How To Get Rid of Dry Skin: Top Tips for Relieving Dry Skin

Are you still stuck with stubborn dry skin despite the warmer weather? If it feels like nothing you do can provide relief from dry skin, you’re not alone. In fact, this issue plagues millions of people during the winter months and beyond. The good news is that there are things you can do to relieve your dry skin in no time at all.

First, you need to determine the cause of your dry skin and consider all of your different symptoms. From there, you can move on to effective treatments and remedies through lifestyle changes and tailored skincare products.

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What Causes Dry Skin?

Sometimes it’s easy to determine the cause of your dry skin, other times… not so much. In any case, here are some of the most common causes of dry skin so that you can take charge and treat it effectively:

Climate: Dry or cold environments can be harsh on the skin and lead to dryness, redness, and irritation from the lack of moisture.
Heat: Artificial heat sources, while effective at keeping you warm, can really dry out your skin. So while you may love the feeling of your space heater or fireplace during the winter, your skin doesn’t feel the same way.
Skin conditions: Your dry skin could actually be caused by an underlying skin condition like eczema or psoriasis. Talk to your dermatologist if you are experiencing other symptoms of these conditions in addition to dry skin.

What Are the Symptoms of Dry Skin?

While you may think that dry skin is just that -- dry skin -- there’s more to it than that. Unfortunately, there are numerous other symptoms that tend to occur alongside dry skin, making it a tough thing to deal with.

Here are some additional signs that your dry skin needs some serious help:

Flakiness
Itchiness
Redness and irritation
Stinging
Burning
Peeling
Roughness
Cracks in the skin
Skin infections resulting from breakage
Wrinkles and fine lines
Loose or sagging skin

Clearly, dealing with dry skin is no walk in the park and can lead to a lot of pain and discomfort without the proper treatment.

Tips for Temporarily Relieving Dry Skin

If you’re looking for a quick fix for your dry and itchy skin, then you’re in luck! While the underlying causes of dry skin may require sustained treatment over time, there are some quick and easy things you can do to immediately (but temporarily) get some relief from painfully dry skin -- in fact, most of these remedies involve using things that are already in your home.

Oatmeal is more than a breakfast food, it’s also a tool to fight dry skin thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. One of the best dry skin remedies using oatmeal involves adding powdered oatmeal to a warm bath to relieve your symptoms.
Petroleum jelly can be used to moisturize areas that are extremely dry, cracked, and itchy. This is a time-tested treatment that is especially effective at treating dry skin caused by aging. Furthermore, it can help improve your skin barrier and promote healthier skin.
Aloe vera is a must-have plant in your garden if you suffer from chronic dry skin. Whenever you’re feeling particularly dry, you can just cut off a nice chunk of the plant and slice it open to access the gelatinous insides. From there, apply the cool and smooth substance to your skin for instant relief of dry skin.
Olive oil is more than just a cooking essential, it can also be applied directly to the skin to soothe dryness and combat irritation thanks to antioxidant properties. Use extra virgin olive oil as a night mask before rinsing it off in the morning. You can also add a couple of drops of olive oil to your regular moisturizer for an extra boost of moisture.
Honey is another food-related item that can work wonders for dry skin thanks to moisturizing and antimicrobial properties. Apply raw, organic honey to dry skin and allow it to sit for about 10 minutes before rinsing it off.
Yogurt is not only delicious, but it’s also beneficial for your skin thanks to moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties. But not just any yogurt will work as a skin treatment. You should apply plain yogurt to your dry skin and leave on for about 10-15 minutes before rinsing.
Avocado toast is all the rage these days, but what about an avocado mask? Avocados contain moisturizing and healing vitamins A and E that are extremely beneficial for dry skin. But avocados do more than just treat your skin -- they protect it from free radicals as well. For protection and treatment, spread some avocado on your face, massage it in, and wait a few minutes before washing it off.

How To Effectively Treat Dry Skin

While quick remedies are definitely useful if you’re struggling with dry skin and need instant relief, achieving moisturized skin in the long-term won’t happen overnight. Instead, this process requires patience and effort.

Here are some different treatments that can tackle dry skin at the source and leave you feeling totally hydrated and soothed:

Avoid hot water: Water that is overly hot can be very drying on the skin and end up stripping all of your natural oils in the process. As a result, it’s recommended that you avoid extremely hot baths or showers in favor of using warm water instead. It’s also recommended that you limit your time in the bath or shower to about five or ten minutes to prevent excessive drying. Finally, you should wear gloves when washing the dishes to mitigate the effects of the hot water.
Avoid harsh ingredients in soaps and cleansers: We are all washing our hands a lot these days, and while this is necessary to keep us healthy, it could be contributing to your dry skin. Many soaps contain harsh and drying ingredients that zap away moisture from your skin instead of adding to it. It is recommended that you go with mild soaps that have added oils and fats without unnecessary ingredients like deodorants, detergents, fragrances, and alcohols.
Use a humidifier: Dry skin is a common issue in hot and dry environments. While this can certainly exist outdoors, it can also exist indoors -- particularly during the cold winter months. Indoor air that is too hot and dry can lead to dry skin, nosebleeds, chapped lips, and even respiratory symptoms. Humidifiers are able to add in some much-needed moisture to the air and make it more suitable for everyday life.
Wear the right clothes: Believe it or not, your clothes could actually be contributing to your dry skin. Wearing natural fibers like cotton and silk are gentle on your skin and allow it to breathe. On the other hand, fibers like wool can be too rough on already dry skin and just cause more irritation.
Moisturize: This is perhaps the most important step to combatting dry skin and achieving a healthy and hydrated glow. Depending on your skin and the climate, you may need to moisturize multiple times a day to stop dry skin at the source.

The Best Skincare Routine for Dry Skin

While moisturizing is key to getting rid of your dry skin, it’s really just one piece of the puzzle. If you truly want to achieve healthy and moisturized skin for the long haul, you’re going to need a comprehensive skincare routine that’s created specifically for your skin concerns.

PROVEN Skincare is the OG customized skincare line that helps you discover your best skin. All you need to do is take the three-minute Skin Genome Quiz and answer questions about your skin concerns, heritage, environment, and skincare history. From there, PROVEN comes up with a tailored formula that addresses your unique concerns and works perfectly with your skin type.

We know that moisturizing is important, but what about the other steps? PROVEN has you completely covered with three products that have been extensively researched and formulated by Stanford scientists. In addition to a moisturizer, your PROVEN skincare set also includes a cleanser and a night cream.

But don’t just take our word for it -- the results speak for themselves. Third-party clinical tests have shown that 81% of people experienced a reduction in redness and sensitivity after 28 days of product use. Additionally, 94% of people saw smoother skin and 87% saw softer skin.

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Final Thoughts on Dry Skin

If you’re suffering from chronic dry skin, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel: PROVEN’s skincare products. These products combined with beneficial lifestyle changes can truly transform your skin and leave you feeling totally moisturized.

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