But there are solutions even for the itchiest and most irritated of skins, as well as for those cracked fingertips and that fly-away hair. They involve first appreciating the many assaults afflicted daily upon our skin, then changing some common habits and replacing them with daily skin-protective and, if needed, healing measures. The following suggestions are widely recommended by dermatologists, who would have a lot less business if we all followed them. Keep your thermostat set as low as possible to maintain a reasonable degree of comfort. The hotter the air, the drier it is and the drier your skin is, too.
Electric blankets can result in dry, scaly, itchy legs.
Although long, hot showers feel wonderful on cold mornings or evenings, they wash away the skin s natural oils that reduce evaporation of moisture. The absence of these oils can increase water loss by 75 percent. If you are not an athlete or manual laborer who sweats a lot, there s no need for a full daily bath. Consider showering or bathing every other day and spot-washing daily the groin, underarms, hands, feet and face. Or just rinse your whole body quickly in the shower each day and soap only those areas.