very rough, and your nails could chip, split or crack. For severely dehydrated hands or feet, apply an extra-strength moisturizing product with a high content of fruit or seed oils, allantoin, panthenol and/or glycerin. Avoid fragrances, corn starch, kaolin clay, isopropyl alcohol and alpha hydroxy acids, which are all drying agents. For longer treatments, wear soft, cotton gloves or socks after applying to hold moisture in.
Face Moisturizers
Dry facial skin is characterized by roughness, redness, bumps, wrinkles and patches of dead skin cells. To repair facial skin damage by sun or extreme temperatures, try an overnight serum or facial mask that contains marine collagen, aloe vera, allantoin and/or vitamin E (tocopherol). And avoid the drying culprits.
Spa Scrubs
The skin on your body isn't as delicate as your face and hands, which are exposed to the elements. An intensive treatment for severely dehydrated arms, legs, back and torso should include exfoliation, to encourage skin cell regrowth, along with rehydration. A moisturizing product for body skin care can therefore contain sea salt, sugar, pumice or another exfoliating element. These body scrubs are oil based and are meant to be left on to moisturize for a short period before rinsing.
Humidifiers
Make sure your personal space offers enough hydration to allow skin to rejuvenate and stay healthy. In dry climates or indoor heated spaces, use a humidifier appliance to pump moisture into the air of your environment. Cool humidity is preferable to moist heat, but in a pinch, a simmering pot of water on the stove will help to soothe severely dehydrated skin.
Medical Treatment
Seek a doctor's help for dry skin that doesn't respond to regular moisturizing products. Skin care for damage from surface cracking might include topical dressings or prescription ointments that contain alcohol or other astringents to address infection and reactant secretions. In addition to relief from pain and itching, your doctor also will try to find the cause of your dry skin condition and help you to avoid new episodes.
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