Does dry skin make fine lines look more noticeable?

Why does dryness make lines stand out?

The epidermis, your skin's outer layer, holds water. A decrease in that water contributes to fine lines, alongside changes in the deeper skin. Excessive moisture loss can also leave skin rough, flaky and itchy. Fine lines appearing alongside those changes can therefore have a dryness component, rather than being solely a sign of ageing.12

Ageing, sun damage and repeated facial movements also contribute to wrinkles. Lines that appear with muscle movement are called dynamic lines; lines that remain without movement are static lines. Moisturiser improves the skin's ability to hold water, which is a useful job without promoting the jar to a facelift.2

How should you care for dry skin with fine lines?

1. 1Wash your face with lukewarm water and a non soap cleanser. Ordinary soap and shower gel can dry skin further.
2. 2Pat your skin dry, then apply moisturiser straight away. An emollient is a moisturising treatment that coats the skin to help reduce water loss.
3. 3Smooth the moisturiser gently in the direction of hair growth rather than rubbing it in. If using a tub, take the product out with a clean spoon or spatula.
4. 4Reapply when skin feels dry or tight, rather than limiting moisturiser to bedtime. For dry skin requiring emollient care, aim for three or four applications a day.
5. 5Use broad spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every day, and seek shade or wear protective clothing outdoors. Moisturising does not replace sun protection.

Which moisturiser should you choose?

A cream is a practical daytime option because it is less greasy and absorbs quickly. An ointment is thicker, greasier and more moisturising, making it useful for very dry skin or at night. Lotions spread easily but are less moisturising, so the easiest texture is not necessarily the hardest worker.4

For sensitive skin, ointments usually contain fewer preservatives, which can cause stinging or irritation. Choose a product you tolerate and will use regularly; an effective, affordable emollient is enough, without requiring a luxury department to supervise the moisture. If a moisturiser irritates your skin, seek advice about an alternative rather than continuing with it.36

What improvement should you expect?

Regular moisturising makes skin softer and more supple, and ageing skin looks and feels better with it. Emollient effects are short lived, so keeping dryness under control requires repeat applications. Moisturisers and creams can also help mildly crepey skin, the thin, finely wrinkled texture that can involve dryness, age and sun damage. Deeper wrinkles or loose skin need a different discussion: a dermatologist can assess whether cosmetic treatment would give you the result you want.2567

When does dryness need medical attention?

Get medical advice for severe dryness, painful or bleeding cracks, or itch that disrupts sleep. Yellow crusts, leaking pus or fluid, swelling and discoloration can signal infection. Ask a GP, nurse or pharmacist about persistent burning, stinging, inflamed hair follicles or a facial rash after using an emollient.14

If you use a prescribed topical steroid, leave 30 minutes between the steroid and emollient rather than applying them together. Keep emollients and fabrics carrying their residue away from flames and cigarettes, including when the product contains no paraffin.34