At best, dry skin can be an unsightly annoyance, and at worst, it can be painful, making it hard even to move, let alone sleep or carry out any normal, everyday tasks. Dry skin comes about for all kinds of reasons such as allergies and stress – it can even be hereditary – and for those who suffer, it can feel like a nightmare. The good news is that there are several ways to deal with it that, even if the problem isn’t completely cured, will minimize the symptoms enough to make a big difference. Read on to find out more. 

Be Careful With Baths and Showers 

Although you might think that having baths and showers would be good for dry skin, they can actually make the issue worse if you’re not extremely careful with how you do it. The best way to bathe is to ensure that the bathroom door is closed (this keeps the temperature more stable) and never use very hot water; warm water is best. You should also limit your time in or under the water to 10 minutes maximum.

As for using shower gel or soaps, only ever use natural, fragrance-free types, and never use so much that it lathers. When drying, blot your skin, don’t rub. These tips will help your skin stay more hydrated and stop irritation from occurring. 

Moisturise 

One of the best things you can do when you have dry skin is to apply moisturiser. Moisturisers work by trapping moisture in the skin, stopping it from drying out, so applying it regularly throughout the day will help. It’s most important to use it after a bath or shower, as you’ll be able to make the most of the water that has been on your skin and trap even more moisture this way. 

Again, the moisturiser you choose must be gentle and fragrance-free and contain as many natural ingredients as possible. Something like the Thalgo Exception redensifying cream would be ideal since this contains licorice glabridine and pro-vitamin 5. 

Choose Non-Irritating Clothes 

Even if your clothes aren’t the cause of your dry skin (and it might be that they are; it’s worth checking further into this to see), you can make matters worse if you’re wearing clothes that irritate the skin. With this in mind, if you want to deal with your dry skin and make it as unproblematic as you can, you should wear non-irritating clothes. 

Non-irritating clothes include cotton and silk, and other natural fibers, although it’s best to avoid wool since it has a rough texture. If you do want to wear wool, wear something smooth underneath. When you wash your clothes, use hypoallergenic laundry detergent.

See A Dermatologist 

If your dry skin is very painful or causing you many problems in your daily life, it’s best to make an appointment to see a dermatologist. A dermatologist is a specialist skin doctor who will determine the underlying cause of your skin irritation and may recommend medication or topical creams to help you. 

Never try to self-medicate as you could make things worse.