What To Do About Dry Skin

Your skin maintains its smooth soft appearance due to the water content of the outer layer of cells. These cells are like sponges, they can hold a lot of water. To keep the water from evaporating form these cells, yourskin makes oil to form a protective layer, just like a piece of plastic wrap around a sandwich keeps the breadfrom drying out. In the winter when humidity is reduced, water evaporates more readily from your skin cells leading to dryness, flaking, irritation around the hair follicles of the thighs and arms, and occasionally toredness, itching, and general discomfort.

Therefore, the first thing to do for dry skin is to establish a good oil layer. Most important is to have your natural oils in place. Humans feel somehow they should daily remove the oils with soap and water. Soap isvery efficient at removing oils. People with a tendency to dry skin should avoid soap except in the axilla, groin and skin fold areas. If you cannot get along without this human need, try superfatted soaps which are not as efficient as removing oils; or soap substitutes. Ask your pharmacist about these cleansing bars. Someexamples are:

Superfatted soaps: Basis, Oilatum, Keri, Purpose, Shepherds moisturizing soap, Neutrogenasoap for dry skin.

Soap substitute bars: Aveeno, Emulave, Lowilla

Some liquid skin cleansers are good, such as Cetophil lotion.

The rinsing action of a shower removes more oil from the skin than a bath. A bath is a more effective methodfor allowing the skin to soap up water. In either case, to trap the water absorbed in showers and baths, it ishelpful to apply an oil, occlusive cream, or lotion to the still damp skin. Washable or vanishing creams andlotions do not work as well as oils. Occlusive creams are usually preferred. Avoid “medicated” and scentedpreparations as they may contain ingredients that will irritate dry skin. Examples of products available include:

Oils: bath oils - Keri oil, Lubath, Domol (work better applied directly to theskin instead of putting them in water).

Occlusive creams: Vaseline (usually too sticky), Aquaphor, Eucerin, Nivea, Unibase

Lotions: Keri lotion, Nutraderm lotion, Lubiderm lotion

Note: “Moisturizing” products do not add moisture to the skin. The skin is not “lubricated” like asqueaky hinge. Oils applied to the surface of the skin merely help prevent evaporation ofwater from the surface cells.

CAUTION: Avoid products containing “caine” preparations such as benzocaine. Also be suspicious of products that do not list the ingredients on the container.

TSC - 318 (REV. 6/06)

www.AuroraHealthCare.org

The information presented is intended for general information and educational purposes. It is not intended to replacethe advice of your health care provider. Contact your health care provider if you believe you have a health problem.