HOW TO TREAT DRY SKIN: TIPS FOR RELIEF

DERMATOLOGISTS' TOP TIPS FOR RELIEVING DRY SKIN

Dry skin can flake, itch, crack and even bleed. To help relieve dry skin, dermatologists offer these tips.

Simple changes can soothe dry skin

Following the same skincare routine year-round may not work so well when the humidity drops. Without a change in your skincare, dry air can make fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable. Dry, itchy skin can flake, crack, and even bleed.

To help heal dry skin and prevent its return, dermatologists recommend the following.

1. Stop baths and showers from worsening dry skin. When the humidity drops or your skin feels dry, be sure to:

Close the bathroom door.
Use warm rather than hot water.
Limit your time in the shower or bath to 5 or 10 minutes.
Wash with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser.
Apply enough cleanser to remove dirt and oil, avoid using so much that you see a thick lather.
Blot your skin gently dry with a towel.
Slather on the moisturizer immediately after drying your skin.

2. Apply moisturizer immediately after washing. Ointments, creams, and lotions (moisturizers) work by trapping existing moisture in your skin. To trap this much-needed moisture, you need to apply a moisturizer within a few minutes of:

Drying off after a shower or bath
Washing your face or hands

3. Use an ointment or cream rather than a lotion.

Ointments and creams are more effective and less irritating than lotions. Look for a cream or ointment that contains one or more of the following ingredients:

Jojoba oil
Dimethicone
Glycerin
Hyaluronic acid
Lactic acid
Lanolin
Mineral oil
Petrolatum
Shea butter

4. Wear lip balm

Choose a lip balm that feels good on your lips. If your lips sting or tingle after you apply the lip balm, switch to one that does not cause this reaction.

5. Use only gentle, fragrance-free skincare products.

Some skincare products, such as deodorant soaps, are too harsh for dry, sensitive skin. Dermatologists recommend using products labeled "fragrance-free."

If you see the word "unscented," the product can contain chemicals that neutralize or hide the odors of other ingredients. These chemicals can irritate dry, sensitive skin.

6.Wear gloves

Our hands are often the first place we notice dry skin. You can reduce dry, raw skin by putting on gloves before you:

Go outdoors in winter.
Perform tasks that require you to get your hands wet.
Get chemicals, greases, and other substances on your hands.

7. Choose non-irritating clothes and laundry detergent.

When our skin is dry and raw even clothes and laundry detergent can be irritating. To avoid this:

Wear cotton or silk under your clothing made of wool or another material that feels rough.
Use laundry detergent labeled “hypoallergenic.”

8. Stay warm without cozying up to a fireplace or other heat source. Sitting in front of an open flame or other heat source can dry your skin.

9. Add moisture to the air

Plug in a humidifier. If you can, check your home heating system to find out if you have a humidifier on the system — and whether it’s working.

Author

Dr. Sheenam Sharma

Skin Specialist in Chandigarh

Dr. Sheenam's Skin | Hair & Laser Clinic

# 1 | Sector 21 A | Chandigarh

To Book an Appointment Call : +91 90416-25252