Dry Skin Remedy: Ways to Give Your Skin Relief

Having dry skin can be an uncomfortable, even painful experience. If you’re looking for a dry skin remedy, it’s important to get to the root of dryness and address your skin situation.

Dry skin is often confused with dehydrated skin. While the former is a skin type that results from a lack of natural oils or sebum, the latter is a skin condition that occurs when the skin lacks water. You have dry skin if you have fewer oil-producing glands. Although, you can also experience dry skin when sebum is depleted from external or internal factors, such as the climate or certain medications.

According to Harvard Health, sebum and water work together in keeping skin balanced and healthy. For skin to feel supple and soft, the epidermis must contain 20% to 35% water. Our oil glands prevent abnormal water loss by producing a protective barrier of sebum, composed of fatty acids, sugars, waxes, and other natural chemicals. When sebum is depleted, our skin loses water, feels dry, and may even flake or crack.

Excessive dryness can lead to itching and eczema. These methods can help relieve your symptoms, whether you have naturally dry skin or are experiencing dry skin now.

Harvard Health recommends using warm water and unscented, mild, nourishing body wash products. Avoid using hot water and heavy-duty soaps that might be too harsh for your skin. Do not use washcloths, sponges, and brushes to avoid damaging your skin. After your shower, pat your skin dry instead of rubbing it with a towel. Immediately apply a moisturizer or hydrating body wash for dry skin while it is still a bit damp.

Dove Bar for Sensitive Skin is great for dry skin because it is unscented and won’t irritate. It’s also formulated with ¼ moisturizing cream to replenish lost moisture, leaving skin with comfortable softness.

Apply non-greasy skin repair products, like Vaseline Intensive Care Deep Restore, formulated with pure oat extract and Vaseline Jelly to moisturize damaged, dry skin from within. This Vaseline lotion's aloe vera content will relieve itching and soothe skin. Aloe vera has antioxidant, anti-microbial, immune-boosting, and wound-healing properties, based on the Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine.

Sun exposure can make dry skin even drier by depleting the skin’s surface of water and sebum. After being exposed to the sun, dry skin can feel parched and tight and can look wrinkly. Using a moisturizer with SPF can help lock moisture in while preventing moisture loss.

Moisturizers rehydrate the epidermis and seal in moisture — Harvard Health states that this is the first step to combating dry skin. Using Vaseline for dry skin is pretty much a no-brainer. Try Vaseline Healthy Bright Hand and Body Lotion, which delivers UVA/UVB protection with SPF 24 PA+++ and lightens skin with vitamin B3. It provides 24x more protection than other skin repair products.

Finally, resist the temptation to pick at any flakes or scrub your skin. The best dry skin remedy is treating it with gentle care to prevent irritation and protect it from further moisture loss.