Dry skin is a complaint of every healthy person at some time in life. The problem gets worse the older you get, and for those who live in overheated homes in cold, dry climates and take too many long, hot baths, the skin on the lower arms and legs can get so dry that it resembles the bottom of a dry lake. Dryness results from a lack of water—not oil—in the thin top layer of skin. The parts of the skin that contain lots of oil glands—namely, the scalp, face, back, chest and upper arms—don't have this problem because one of the function of the skin oil is to form a water-retaining layer on the surface of the top layer of skin.
In the USA, Europe and Japan 40 to 50% of women report that they have sensitive skin, defined as abnormal responses to drugs, cosmetics and toiletries. Itching, burning, stinging and tightness are the commonest complaints, which mainly affect women. Manufacturers of skin care products have made available a large variety of products which are designed for persons with sensitive skin. Such products are not required by regulatory agencies to submit evidence of safety and efficacy, allowing marketers to make claims that are often exaggerated, irrational and even preposterous. The consumer with self-assessed sensitive skin has no way of judging which products are likely to be most beneficial and least harmful [69]. You are well advised to use only products free from any harmful chemicals such as toxic ingredients, such as parabens or phthalates, petrochemicals, alcohol or harmful preservative, as it may aggravate the dryness and sensitivity of your skin.
What Can You Do to Reduce the Dryness of Your Skin? - Bathe or shower only as often as necessary, using a mild or superfatted soap or no soap at all in areas where the skin is dry. Avoid soaps containing deodorants, instead use soap free from ANY artificial fragrance, as it may contain ingredients promoting dryness of skin and causing itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin. In one study, a severe dry skin condition developed in guinea pigs by daily application of 2% sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) in water for nine consecutive days [70]. In humans the may cause a condition called "trans-epidermal water loss dermatitis" characterized by permanent water loss in the thin layer of the skin. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is widely used in toothpaste, shampoo, body wash/cleanser, facial cleanser, and food products. It was petitioned for ban in food products due to recent data of toxicity.
If you want to have hands that love to be touched, stop repeated exposure to detergents, cleansers and solvents. Avoid washing dishes if you can (doctor's orders), but protect your hands with rubber gloves if you can't. To achieve the best protection, you should wear white cotton gloves under rubber gloves. Apply lotion to your hands whenever they have been in water.
Finally, you should raise the humidity in your home by attaching a humidifier to the furnace or adding moisture to each room by resting pans of water on radiators or attaching a trough of water to room hot-air vents. Moisture from house-plants will also evaporate into the air and help humidify your home.
If you ahev dry skin on your hands, legs or feet that forms into pink or red scaly patches, you probably are suffering from a type of irritant eczema, that flourishes in the dry winter months.
One type is due to irritation from soap damage. Avoid washing these spots, and help them to heal by applying over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. Another type results from stress and skin irritants as well as cold and dryness. Any persistent patchy skin condition requires medical attention.
Dry skin may also indicate a biotin vitamin deficiency. Biotin supplementation may significantly reduce the number of skin lesions and also relieve dry skin. Ongoing research shows that the dry skin condition can be significantly improved by including in your daily diet adequate amounts of vitamin A, E, C, flavonoids, or omage-3 fatty acids which contribute to lifelong protection of your skin against damage.