Everyone seems to be having problems with dry skin in different forms, places on the body, and stages. I have been surprised this year, it seems to be everyone. I have tips used by my grandma and experiments I use that work. I hope these will help you.
The aisle at all drug stores, groceries, etc. are empty of the "dry skin" products which shows companies are unaware of this problem. If you look at the ingredients in dry skin products, you'll see you can DYI most of it at a much cheaper price.
Add a drop of olive oil or vitamin E to face creams from the dollar store. Depending on jar size and if you use if to remove makeup (near eyes), you may not want to do full jar. You may want to have two separate jars, one with added "moisture" and one without.
Same goes for body lotion. Buy inexpensive lotion, usually these are generic names and add olive oil, mineral oil, or vitamin E to the lotion. Give it several days and that flaky skin will be gone or at the very least showing signs of improvement.
I love finding the Vitamin C capsules made by beauty companies. Recently we found them at the back of TJ Max. The cost of these are way out of my budget. However at that marked down price, adding it to lotion either for face or body put a smile on my face. One capsule is what was on the instructions on the jar, and I think there were 30 in this particular container. When I added it to what I already use, it will last longer than 30 uses, doing the job just perfectly for me.
Keep in mind you can put olive oil and mineral oil directly on your skin, however adding it to a lotion will help your skin absorb it, holding it in for longer periods of time. Dry elbow and feet in any winter is a problem. This winter, the wind, early low temperatures, and even snow has made it so long sleeves, socks, even boots started early. Make sure you don't always have these areas covered so they're not getting fresh air.
Making sure the area is dry also is very important. After doing dishes, if you don't use gloves (like me), always dry your hands well. Try having hand lotion right by sink, then anyone has it there to remind them to use it. Using hand sanitizer with alcohol is something I have to do, and it is very drying. Using lotion more often, helps avoid cracking skin on your hands. My lotion I use after sanitizer has much more added olive oil.
Putting Vaseline on your feet with a pair of socks helps those dry, cracking heels. If you can't stand sleeping in socks, rub in the Vaseline as much as possible, doing it right before pulling up the covers.
I have an experiment that I actually did discover on my own - wax around my nails helps with dry, hardened areas around nails, even hangnails. I love candles burning especially in the winter months. When the candle has burned down, just dip your tips of finger in wax. I just dip my nails in the melted wax, let set before it completely hardens, then I rub it into my finger tips. Works great! If you don't like candles, you can still do this. Wait until the candle has a puddle of wax, blow out flame, and dip in your finger tips. Rubbing the wax protects your nails from the cold air, also from water. I have noticed how it helps with hang nails caused from dryness.
You can do your own salon type treatment by buying paraffin, melting it in slow cooker, then dip hands (or feet) into melted wax. Once covered, take out your hand (or foot), put into plastic bag, and then put into an oven mitt. If you are lucky enough to have large rectangular slow cooker, you can do same thing with feet, use plastic bag, and wrap in towel afterwards. I do this all year long, in winter months it's amazing how it helps moisture stay in your skin. You can buy paraffin at the market, where canning jars usually are. Reuse over and over again. You can buy a slow cooker at a thrift store, yard sale, or if you are lucky enough to have an old one, bring it new life.
Giving your skin a steam over hot water helps big time in dry, cold air. While it helps your face, boiling the water also puts moisture in the air. Don't burn yourself! I just place a towel over my head staying far away from hot water. Let the steam do the work. You can do this in bathroom also if the door closes tightly, using the bathroom sink. Keep in mind this doesn't help saving on water or electric bill. I suggest using bowl and towel.
Look in the store where they sell skin and body products, you too may find those special capsules on sale. If not, no worries. Vitamin E and olive oil go a very long way toward helping you have smooth, beautiful skin all season long.
Source: Olive oil is the source for so many things (used in hair also). It even saves money if you buy this at the regular price, I just couldn't afford it. I can afford to follow my grandma's ways. Salons do wax and steam treatments, so I found ways to do at home.
