Dry skin is often a temporary or seasonal condition. However, the severity of signs and symptoms of dry skin in adults can vary drastically based on unique specific factors such as age, skin tone, environmental stressors, and overall wellness or other health conditions. For many, soothing dry skin is a never-ending, year-round battle—but it can be won! If you’re constantly seeking a solution for itchy, cracking, dry, flaky skin, try some of our self-care changes and simple dry skin home remedy tips.

The Common Causes of Dry Skin

• Beginning around 40 years old, the skin’s ability to retain moisture naturally diminishes. As we age, thinning skin produces fewer oils essential for skin to retain water in its outermost layers. Thinning skin increases the risk of dry skin in older adults, but it is normal. By the age of 60, nearly every individual will experience some level of dry skin.

• The local climate and seasonal changes in the weather are an often-cited source of dry skin, especially during the winter months when conditions are perfect for creating extremely dry skin on the face, hands, and elsewhere. Wind, frigid temperatures, and lower humidity levels contribute to drier air, exacerbating dry skin. Meanwhile, the central heating, fireplaces, and space heaters that keep us warm further reduce humidity and can cause the skin to lose even more moisture than usual.

• Individuals with skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis are more likely to experience dry skin. Some medications and procedures, such as dialysis or certain cancer treatments, also contribute to developing dry, thickening skin.

• Many popular soaps, detergents, and shampoos are formulated to remove dirt and oil from your skin but can leave you with dry skin. 

How to Cure Dry Skin with Simple Lifestyle Changes and Home Remedies

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, simple daily routine changes and easy-to-implement home remedies can help heal and prevent dry skin.

• Limit the time you spend bathing to roughly 10 minutes per day, and always use warm, not hot, water. A water temperature that’s too hot can irritate your skin. Taking long, hot showers or baths with lots of scrubbing can dry out your skin and remove its natural oils. Use a gentle cleanser, and avoid harsh soaps and vigorous scrubbing. When drying off, pat and blot, rather than rub, your wet skin with a soft and comfortable towel.
  
  Oatmeal baths are common home remedies for irritated skin. Colloidal oatmeal contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties that are especially effective at relieving itching.

• Immediately following a bath or shower, after washing your hands, and especially if you’ve been swimming in a heavily chlorinated pool, always apply a moisturizing ointment or cream. They’re generally more effective and less irritating than lotions.

• Use only gentle, allergen-free, and fragrance-free products on your skin. Some formulas are simply too harsh for dry skin and sensitive skin types. Dermatologists recommend seeking out skincare products touting “fragrance-free” formulas rather than “unscented” solutions, which may still contain chemicals that try to mask the scents of other ingredients. These chemicals can cause further irritation to dry, sensitive skin.
  
  Natural ingredients, including honey, coconut oil, and aloe vera, are effective options for soothing dry skin. Additionally, research shows petroleum jelly or mineral oil products can heal dry skin in older adults. Covering the skin in a protective layer traps moisture underneath to heal irritated patches of skin.

• Apply similar thinking to your laundry detergent, using only ones labeled “hypoallergenic” to avoid itchy irritation. Dry, irritated skin can be brought on by exposing your skin to new chemicals.
  
• Wearing a layer of cotton, silk, or non-irritating clothing underneath wool or other rougher materials will help soothe dry, raw skin. Additionally, harsh winter weather can be incredibly drying, but covering as much of your skin as possible offers critical protection.

• Dry air can worsen overly dry skin. A humidifier makes it easier for your skin to retain its natural moisture by keeping moisture circulating indoors. Add moisture back into your home’s indoor air with a humidifier. Keep it running in your bedroom overnight. Smaller models can fit on your desk during the day. 

Making changes in your life to live healthier, feel better and look as beautiful outside as you are within can be challenging, but everyone deserves that amazing feeling. If chronic, dehydrated skin symptoms persist, seek additional care and treatment from a certified dermatologist.

SkinTherapyMD’s CAMU anti-aging and acne skincare products contain nature’s most hydrating, moisturizing, and skin-rejuvenating ingredients. Along with lifestyle changes and home remedies, consistent use of our CAMU skincare solutions can protect your skin from scratchy irritation, flaky dryness, and further painful damage.