Page 43 - (DK) Home Doctor: Providing practical advice on home treatments

COMMON CONDITIONS: SKIN, HAIR, AND NAIL PROBLEMS 41

Dry skin

When your skin lacks moisture it tends to be itchy and flaky. It may look red, rough, and scaly and, in severe
cases, become cracked and inflamed. You are most likely to develop dry skin on your lower legs, arms, and
the backs of your hands because these areas produce less of the natural oils that seal moisture into the skin.
Your skin also becomes drier as you get older and after menopause. You may develop sore, rough, chapped
skin on your face in dry, cold weather, or if your face gets wet repeatedly and is not dried properly.

What you can do yourself
DRUG REMEDIES
Try the following to reduce the discomfort of dry,
itchy skin and improve its appearance. Moisturizers (see p.187) can be used
instead of soaps for washing and to protect and
● Take baths rather than showers (which tend to
soothe dry skin. Use a water-based cream or
strip oils from the skin) no more than once a day in emulsifying ointment, rather than a perfumed
warm, rather than hot, water. Don’t use perfumed product, in the bath and when you wash. Rinse the
or medicated bath products or soaps. product off thoroughly. Pat your skin with a towel
● Use moisturizing cream or ointment instead of (rather than rubbing), preserving a
thin layer of moisture. Then apply
soap (see DRUG REMEDIES, right).
oil or petroleum jelly to
● Alternatively, use a bath oil containing oatmeal seal the moisture in. Apply
(see NATURAL REMEDIES, right). moisturizer throughout the
day to prevent your skin
● After your bath, apply oil (olive, almond, sesame,
drying out again.
or jojoba) or petroleum jelly to your skin. Apply
moisturizer (see DRUG REMEDIES, right) frequently Applying oil
throughout the day to exposed areas, such as your Apply oil liberally to your
hands and face, especially after washing or if you skin while it is still
are outdoors for long periods in cold weather. Keep moist after a bath.
tubes of moisturizer around the house and at work
to use during the day.

PREVENTION
NATURAL REMEDIES
Preventing dryness If your skin tends
to get dry or chapped, try the following measures.
Oatmeal bath oil (see OATMEAL PRODUCTS,
● Don’t overheat your home. In centrally heated p.187) is soothing and moisturizing for dry, itchy skin.
rooms keep the air moist by using a humidifier or Add it to a warm bath and soak for 10–20 minutes.
fitting humidifying devices to radiators.
● Wear rubber gloves for household cleaning and
gloves for gardening and other outdoor activities.
● Limit sunbathing. Use a sunscreen (see DRUG Seek medical advice
REMEDIES: SUNSCREENS AND SUNBLOCKS, p.47) when you
are out in the sun. At high altitudes, use a sunscreen Arrange to see your doctor if:
formulated for skiing.
● You still have dry, chapped skin after trying
● Rinse your laundry well and don’t use fabric
conditioners; they may irritate your skin. the measures described above
● Your skin becomes inflamed and bleeds