How do you treat dry skin?

What is happening when skin gets dry?

Your skin barrier is its outer protective layer. Emollients, another name for moisturizing treatments, coat that layer and reduce water loss, making skin softer and less dry. They do more than temporarily hide flakes: they help keep moisture in the skin.14

Cold, dry air, sunlight, aging and drying products can contribute to dryness. Medicines such as diuretics and statins, and conditions including eczema, thyroid disease and diabetes, can also be involved. Treatment depends partly on the cause, so a new persistent patch deserves more attention than simply buying a heavier moisturizer.3

Which moisturizer should you choose?

You can use different textures on different areas, or a lighter product during the day and a greasier one at home. Different textures can belong in the same routine; the jars do not need to agree on a dress code. Lotions can be useful on hairy areas. Choose the least expensive moisturizer that works, feels acceptable and gets used regularly. The most useful moisturizer is one you will actually use, not one kept pristine for a bathroom shelf audition.5

Look for a combination of ingredients that attract water, slow its escape and soften skin. Humectants such as hyaluronic acid and urea attract water. Occlusives such as petrolatum and dimethicone reduce moisture loss. Emollient ingredients soften and smooth skin, while ceramides help lock in moisture. Choose fragrance free products, particularly for sensitive skin, and avoid fragranced botanical ingredients. A fragrance free label does not mean a product is free of every possible allergen.4

How to wash and moisturize dry skin

1. 1Use lukewarm water. Keep baths or showers to five to 10 minutes, and focus washing on areas such as the armpits, groin and feet.
2. 2Use a gentle cleanser or a suitable emollient soap substitute. Regular soap, shower gel and bath foam can dry and irritate skin. White soft paraffin is not suitable as a soap substitute.
3. 3Pat dry rather than rubbing. Leave skin slightly damp and apply moisturizer within three minutes after bathing.
4. 4With clean hands, dispense a pump product or use a clean spoon or spatula to remove moisturizer from a tub. Do not put fingers into the tub.
5. 5Smooth moisturizer over affected skin in the direction the hair grows rather than rubbing it in. A thin shiny layer is sufficient.
6. 6Repeat moisturizing as needed, ideally two to four times daily for dry skin, or follow your prescribed schedule. Apply after every bath or shower.

For widespread dryness, cover all affected areas rather than treating only the worst patch. Keep moisturizer accessible at work or school if you need to reapply. If daily showers worsen dryness, consider showering every other day. Do not share emollients with other people.24

What should you change for dry facial skin?

Use products intended for the face. Avoid scrubbing away flakes: repeated exfoliation can remove more skin than intended and leave damage that needs to heal. Review makeup and shampoo as well as cleanser and moisturizer if dryness is new. Retinol and astringent toners can be drying. For severe dry spots, gently dab on a petroleum jelly product before bed. If applying petroleum jelly across the face leads to pimples, limit or stop that practice.3

Protect exposed skin with sunscreen rated SPF 30 or higher. Do not count on a plain emollient as sun protection. Shield skin from cold air and wind as well as sunlight.134

How long does treatment take?

Moisturizers soothe, smooth and hydrate skin, but their effects are short lived, which is why frequent application matters. Regular use can reduce eczema flare ups and the need for corticosteroids. There is no fixed clearing time for every cause of dry skin. If a suitable moisturizer and gentler washing do not help, get the dryness assessed rather than repeatedly changing products.45

What if the skin is sore, inflamed or itchy?

Contact dermatitis is inflammation caused by contact with an irritant or allergen. Identifying and avoiding the trigger is a key part of treatment. A pharmacist can help choose an emollient; a doctor can prescribe a topical corticosteroid for sore, inflamed skin. Follow the medicine's directions and keep emollient and steroid applications about 30 minutes apart. A prescribed steroid usually starts having an effect within a few days. Contact your doctor if symptoms do not improve.2

For itching, try a cold compress and avoid scratching, irritating fabrics and excessive heat. Itching is not always caused by dryness: pregnancy, medicines and several illnesses can also cause it. Seek medical advice if itching is severe, has no clear cause or persists for a few weeks.6

When should you stop or get help?

• Stop an emollient that irritates your skin and ask a pharmacist about an alternative.
• Keep emollients away from naked flames. Paraffin containing products can create a fire risk on skin, clothing and dressings.
• Take care in baths and showers because emollients make surfaces slippery.
• Ask your treatment team about emollient use before ultraviolet light treatment or radiotherapy.
• Get facial patches checked if they stay pink, look wet and red, fail to improve or itch enough to interfere with daily life.

How do you treat dry skin due to dehydration?

If you mean skin losing moisture, use the same approach: moisturize damp skin and reduce water loss with regular emollient use. These treatments address moisture in the skin; dehydration affecting the whole body is a separate medical question.5