5 Remedies for Dry and Flaky Skin

Formerly flawless skin can become unattractive and annoying when it dries out and starts to flake. Some people struggle with dry skin every winter, while others fight it more regularly because of aging or genetic factors.

Fortunately, there are always ways to help skin become smooth and properly moisturized. The following five remedies for dry, flaky skin are both accessible and effective.

1. Use Moisturizer

There are several ways skin can dry out, but all of them should respond well to moisturizer. A detailed post on the Renee Rouleau Blog, for example, discusses a skin condition known as “keratosis pillaris” which pairs dryness with the development of red, unsightly bumps.

Even a relatively advanced, involved issue like that can be addressed, in part, by the regular use of a moisturizer. People who experience dry skin because of less pointed concerns like low ambient humidity will mostly benefit even more from applying a high-quality moisturizer as needed.

Such products work not so much by actually adding moisture to the skin but by putting down a waterproof layer of protection that helps keep the skin’s own health-supporting oils from escaping. As such, properly formulated moisturizers are generally considered quite safe to use and unlikely to cause problems.

2. Use Gentler Soaps

Every type of soap is designed to help separate normally clingy oils and fats from surfaces that need to be cleaned. Using an overly harsh soap on your hands or in the shower will deprive your skin of the moisturizing oils it works so hard to produce.

Switch to a gentler type of soap and you should find your skin becoming less dry over time. There are even soaps that are designed to function as moisturizers while still having plenty of cleaning power.

3. Use a Humidifier

Overly dry air causes the skin to dry out by encouraging moisture at the surface to evaporate. Humidify your home, office, or another place where you spend lots of time and dry air will become less of an issue.

A humidifier can also help make the ambient air more comfortable and make it easier to breathe. Some people with conditions like allergies or asthma, though, find that humidifiers exacerbate them, so keep that in mind.

4. Don’t Wash With Hot Water

Hot water dries out the skin by heating it up to the point that the rate of evaporation increases. Take warm showers instead of steaming hot ones and you might find your struggles with dry skin easing up.

Hotter water does make it easier to get clean, so you might need to focus a bit more on the task after making the switch. Wash your hands a little longer to make sure the warm water you use will still sweep away bacteria and other pathogens.

5. Try Wearing Different Fabric

Some artificial fabrics are notorious for provoking dry skin in certain people. Switch to natural ones like cotton and you could find your skin breathing more freely and overcoming dryness in the process.

Certain people find, on the other hand, that even natural fabrics like wool can cause dryness-inducing skin irritation. A bit of experimentation will often be needed to identify your own needs and reactions, but switching up the fabrics you wear can easily pay off.

All of these tactics have been used by success by millions hoping to overcome dry skin. Dry skin can be frustrating to deal with, but the problem can almost always be either eliminated or minimized.