How to get rid of dry itchy skin on legs

What to do today

1. 1Wash with lukewarm water and a gentle, fragrance free cleanser. Keep your bath or shower to 5 to 10 minutes, and skip scrub brushes.
2. 2Pat your legs dry rather than rubbing them, because a towel is not a polishing tool. Leave your skin slightly damp.
3. 3Apply a generous layer of cream within 3 minutes of bathing. Choose an ointment if your skin feels very dry.
4. 4Reapply moisturizer in the morning and before bed, and during the day when your legs feel dry.
5. 5When itching strikes, place a cool, damp washcloth on the area. Avoid scratching and wear comfortable cotton clothing rather than fabrics that irritate your legs.

Dry skin related itching should improve within a few weeks of simple skin care. Keep moisturizing regularly rather than using cream only when the itch becomes unbearable. Very dry skin sometimes needs a prescription cream or ointment.5

What causes itchy dry skin on legs?

Common triggers include cold, dry weather, indoor heating, hot showers, harsh soaps and fragranced laundry products. Skin also becomes thinner and loses moisture more easily with age, particularly after 65. If your home feels dry, a humidifier can help; aim for indoor humidity between 45% and 60%.156

Not every itchy leg is simply dry. Eczema can cause recurring itchy patches, while contact dermatitis is irritation or an allergic reaction to something touching your skin. A new rash after changing detergent, body wash or lotion is a reason to stop using the suspected trigger. Persistent itching can also come from medicines, nerve problems or an underlying illness, even without a visible rash.36

How do you stop legs from itching after showering?

If the itch reliably starts after bathing, check the water temperature, cleanser and how often you wash. Hot water removes natural skin oils, and frequent bathing can worsen dryness. You do not necessarily need a daily bath or shower, particularly in your 60s and 70s. For eczema prone skin, avoid hard scrubbing and apply moisturizer while your legs are still damp to trap moisture.157

Why do my legs itch when they get dry?

Dry skin lacks enough moisture to stay soft and can become rough, tight, flaky and itchy. Extremely dry skin can itch intensely. Scratching adds irritation and can break the skin, so it does not reliably solve the itch. Moisturizers soften dry skin and help restore its protective barrier.346

What moisturizer helps itchy legs?

Choose a fragrance free body cream, or a petroleum jelly ointment for very dry areas. Glycerin attracts moisture, and ceramides help the skin hold water. An ointment holds water in the skin better than a cream.135

Look for "fragrance free," not just "unscented": unscented products can contain ingredients that mask smells and irritate dry skin. If you have eczema, avoid lanolin if it aggravates your symptoms. Hydrocortisone is a medicine for inflammation, not a replacement for moisturizer; ask your clinician whether an itch treatment fits the cause.147

When should you get itchy legs checked?

See a clinician for severe itching, sleep disruption, recurring dryness or symptoms that persist after a few weeks. Seek care for fever, redness, pain, leaking fluid or sores that do not heal. Mention pregnancy, new medicines and symptoms such as weight loss or increased thirst. Do not stop prescribed medicine without your prescriber's advice. Have a new or changing itchy spot examined by a dermatologist.123467