Why are my legs dry even after moisturizing?

Why is my skin still dry after using lotion?

Dry skin lacks moisture in its outer layer, and the shins are a particularly common place for dryness. A weakened skin barrier, the outer layer that keeps moisture in, makes retaining water harder. Cold air, indoor heating, excessive washing and rough clothing can keep aggravating the problem even when you moisturize regularly. Skin also produces less natural oil with age.23

A lotion spreads easily but is less moisturising than a cream or ointment, which is a slightly awkward distinction for a bottle labelled moisturiser. Choose a cream for daytime if you prefer something less greasy, or an ointment for very dry, thickened skin at night. Do not use ointments on weeping eczema.4

How do you moisturize very dry legs?

1. 1Wash gently with warm water and a gentle cleanser. Avoid scrubbing flakes off your legs.
2. 2Pat your legs dry rather than rubbing them with a towel. Leave the skin slightly damp.
3. 3Apply your cream or ointment immediately. Smooth it gently in the direction your hair grows rather than rubbing vigorously.
4. 4Reapply two to three times a day, or whenever your legs feel dry or tight. Morning and bedtime are useful opportunities alongside application after bathing.
5. 5If you shave your legs, do it at the end of your shower when the hair is softer, then pat dry and apply your fragrance free moisturizer.

Can hot showers cause dry legs?

Yes. Frequent long, hot showers can cause dryness. Keep baths and showers to five to ten minutes, use warm rather than hot water, and bathe no more than once daily. Ordinary soaps and shower gels can also dry skin out. An emollient soap substitute cleans without foaming like ordinary soap, so the bubbles are not the cleaning department. Emollients are moisturizing treatments that leave a protective film to trap moisture.24

What ingredients help dry skin on legs?

Look for glycerin, which attracts moisture, and petrolatum or mineral oil, which help hold moisture in. Ceramides are another ingredient to look for. Urea is a humectant, an ingredient that helps skin retain water. You do not need every ingredient in one formula. Lanolin can cause irritation, so choosing a formula without it is an option.2356

Choose products labelled "fragrance free" rather than "unscented": unscented products can contain ingredients that hide smells and irritate dry skin. Avoid harsh deodorant soaps and alcohol containing skincare. Loose cotton clothing reduces rubbing from tight leggings or jeans, and laundry detergent without fragrances or dyes removes another possible irritant.12

When does dryness need more than moisturizer?

Moisturizers should help soften rough skin and reduce cracking, but there is no fixed recovery time. A tendency to dryness can persist, while dryness caused by aggravating factors can improve once those factors are controlled. See a clinician if dryness persists despite these changes, keeps returning, disrupts sleep, or leaves open cuts or sores. Eczema, psoriasis and some medicines can contribute to persistent dryness.235

Stop a product that causes burning, stinging or irritation and discuss the reaction with a clinician or pharmacist. Ask your dermatologist before adding an itch cream. If you use a steroid cream or another skin treatment, leave 20 to 30 minutes between it and your emollient, and ask which goes first. Keep emollient contaminated clothing and bedding away from flames and cigarettes because they can catch fire easily.14