Dry skin is common. It can occur at any age and for many reasons. Lack of daily moisturizers and excessive use of harsh, drying soaps and hot water while bathing can lead to dry skin. As we age, our oil glands shrink in size and produce less oil predisposing us to dry skin. Harsh winter winds, low humidity environments, chlorinated pools and chronic sun exposure can all cause dry skin. In addition, some people are born with a genetic predisposition for dry skin, hay fever and allergic skin reactions like eczema. Even in non-allergy prone people, extremely dry skin can lead to a skin problem called dermatitis (derm-muh-TIE-tis) or eczema. Dermatitis or eczema is an inflammatory reaction of the skin. It appears as an itchy rash with patches of dry, red, irritated skin. The earlier dermatitis is diagnosed and treated the better. Without treatment, dermatitis gets worse.

One of the main points of treatment for dry skin is restoring a healthy barrier function of the skin with emollients and when eczema is present, calming the inflammation with topical remedies and bathing measures.

Often people need a dermatologist’s help to get relief from severe dry skin.

Contact Dr. Heather Roberts for further information.

Dry Skin Care

Avoid frequent hot baths or showers; use luke warm water instead.

Limit baths/showers to less than 10 minutes.

Use a non-soap cleanser or mild soap. Apply “soap” mainly to “dirty areas” – hands, feet, face, groin, armpits. Use plain water on rest of body or a non-soap cleanser.

Do not use “bubble baths” instead Aveeno powder can be added to tub to soothe skin.

Follow the “3 minute rule”; lubricate skin within 3 minutes of bathing while still damp. Repeat 2-4 times a day, if really dry. A list of lubricant creams is given below. Ointments and creams trap more water into the skin than lotions.

Avoid rough, tight clothing or wool next to the skin.

Mild Cleansers:

• Aveeno bar or liquid soap
• Cerave Cleanser
• Cetaphil liquid or bar soap
• Cetaphil Restoring Body Wash
• Dove
• Eucerin Gentle cleanser
• Free and Clear Liquid Cleanser
• Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser
• Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser
• Toleriane Liquid Cleanser
• Ultra Gentle Green Tea Cleanser – Available in our office
• Vanicream Cleansing Bar

Do NOT use medicated soaps; these include Coast, Dial, Irish Spring, Safeguard, Zest, Ivory.

See below for the protective & healing power of moisturizers from lowest to highest A) to D):

A) Lotions:

• AmLactin Lotion
• Aveeno Lotion
• Cerave Lotion
• Cetaphil Restoring moisturizer
• Keri Lotion
• Lipikar Lotion-Available in out office
• Lachydrin Lotion
• Lubriderm Advance Therapy
• Neutrogena Sesame Body Lotion

B) Creams:

• Cerave Cream
• Cetaphil Cream
• Curel Itch Defense
• Cutemol Cream
• Lachydin Cream
• Vaseline Clinical Therapy
• VaniCream Skin Cream

C) Barriers Creams:

• ** Eletone Cream
• ** Epiceram
• ** Neosalus Cream/Lotion/ Foam
• ** Biafine Emulsion

** Available by prescription for severe dry skin and eczema control

D) Ointments

• Aquaphor Healing Ointment
• Neutrogena Sesame oil