Women's Dry Skincare Treatments and Remedies | Moisturizers, Exfoliants and Alpha Hydroxy Acids

Dry Skincare Treatments

The most common treatment for dry skin is the use of moisturizers to reduce water loss and soothe the skin.

The National Institutes of Health say all moisturizers work on the same basic principle, that is, they don't add moisture, they seal it in. So moisturizers, applied while skin is still slightly damp, can be most effective.

Types of Moisturizers

Moisturizers come in many forms including, ointments, creams and lotions. Each is slightly different in its composition and how it helps moisturize your skin.

Ointments are mixtures of water in oil, usually either lanolin or petrolatum.

Creams are mostly water with oil. Creams, because of the higher water content, must be applied more often than ointments to be most effective.

Lotions contain powder crystals dissolved in water. Water is the main ingredient. Because of their high water content, they feel cool on the skin and don't leave the skin feeling greasy. They are easy to apply and may be more pleasing than ointments and creams. Lotions however, don't have the same protective qualities. You may need to apply them frequently.

Unless you are allergic to them, moisturizers can be used indefinitely to treat dry skin.

Add Moisture

You can also use a humidifier to add moisture to the air. Bathing less often and using milder soaps can help relieve dry skin as well. Remember warm water is less irritating to dry skin than hot water.

Soap Alternatives

There are also certain types of soaps that are better than others are for dry skin. Dry skin soaps contain extra fats and oils. They are called super fatted soaps. There are also soaps made from petroleum products that are sometimes called soapless soaps. A group of products called lipid cleansers, such as Cetaphil, will leave a film to help keep the skin moist. These products usually contain some sort of oil, water creams, cetyl alcohol and other emollients and emulsifying ointments.

The best time to apply any moisturizer is after you bathe and when the skin is still moist. This helps keep the moisture in and on the skin. You will probably have to apply moisturizer several times a day.

Exfoliation

If you have dry skin, you may still be able to exfoliate, but you need to be careful. Your skin is always pushing dead cells to the surface as it renews itself. These dead cells can sometimes accumulate, resulting in a flaky appearance and clogging pores.

You can use a loofah sponge or a brush to exfoliate. Just remember to be gentle, using a gentle cream or cleanser. There are also creams and lotions available that have exfoliating materials in them. Again, the key is to use these products gently, and make sure you moisturize your skin afterwards with a non-irritating moisturizer.

You can also look for a moisturizer with alpha hydroxy acids or AHAs. AHAs are exfoliants that work to help you shed the dead flaky skin cells. The result is that your skin can look smoother.

If you have any skin problems, make sure you talk to your doctor before starting any new procedure. It's also important to start slowly, testing any new procedure on a small patch of skin to make sure you're not too sensitive.

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Updated June 2009

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