How to Get Moisture Back Into Your Skin

Dry skin is common during the winter months, but it's preventable.

You can restore the moisture in your skin even if it is as dry as a toasted whole-wheat sawdust sandwich. For many people, winter brings colder temperatures, drier air and rough, itchy dry skin. Frequent bathing or washing with a harsh skin-drying soap or cleanser can also wreak havoc on your skin. By following a few steps, you can restore your skin to its baby softness.

Things You'll Need

• Emollient-based body wash or mild soap
• Emollient-based skin moisturizer

Instructions

1. Take a short bath or shower using warm water. Lather your body with a high-emollient skin cleanser or mild soap and gently clean your body.

2. Dry your skin by gently patting or blotting yourself with a soft towel.

3. Apply an emollient moisturizer to your skin after you dry off. Use the heaviest, oil-based moisturizer you can tolerate.

4. Drink enough water every day to stay hydrated.

5. Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air during the winter months or if you live in an arid, dry climate.

6. Avoid using skin-care products that are alcohol-based or that contain chemicals to which your skin is sensitive.

Tips & Warnings

• According to an article published by the Mayo Clinic, the older you get, the more likely you are to have dry skin. Oil-based moisturizers containing antioxidants may help fight dry skin and improve skin health. Drink water throughout the day to keep your body well hydrated. While drinking water will not cure dry skin, it will benefit your overall health and the general health of your skin.

• Choose a moisturizer most appropriate for your skin type. Heavy, petroleum jelly-based emollients work well to restore moisture to dry skin; however, if you have normally oily skin, they may clog up the ducts that surround your hair follicles and possibly produce a whitehead or comedo. Try a lightweight moisturizer containing cetyl alcohol, isopropyl myristate, cyclomethicone, glyceryl stearate, stearyl alcohol or other non-petroleum-based lubricants.

References

• Chemists Corner; How Do Skin Moisturizers Work?; Kelly Dobos
• U.S. National Library of Medicine MedlinePlus: Dry Skin
• "Dermatologic Therapy"; Benefits of an Emollient Body Wash for Patients with Chronic Winter Dry Skin; L. Hoffman, et al.; Sept. 2008
• MayoClinic; Moisturizers -- Options for softer skin; Staff

Resources

• Dermatology Foundation; Skin Care: Principles of Barrier Protection; Michael D. Tharp; 2005