By Luana M. from San Diego, CA
My skin is really bad. It's red and burns here and there. A section on my cheek peeled and it left that part pink and it's just making me feel so insecure. I've never had my skin this bad.
I also tried aloe vera gel and it stained some parts of my dry skin green and the doctor recommend this A&D ointment and I'm just hoping it works well and heals my skin.A&D ointment is used for dry skin as a moisturizer. Since your doctor recommended it, you can use it with confidence.
I am so sad to hear you are having skin issues and that they are making you insecure.
That is good that your doctor is starting you off with a classic like A&D. It has been around for a long time and many people find it works. Mom's have been using it for diaper rash for years so if it is gentle on a baby's bottom it will be gentle on your face.
Please keep up with the doctor and let him/her know how you are healing. If it gets worse or you feel you are having a reaction, call you doctor ASAP.
To help you with the insecurity, get out in front of the issue if you feel (RUDE) people staring and you like comic relief, you can say something like "don't you love my new look" or "Yep, big ouchies going on here". This works two fold in that you have called the person out for being rude (in a nice way) AND shown them that it doesn't bother you.
Or for your family and friends you can just be right up front and say something like, "yep, the doctor is working on it" and leave it at that.
I find it best to just get awkward things out in the open and own them--gives the people you love the info they want to know you are OK and gives rude people a little reminder not to stare.
Prayers for your healing!! Post back with an update.
Hi, br3ndaa!
First of all, I'm so sorry you feel so bad.
Second, I'm in the same boat with you.
I have a big bad eczema on my scalp. Without moisturizing, it easily gets super itchy, dry, and flaky.
For maintenance/daily prevention I am having good luck with coconut oil (the kind that is solid at room temperature). It seems to leave a nice barrier in place that keeps the skin from drying out, without feeling greasy/oily.
When things are already super-dry and cracked, though, you need more moisture immediately. I _never_ had any luck with lotions, but pure aloe seems to just suck right in. Mary Kay also has an after-sun gel that my body just sucks up and that doesnt seem to leave any annoying coating. I would apply one of those immediately after a shower, and then once it is absorbed cover it with the coconut oil or with an udder-balm-type thing.
Here are some general causes and irritants I try to avoid at all cost: www.healthline.com/
Also, if the air at your home is dry, try to moisturize it as well, especially since winter is coming. As it is mentioned in the article above, humidifier might ease your condition: houseweather.org/
As it was said, if your doctor prescribed you A&D, then you probably should try it. Personally, I have success with A&D ointment. A tube of A&D ointment is what I keep constant in my toolbox.
Hope this helps!
Bag Balm was created for soothing a dairy cow's sore and chapped udders. It's great for human hands and feet as well. This is a page about using bag balm for dry skin.
Try a yeast facial on dry skin to keep your complexion soft and supple. This is a page about how to use yeast for a dry skin facial.
You need to consult your doctor and use a mild moisturizer when rehydrating a baby's skin. This is a page about treating a baby's dry skin.
I have terrible dry skin. I am itching all the time, it is just horrible! I talked to my new doctor about it and decided to share her advice with all of you. It really does work and no pills!
I have been using pure coconut oil for the past two months. I no longer have red, cracked, and bleeding hands nor do my feet have large unhappy cracks in them.
I use flaxseed oil for dry skin. I put flaxseed oil in my pets' food for their dry skin too. I also use flaxseed for constipation. Flax is really wonderful.
During winter, your skin loses moisture and tends to dry even when you apply lotion. Add few drops of olive oil to your bottle of lotion and shake well.
Just yesterday I bought a product (can't find it online) that has beeswax, grape seed oil, night primrose oil, olive oil, shea butter, essential oil, honey, and vitamin E. I was told to use it as lotion. I have psoriasis on the palm of one hand and cannot leave it alone.
