If you are asking what is the moisturizer for dry skin, the short answer is a fragrance-free cream or ointment rather than a thin lotion. Apply it to slightly damp skin after bathing, and again whenever the skin feels dry. Creams and ointments add more moisture than lotions, and ingredients such as glycerin, petrolatum, dimethicone and shea butter are good things to look for. The rest of this guide explains why, and how to choose for your own skin.
What dry skin actually is
Dry skin is skin that feels dry to the touch. It often looks dull and rough, can turn scaly, and is less flexible, so it may crack. This happens when the outer layer of the skin lacks moisture and its barrier function is not working as well as it should. If you want the basics of that barrier, the skin barrier explainer covers it.
The mainstay of caring for dry skin is a moisturiser. Applied generously and often enough, it can:
- reduce itch
- improve the skin's barrier function
- help keep irritants and bacteria out
- reduce the loss of water from the skin
None of this needs a long routine. One suitable product, used regularly, is the core of the care.
What causes dry skin?
Dry skin comes from a weakened skin barrier that holds less water, and surroundings and habits can contribute. Both men and women of any age can have it, and there is often a family history of dry skin.
Things that can contribute include:
- low humidity, or cool, windy conditions
- too much air conditioning
- direct heat from a fan heater
- bathing too often or too long
- contact with soap, laundry detergent and solvents
- products containing alcohol
- friction from rough clothing or scrubbing
In India, that can mean the dry air of a north Indian winter, or long days in an air-conditioned office.
Some medical conditions and some medicines can also cause dry skin. That is covered near the end of this guide.
Cream, ointment, lotion or oil: choosing a type
The product type matters as much as any ingredient. Moisturisers come as oils, lotions, creams, gels and ointments. From most to least occlusive, which means how strongly they seal moisture in, the order is ointments, creams, lotions, then oils.
- Ointments suit dry, thick, scaly areas and last longest because of their higher oil content. Some people find them too greasy, especially on visible areas such as the face.
- Creams suit broad, everyday use. They are lighter than ointments and absorb more quickly, but you need to apply them more often.
- Lotions are lighter still. They suit hairy areas such as the scalp, or mild dryness elsewhere. For dry skin, creams and ointments add more moisture and work better than lotions.
- Oils, such as bath oils, leave a thin layer on the skin after you step out of the water.
The drier the skin, the thicker the product should be, especially on the hands. Slightly dry skin may only need a light moisturiser at night. Very dry skin may do better with a rich, greasy one applied every couple of hours. The right one is also the one you will actually keep using, so texture and personal preference count.
Ingredients worth knowing
Moisturisers are built from three kinds of ingredients that do different jobs.
- Emollients soften and smooth the skin by filling cracks in its outer layer. Lanolin and soy sterols are examples.
- Occlusives form a protective oily layer on the surface and reduce water loss. Petroleum jelly, paraffin, mineral oil and dimethicone are examples.
- Humectants attract and hold water in the outer layer of skin. Glycerin, urea, and acids such as lactic acid are examples.
For dry skin, dermatologist guidance suggests looking for a cream or ointment with one or more of these: jojoba oil, dimethicone, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, lanolin, mineral oil, petrolatum or shea butter. Urea and acid-based products can sting if your skin is scratched or cracked, so go gently on broken skin.
Be wary of big promises on the label. Marketing claims about ingredients that reduce the signs of skin ageing can be misleading, and large molecules such as peptides and collagen cannot get through the outer layer of skin.
What to check on the label
- Look for "fragrance-free". "Unscented" is not the same thing. An unscented product can contain chemicals that neutralise or hide the smell of other ingredients, and these can irritate dry, sensitive skin.
- Be cautious with deodorant soaps. They are too harsh for dry, sensitive skin.
- Check for alcohol, fragrance and retinoids. If your skin is dry, dermatologist guidance is to stop using products that contain these, and to ask your dermatologist before using anti-itch creams, because some contain ingredients that can make dryness and itch worse.
- Mind the preservatives. Creams and lotions need preservatives to last, and these can cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitised to them.
Before trying any new skin-care product, do a patch test on a small area first. Check whether it causes burning, stinging or a rash before you use it more widely.
Should you moisturize after showering?
Yes. Leave-on moisturisers work best when applied immediately after bathing, because water that has entered the skin stays there. Gently pat yourself dry instead of rubbing, then apply your fragrance-free moisturiser while the skin is still a little damp.
A few bathing habits suit dry skin:
- Keep showers short, with lukewarm or warm water rather than hot.
- Use a gentle cleanser sparingly, only where you need it, such as the underarms.
- Avoid a thick lather.
- Shave at the end of the shower, when water has softened skin and hair.
- Close the bathroom door while you shower, which helps hydrate your skin more.
What is the best time to apply moisturizer?
The best time is right after you wash, while your skin is still damp, and then again whenever it feels dry. Dermatologist guidance is to moisturise several times a day: after a bath or shower, after washing your hands, and any time the skin feels tight or dry. Take a moment to massage it in gently.
The effect of a moisturiser is greatest in the hours right after you apply it, which is why regular top-ups matter. How often depends on how dry your skin is; see the types section above. For the hands, keep a non-greasy hand cream with you and use it after each wash. If you want to think through morning versus night, see moisturiser in the day or at night.
Does drinking water help dry skin?
Drinking plenty of water is listed among the habits that help prevent dry skin, but it does not replace a moisturiser. Staying well hydrated sits alongside shorter lukewarm showers, gentler cleansing and applying an emollient liberally and often, especially after bathing and whenever the skin itches. Moisturiser is still the main treatment.
Small habits that help
- Add humidity. A humidifier in winter and an air conditioner in summer are both suggested. A portable humidifier near your bed can help; clean it regularly to prevent mould.
- Protect your hands. Wear gloves for washing dishes or gardening, and in cold, dry air.
- Choose soft clothing. Loose cotton is kinder to dry skin than tight clothes, wool or polyester.
- Go easy on soap. Use soap and shower gels sparingly, or swap in a moisturising soap substitute.
Oily skin or humid weather
Dry skin and oily skin are different problems. If your skin is oily, or you live somewhere humid, you may wonder whether you need a moisturiser at all. These guides cover that: does oily skin need moisturiser and using moisturiser in humid weather.
When dry skin needs a dermatologist
If your skin is still dry after you have tried the steps above, see a dermatologist. Persistent dryness can be linked to an underlying condition such as atopic dermatitis (eczema), psoriasis, kidney disease or an underactive thyroid, and some medicines can cause it too. Treating the condition can bring relief. A tendency to dry skin may also persist life-long, or improve once contributing factors are controlled.
Also speak to a doctor if a product causes burning, stinging or irritation, or if a rash appears. Stop using a product if you develop an allergic reaction to it. Thick, occlusive products can cause or aggravate acne, folliculitis and boils, so if you notice breakouts after starting a rich cream or ointment, tell your dermatologist.
The plan is simple: gentle cleansing, short lukewarm showers, and a fragrance-free cream or ointment applied to damp skin, often enough that your skin stops feeling tight.