How to Treat Dry Skin at Home

It's that time of year when many of my patients experience very dry skin and ask me about the best way to manage this at home. It is imperative to use a daily non-scented cream or ointment moisturizer, preferably after bathing. I usually recommend that if the moisturizer is a lotion or is dispensed from a pump, it is too thin to provide adequate moisture during the winter season. So look for moisturizers in a tube or jar this time of year. If a thick cream is not improving the dry skin, try petrolatum (aka vaseline). Also, keep showers or baths short and avoid very hot water as this will further dehydrate the skin. The skin on your hands is particularly besieged this time of year with frequent handwashing, so use an instant hand sanitizer or hand wipe intermittently if you wash your hands frequently and try to moisturize after every hand wash. See the video below from the American Academy of Dermatology for more dry skin relief tips.