Pat water gently from your skin after bathing, but leave a bit of water on your skin. Having some water on your skin when you apply moisturizer (next step) helps hydrate your skin. Apply a creamy, fragrance-free moisturizer formulated for dry skin within 3 minutes of bathing and throughout the day.
Hydrate skin with lotion, ointments, or face creams.
Look for lotions containing lipids, ceramides, glycerin, or hyaluronic acid to help reinforce the skin's protective barrier. If you have an oily skin type, consider using an oil-free moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated without contributing to the oiliness.
Use moisturizers, like lotions, creams, or ointments, every day. Take fewer baths or showers and use milder soap. Warm water is less drying than hot water. Don't add bath oil to your water.
Identify dry skin early
Dry skin (xerosis) is a common dermatological feature in older people. This is caused by water loss from the stratum corneum, and as a consequence the skin is more likely to crack, which can result in itching, bleeding and asteatotic dermatitis.
Because retinoids help your skin make more collagen, they soften wrinkles and fine lines. They also stimulate new blood vessels, which can give your skin a rosy color. Retinoids also help fade age spots and smooth rough patches. Tretinoin (Retin-A) is a popular prescription choice for aging skin.
Unsurprisingly, drinking water is top of the list of things to do when it comes to hydrating the skin, but it's also important to combine it with a healthy dose of essential fatty acids.
If your skin is dehydrated, it might appear sunken or shadowy—you'll notice a dull tone to your skin, or dark circles under your eyes. Where you have wrinkles or fine lines on your skin, they may look more defined, particularly around your face and the backs of your hands.
Non-comedogenic oils like argan oil, almond oil or marula oil work wonders. Not only do they make your skin rival a baby's but also plump up your skin's moisture barrier for a dewy soft natural glow. While applying facial oils, make sure to layer them underneath your moisturizer or night cream for best results.
Not moisturizing will slowly dry your skin out and make it look flaky. This will only get worse in the winter. In fact, if you run a nail across dry skin, you'll end up scratching it easily since you're rapidly losing water. What's worse is that these scratches could be permanent.
Washing your face twice daily is just as critical in your 70s as it was in your 40s. Instead of using harsh exfoliating cleansers, which can irritate sensitive skin, choose moisture-rich, creamy ones, says Piliang.
This is commonly due to the buildup of dead skin cells throughout the face or in specific patches. To give your skin the best care, exfoliate it with a scrub or chemical exfoliant that can get rid of this buildup – just make sure to moisturize after that exfoliation too!
Vaseline is a moisturizing product that is safe for most people to put on their face. People can apply Vaseline to help with short-term skin concerns, such as temporary skin dryness or irritation. Vaseline is also suitable as a long-term moisturizer.
There are a variety of vitamins that can help to improve dry skin, including vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. These nutrients are thought to help increase the moisture content in your skin, as well as repair damaged skin cells and promote new cell growth.
While there are many causes of crepey skin, including aging, hormonal changes, dehydration, weight loss, using tobacco, and even stress, Dr. McMahan says, “The main reason people develop crepey skin is prolonged or excessive exposure to sunlight.
Avoid alpha-hydroxy acids, glycolic acid, retinoic acid, and salicylic acid if you have dry or sensitive skin. These ingredients may penetrate the skin too deeply and trouble delicate skin. Stay away from products with alcohols as well.
With Johnson's® Baby Oil, you can lock in up to 10x more moisture on wet skin than an ordinary lotion can on dry skin, helping you achieve that smooth, healthy skin glow.