How to treat dehydrated skin

What to do first

1. 1Keep baths and showers to five to ten minutes with warm water. Close the bathroom door while showering, then pat skin dry instead of rubbing. Long hot baths can worsen dry skin, so the bath is not always the moisture delivery system it appears to be.
2. 2Wash with a gentle cleanser and use only enough to remove dirt and oil. Limit cleanser to areas that need washing, such as the armpits or groin. Foam makes cleanser look busy, but the useful target is just enough to remove dirt and oil.
3. 3Apply moisturizer as soon as you pat dry, while skin is still damp.
4. 4Reapply moisturizer after washing your hands and whenever skin feels dry.
5. 5If indoor air is dry, use a humidifier; clean a portable humidifier regularly.

Which moisturizer should you use?

For dry skin, creams and ointments generally hold more moisture than lotions. A cream is less greasy; an ointment is thicker and can suit very dry skin or nighttime use. Useful ingredients include glycerin, hyaluronic acid, dimethicone, petrolatum, mineral oil, shea butter, lanolin, jojoba oil and lactic acid. Choose a product made for the area you are treating, since a face and body moisturizer are not always interchangeable.2

Choose a product labeled fragrance free. The word unscented can hide odor masking chemicals, because skin care labels sometimes give a clear word a second job. If you have sensitive skin, the British Association of Dermatologists notes that ointments are usually free of preservatives, but they are not for weeping eczema.234

How to hydrate dehydrated skin

Emollients, the creams, ointments and lotions used to soften skin, cover its outer layer with a protective film that helps trap moisture. Apply enough to cover the dry area, and keep using it regularly rather than waiting for skin to feel tight again. Skin can feel softer and less rough as soon as emollient treatment starts, provided you apply enough and often enough.35

What does dehydrated skin look like?

Skin that lacks moisture can feel tight or rough and look dull, flaky or scaly. Dry skin can also itch, turn red, develop fine cracks or become less flexible. Severe dryness can crack and bleed. These are signs of dryness, not a way to tell what caused it.16

What causes dehydrated skin?

Skin can lose moisture with cold, dry or windy weather, low indoor humidity, frequent or long bathing, hot water, harsh soaps and detergents, or irritating products. Age, some medicines and health conditions such as eczema or psoriasis can also contribute. If dryness began after a medicine or keeps returning despite changes to washing and moisturizing, mention it to a health care provider.16

What skincare routine helps dehydrated skin?

In the morning, apply moisturizer to damp skin after washing, then protect exposed skin with a broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, shade and sun protective clothing. At night, keep washing brief and warm, pat dry, then apply moisturizer again. A lighter cream can be easier in the daytime; a thicker ointment can be more comfortable at night. Reapply after handwashing rather than expecting one morning application to last through the day.2

What should you stop using, and when should you get help?

While skin is dry, stop skincare products containing fragrance, alcohol other than hand sanitizer, or retinoids. If you use a prescribed skin treatment, ask the prescriber before changing it; leave 20 to 30 minutes between an emollient and another prescribed cream or ointment, and follow the clinician's instructions about which goes first. Tell a dermatologist if moisturizer or another product repeatedly burns, stings or irritates your skin. See a dermatologist if dryness continues after these steps or keeps returning. Cracks that become open sores need care because broken skin can become infected.245