How to Cope with Dry Skin?

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1. Emollients, these include linolenic, linoleic, & lauric acids – they help smooth and moisturize the skin by filling in the areas between cells of the skin.
2. Humectants such as hyaluronic acid, lecithin, sorbitol, ceramides, and glycerin. These ingredients can attract moisture.
3. Ingredients that can help seal the moisture within the skin. These include mineral oil, lanolin, silicone, and petroleum jelly.

The greasier /thicker a moisturizer that you apply on the skin, the more effective it works in keeping the skin moist.

And if you are looking for moisturizer that can work more effectively, one that contains no water such as petroleum jelly is recommended. For best result, apply this kind of moisturizer after bathing when your skin is still damp.

On the other hand, some moisturizers that contain water are less greasy. Typically, these products are more likely to be purposed for cosmetically moisturizers.

Most cases of dry skin can improve with some lifestyle approaches such as using moisturizers. The following are other lifestyle measures that may help:

1. Use lukewarm water instead of too hot /too cold water to wash your body! Lukewarm water is more likely to be harmless for the skin. On the other hand, too hot water can make skin dry even more, as noted before! Furthermore, limit your bath time not more than 10 minutes!
2. Choose mild soaps (especially one that contain oils and fat) instead of harsh soaps! If necessary, use also gentle skin cleansers!
3. Make sure that you only use fabrics that are kind to your skin such as silk, cotton, or other natural fibers. Avoid wool, it is also natural fiber but it can cause irritation even for normal skin! And to keep safe, use detergents that don’t contain perfumes /dyes to wash your clothes! If you have eczema, see some helpful tips to wash your clothes safely in this section!
4. Use a humidifier (particularly during winter) to help keep the humidity 60 percent or friendly to your skin! Moreover, ensure that the device is clean to ward off fungi and bacteria!
5. Dry skin is vulnerable to become itchy – but never scratch your itchy skin! Scratching is not your real answer – instead, it can worsen the problem and make the skin itch even more. Applying moisturizer on the itchy skin can help. Another idea is applying ice-pack /cool compresses on the itchy skin.
6. And keep hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day!

However, sometime lifestyle measures are not enough to improve very dry skin. For this case, see a doctor for more advice! Your doctor may suggest the use of cream that contains more active ingredients such as urea & lactic acid.

Or if you have certain skin problems such as psoriasis and dermatitis, special topical treatments are usually required to improve the problem.