Skincare tips & advice
Dry skin treatments for face, hands, feet and body
The skin on the face, hands, feet, or body may be dry during a certain season or all year round. Therefore, it is important to understand how to avoid the symptoms of dry skin, including flaking, itching, burning and discomfort - read on to learn more.
What You Need to Know
Dry skin is often temporary, but it can also be an ongoing condition for many1. While the symptoms of dry skin can vary, common signs are itchy, red, cracked, flaky, rough, tight-feeling or ashy skin1. While some cases may require the help of a dermatologist, there are many different ways to remedy dry skin and achieve better levels of hydration. Below are tips for alleviating dry skin on different parts of your body. However, if symptoms continue – and you are unable to figure out the reason or source – seek the help of a dermatologist.
The facts about who's at risk for dry skin
Certain people may be more at risk for excessively dry skin2, including:
- Those who are middle age or older. Skin produces less sebum (oil) as it ages, and levels can drop significantly by your 40s and beyond.
- People who live in extremely cold, dry places.
- Workers who are required to put their hands in water frequently or use harsh chemicals (cooks, hairdressers, housekeepers, nurses, construction workers, etc.)
- Harmful chemicals in cigarettes can dry and age the skin.
- People with certain diseases. Kidney disease, diabetes, thyroid disease, anorexia, cancer and other illnesses can cause excessively dry skin, as can some of the treatments.
Dry Skin on the Face
Washing your face in the morning and the evening is important, yet using harsh soaps and cleansers may deplete moisture levels3. Be sure to choose a hydrating cleansing bar or liquid cleanser that can remove dirt, makeup and other debris, but that also contains three essential ceramides to help restore and maintain the skin’s natural barrier. It should also be formulated with hyaluronic acid to help retain skin’s natural moisture. After cleansing, apply a hyaluronic acid serum to help bind moisture to the skin’s surface and instantly soften and smooth skin. After the serum, use a daily face moisturizer you can wear under makeup or alone. By choosing one that also has ingredients previously mentioned, like ceramides and hyaluronic acid, you're creating layers of products that help skin retain moisture.
Dry Skin on the Hands
Environmental irritants and allergens, frequent hand-washing, cleaning and other common daily activities4 can lead to dry hands. Using a therapeutic hand cream can help temporarily protect your hands from the elements by alleviating dryness and restoring hydrated skin. Choose a water-resistant, non-greasy, fast-absorbing formula that also contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid. Other beneficial ingredients can include dimethicone, which helps prevent and temporarily protects chafed, chapped, cracked skin, as well as niacinamide, a B vitamin that can help to calm the skin.
Dry Skin on the Body
The process of remedying dry skin often begins in the shower. Use a gentle body wash and then a daily oil-free body lotion or moisturizing cream immediately after. Both should contain essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid to provide cleansing and hydration, while softening the skin all day.
Dry Skin on Targeted Areas
Achieving smoother skin on areas that can experience extreme dryness, cracking and chafing – like elbows, knees and the soles/heels of feet – benefits from a healing ointment that can hydrate and soothe. Choose an ointment formulated with hyaluronic acid and ceramides, as well as petrolatum, which helps create a physical barrier that prevents moisture from leaving the skin. Ideally, it should also be fragrance-free and lanolin-free to avoid the risk of irritation from these ingredients.
No matter which product you choose to help remedy dry skin on the face, hands, feet, elbows, knees and beyond – be sure to look for formulas that are:
- Developed with dermatologists
- Fragrance-free, non-comedogenic and non-drying