Tips to Heal/Treat Dry Skin

Scott: We're shooting this in November, and in most of the country, everybody's starting to deal with dry skin, at least for the next couple of months. What's the best way to deal with that outside of slathering lotion on every couple of hours, which seems like could do more harm than good in terms of clogging pores and things like that? What can we do?

Dr. Jeanette Jacknin: Right. Well, just make sure your lotion isn't too heavy. It's not a topical gel. If you have acne or things like eczema or psoriasis, it can flare up. With your artane topicals you have to be careful which ones you use. A humidifier in your room is great. 

If you take a hot shower, of course it feels wonderful when you come in from the cold, but it actually dries your skin more. 

Scott: Okay.

Dr. Jeanette Jacknin: So you should ideally take a warm shower. I know it's hard when it's freezing outside, but at least put a moisturizer on all over your body right after the shower. That's when it's absorbed the best. 

Scott: Okay.

Dr. Jeanette Jacknin: So, that should help. Also, other drying: watch for your laundry detergent. Sometimes that more a sensitivity issue than a drying issue, but all these chemicals work on your skin. You're in those clothes all day long, and they have been washed in one detergent or another. Sometimes people's skin reacts better with one than another.