How do I treat dry skin?
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Dr. Joshua Zeichner of The Mount Sinai Medical Center answered:Dry skin should be treated with special soaps and the use of moisturizers. Also, avoiding extreme climates (like the dead of the winter cold) can help!
True soaps can be harmful to the skin and disrupt the skin barrier. Moreover, they can strip the body of natural moisturizing oils. Look for non-soap cleansers made for dry skin. They are pH balanced, may contain moisturizers, and shouldn't cause irritation.
Using moisturizers is a key factor in treating dry skin. Apply right after the shower when the skin is damp, so you can lock in the moisture. Moisturizing creams contain ingredients specificaly designed to keep the skin hydrated.
1. Emollients: ingredients that directly hydrate the skin, eg. petrolatum
2. Humectants: ingredients that attract water from deep in the skin and the environment, eg. glycerol
3. Occlusives: ingredients that provide a physical barrier to prevent water loss from the skin, eg. petrolatum or lanolin
By preventing water loss through the skin and helpng hydrate dry skin cells, moisturizers help maintain the skin barrier in as good shape as possible. The newest moisturizers and barrier repair creams also contain natural fats such as ceramides and free fatty acids. In addition, they may contain hyaluronic acid and natural moisturizing factors such as lactic acid and filaggrin breakdown products. Many of these products are available over the counter, and there are some other great products that require a prescription from your dermatologist.
Helpful? 1 person found this helpfulDry skin should be treated with special soaps and the use of moisturizers. Also, avoiding extreme climates (like the dead of the winter cold) can help! True soaps can be harmful to the skin and disrupt the skin barrier. Moreover, they can strip the... More -
RealAge answered:Manhattan dermatologist Amy Wechsler, MD—RealAge expert and author of The Mind-Beauty Connection—shares the best nonprescription solution for dull and dry skin.
Beauty solution: Moisturizers that contain glycerin, a potent "humectant" that draws water from the atmosphere into the skin's outer layer. Apply twice a day after cleansing or using a potentially irritating exfoliating product, like one containing glycolic acid.
Look for: Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion or any other glycerin-based moisturizer that also contains silicone, which makes the moisturizer glide smoothly onto even rough skin and bolsters the water-loss barrier, so your skin's less likely to dry out, says Dr. Amy.Manhattan dermatologist Amy Wechsler, MD—RealAge expert and author of The Mind-Beauty Connection—shares the best nonprescription solution for dull and dry skin.Beauty solution: Moisturizers that contain glycerin, a potent "humectant"... More
