Treatment of Dry Skin

Treatment of Dry Skin


Avoiding harsh soaps, detergents, and perfumes, which tend to dry the skin.

Reduce how often you bath or shower, and use lukewarm water. Showers may be better than baths.

Applying a salicylic acid solution or cream (which removes the top layer of skin) - if the skin is scaly.

Replace standard soap with a substitute such as a synthetic detergent cleanser, water-miscible emollient, bath oil, anti-pruritic tar oil, etc.

Avoiding rubbing or scratching the skin, which can aggravate the symptoms and cause infection .
The doctor can prescribe an Alpha hydroxyacid lotion for your skin which will dissolve the scales and will increase the moisture content of your skin.

Apply an emollient liberally and often, particularly after bathing, and when itchy. The drier the skin, the thicker this should be, especially on the hands.

Treat eczematous patches with a topical steroid for a 5 to 15 day course. These are prescribed by your doctor and should be only applied to the red and itchy areas.

Moisturize immediately after bathing are most effective for trapping water in the skin.
To minimize the irritating effects of shaving on already dry skin, make sure to use a lubricating agent like shaving cream before starting and shave in the direction that hair grows.

Avoid hot water, because it removes natural skin oils more quickly.

Prolonged showers or baths hydrate the skin, but the evaporation process and towel drying the skin. Therefore, bathing and showering should be kept brief, between 5 and 10 minutes.