Everything You Need to Know About Dry Skin and How to Help Dry Skin:

Dry Skin

Dry skin is most common in your lower legs, arms, and thighs. The symptoms most often associated with dry skin include:

• Scaling
• Itching
• Cracks in the skin

Dry skin is very common. It happens more often in the winter when cold air outside and heated air inside causes low humidity. Forced-air furnaces make dry skin even more likely.

When your skin loses moisture it may crack and peel, or become irritated and inflamed. Bathing too frequently, especially with harsh soaps, may contribute to dry skin. Eczema may cause dry skin.

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How can you help stop dry skin?

It may help to change your bathing habits. Try the following:

• Keep baths or showers short.
• Use warm (not hot) water.
• Use as little soap as possible. Limit its use to face, armpits, and genitals if you can. Try mild cleansers like Cross A Ranch Bodywash or mild soaps like Neutrogena or Dove.
• Dry your skin thoroughly but gently -- pat, DON'T rub.
• Take baths or showers less often.

Also, to increase or maintain both skin and body moisture:

Use natural moisturizers such as Cross A Ranch beeswax body cream and hand cream at least daily. These natural moisturizers work best. Avoid products with alcohol. Apply just after a bath or shower, when your skin is still damp. (To read more about why beeswax skin care products are better for your skin and more compatible for your skin than other skin care products, click here.)

Use a humidifier if the air is very dry.
Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Also, apply cool compresses to itchy areas, and try over-the-counter cortisone creams if your skin is inflamed. If this is not enough, talk to your doctor about possible prescription options.