posted 01-29-2003 11:10 PM            

I use Dove in the shower. We have soft water. Before drying, I use baby oil and then towel dry. After drying, I apply Nivea lotion all over. Yet, in just a few minutes, my skin is itching and stinging and I am miserable. After a few hours it is flaky and makes me miserable.

posted 04-14-2003 11:24 AM            

Try Aveeno (I like the Aveeno Baby but the regular one is good too). Not the generic ones - the real Aveeno. It's not overly greasy and seems to help with the itchies.

Another one to try is U-Lactin (I think that's what it's called). If you don't see it on the shelves, ask the pharmacist. Sometimes they keep it behind the pharmacy counter even though it's not a prescription item.

Eucerin is good, but I found it too greasy for my liking.

posted 06-21-2003 02:25 AM            

Do you take hot showers? People with dry skin should not take hot showers or hot baths. The heat generated by hot showers causes us to lose extra moisture from the skin. It just evaporates. Bathe and shower in lukewarm or cooler water instead. You won't lose as much moisture.

Also, moisterizer should be applied while the skin is still wet. The skin will dry real fast after the shower, so you need to apply it immediately. I saw a thing on TV where they did some experiments with a guy with really dry skin and his moisterizer applications. They tested his skin before, during, and after the shower and found that by the time he applied moisterizer his skin was already dry. They recommended applying moisterizer immediately, before you even step out of the bathtub/shower stall.

Some doctors recommend using less soap. Soap is very drying, so some doctors advise people with extremely dry skin to use soap sparingly, only where needed. (Meaning that if you've been sitting around watching TV all day and don't have any dirt or sweat on you, you really wouldn't need soap anywhere except the dirtiest spots.) Of course, that's not an option if you get really dirty.