Suggestions for Dry Skin

Updated on March 11, 2010
T.S. asks from Langhorne, PA
16 answers

I have really bad dry winter skin... my hands are always dry and what's worse is my face is very dry and flaky. I put lotion on it all the time but I have that dry flaky skin (especially on my chin) that lotion doesn't seem to get rid of. I think I need an exfoliant to remove the dead skin and I was looking to get suggestions for something inexpensive or homemade.

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T.S.

answers from Philadelphia on

Someone may already have suggested this...I don't have time to read all the other responses...but Aquafore (sp?) is amazing. I use it on hands and feet and use gloves or socks if the situation is really bad....don't know how you would cover the face, but even without covering it....

Good luck!

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Y.A.

answers from Harrisburg on

I have been having the same problem and a friend of mine suggested Eucerin. I tried and it works like magic! It is very thick and helps clear up the dry skin. I even put it on my face at night. Hope this helps.

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P.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

I don't know what you are using to wash your face, but try a very mild make-up remover where you don't need to rinse with water. I used one by L'oreal that I bought a drugstore that worked well. I tried to find it online, but I'm not sure that they still make it. Try something in their make-up remover towlette line. You could try a gentle exfoliant -- Nivea Visage makes a nice one called Natural Beauty, but if your skin is really dry, don't use it everyday. Use very gentle products, and remember less is more. Since I've switched to super mild products, my skin is much happier.
For your hands, I can recommend Garnier bodyurea with 5% urea -- the best lotion I've found!
Good luck.

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L.J.

answers from Philadelphia on

All of the responses sound great, but don't overlook the obvious: Make sure you are drinking plenty of water every day!!

A good water intake guide is your weight divided by 2, in oz. Example, 140lbs / 2 = 70 oz water each day.

Good luck!!

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S.B.

answers from Pittsburgh on

First of all, make sure you use a moisturizing soap, such as Dove. As for an exfoliant, you can make your own. Just mix some sugar with a little olive oil or almond oil.

D.R.

answers from Santa Fe on

i have really dry skin and i have tried different lotions to prescriptions and nothing has seemed to work for me but i bought me some lotion aveeno for dry skin and it works wonders for my skin you might wanna try this it might work for you as well!!

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J.H.

answers from Philadelphia on

I see you have a lot of answers, but here's what worked for me. I'm a delicate flower with dry skin, so if you're the same maybe this will help!

I used to exfoliate and use toner etc. I went to the dermatologist and I was pretty much doing everything wrong. Don't exfoliate, it is too rough on your skin, don't use toner, it dries it out too much.

She said to use CeraVe cleanser (over the counter, a little hard to find, but worth it) and then perscribed Mimyx cream for my face (it is actually for chemo patients). And my skin is SO MUCH BETTER! So if you don't want to get a perscription just get a good moisturizer with no fragrance. I liked Clinique Turnaround cream before I got the perscription, but I'm not sure if that has fragrance.

Good luck. My son inherited my delicate skin that's no fun either!

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V.G.

answers from Portland on

Olive oil or almond oil work WONDERS and they're completely natural and safe. :)

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K.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

I am currently using Aveda All Sensitive Cleanser, Toner and Moisturizer on my face and I love it. I’ve used it for 10 years now. It’s great because I can slap on some lotion in the middle of the day if I need to, and it is never oily or greasy.

I am slowly “switching stores” and converting everything to Nicole Miller’s beauty line. I don’t sell the products, but I can show you how you can get them. And I found this AMAZING body lotion called Renew that has treated my daughter’s eczema. I use it on my dry skin in the winter too.

M.L.

answers from Erie on

I second what Erica said! That cream works wonders, but I think you do need an exfollient first. If you don't do that first, all you are doing is moisturizing dead skin and that won't do you any good. Mary Kay (and I'm sure others do as well) has a great mask for dry skin. i suggest you get some sort of gentle mask for dry skin and exfolliate twice a week, get a good cleanser for dry skin and cleanse twice a day and use a good moisturizer. If you look into Mary kay at all, they have a Classic Basic skin care set that is for dry skin (it's called Formula 1). I highly recommend it!

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E.M.

answers from Johnstown on

Hi T.,
If you have a Mary Kay consultant, please ask her for a sample of the Extra Emolient Night cream. This stuff works WONDERS on any part of the body--it's even awesome for diaper rash, believe it or not. If you don't have a consultant, please let me know and I'll be more than happy to send you a sample.
Best of luck!
E.

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K.P.

answers from Albany on

I have a cream I make that I've used since I was pregnant with my two boys. Its 1/3 Vaseline, 2/3 cocoa butter and 2/3 vitamin E cream. I even found scented cocoa butter with mango (YUM). I just put it all in a bowl (glass or metal) and use a hand mixer to blend it together. You can save money and store it back in the containers they came in. If its too loose, then add more Vaseline. I love it and my husband uses it when he gets dry spots on his face.

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J.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I also have very dry skin. It seems to be in some spots more than others. I found that I was having a reaction to some of the products I was using. I changed to products without petroleum products in them and that helped. The other products that people have recommended are good but I would also add to try not using antibacterial soap on your hands. Switching to a regular natural soap has helped my hands out so much. I make my own liquid hand soap and that has helped my dry hands immensely. My hands used to crack and bleed no matter what lotion I used and now they are clean, soft and not cracking. For the face, I don't wash it every day. I remove my makeup with water and a small amount of oil for the eye makeup and then I only wash it with a gentle cleanser every other day. I hope this helps.

P.W.

answers from Dallas on

Do you take long hot showers? The hot water will contribute to "winter itch." So if you are I would suggest you stop. Then put lotion on immediately after you towel off while your skin is still a tiny bit moist. I used to have terribly dry winter skin until I became a Shaklee Independent Distributor and tried the products. They really work:
I use the shower gel, then I prefer the Hand and Body Lotion because it is thinner, easier to apply and has no scent.
http://healinghappens.myshaklee.com/us/en/category.php?ma...
The spa treatment is great though.
Avoid all soaps.

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D.W.

answers from Philadelphia on

Anything with shea butter is awesome. Suave which is reasonable makes a lotion with shea butter in it and I use this on my hands. Regular lotion sometimes does not do the trick. Make sure to have moisturizer for your face. Make sure to drink lots of water. When we get dehydrated our skin gets dry. I am sure your that your lips get dry also. Make sure the water you use is not too hot. This with the winter air can dry you out too. Another thing you can do is take a warm bath with baking soda. baking soda is cheap and does make the skin soft. It is good for many things. be care of exfoliants if you are acne prone. You can have acne and dry skin patches,this is not uncommon. Oil of olay makes a moisturizer with alpha hydroxy in it. Oil if olay makes a foaming face wash for sensitive skin which I really like. It cleans the skin and takes off all of your makeup. I buy all of my skin stuff at walmart. They seem to be the most reasonable. good luck

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L.B.

answers from Spokane on

Renew lotion is the ONLY things that works for us. We have excema and psoriosis in our home.
www.livetotalwellness.com/beathome

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