Dry Skin

Dry skin is a very common skin problem. It usually worsens in winter, when humidity goes down due to central heating inside. Dry skin is also sometimes referred to as winter itch. Dry skin mostly manifests itself at the lower legs, flanks (sides of the abdomen), arms and thighs.

Causes of dry skin include air-conditioning, the winter (with central heating), bathing or showering frequently, and eczema. It is possible to minimize dry skin, and there are various things you can do. As a starter, shower less! If you are a frequent showerer, you should try and limit the times that you take a shower. Taking a shower once a day actually is too much already, so if possible try to reduce your shower to once every two days.

Hot showers are notoriously bad for your skin. Try to keep the water just warm enough to be agreeable, and shower as quickly as possible. Using soap every time you take a shower or a bath is also very bad for dry skin. Try to limit the use of soap to the absolutely necessary areas of the body such as the armpits and genitals. After showering, dry your skin softly by tapping- not rubbing it. To keep your skin moisturized, use a moisturizing lotion at least every day, and especially after you have taken a shower. Extremely fatty moisturizer such as Vaseline work pretty well for dry skin, although your skin might feel a bit sticky after using it. If you have extremely dry sin, however, Vaseline is a fine skin care product that knows how to take care of dry skin surprisingly well.

Furthermore, let yourself be informed by your pharmacist about the best skin care products for dry skin. If the dry skin is really bad and itches unbearably, go see your doctor and ask for a more rigorous approach.