HALP

[aesc]

It's that time of year again, when the cold, dry air vacuums every last drop of moisture out of my skin. Seriously, I have been through most drug-store lotions, a lot of Bath & Body Works, and post-shower body oil, and nothing has worked. My sides, my shoulders, the backs of my calves, and bizarrely, the front of my thighs, itch, burn, and sting and it sucks.

Those of you with dessicated skin: what do you use? I was thinking of springing for some LUSH body lotion, but I'd rather not wait a week for relief.

(My local skin care resources are: drug stores [but pretty much everything I've found there hasn't worked well, or smells terrible], Bath & Body Works, Body Shop, Sephora, and Ulta. Of course there is also the Interwebs, but... instant gratification.)



Brendan's chafing too. No one's happy!

Comments

[kudra2324.livejournal.com]

sorry, my suggestion would be lush :(. i know most people swear by dream cream, but i actually prefer sympathy for the skin. and pied de pepper for my feet and anything else particularly obstinate.

(also, do you have a humidifier? that helps.)

[kudra2324.livejournal.com]

i should add that i've also been through most of the brands everyone has recommended, and for whatever reason the lush stuff just works better for me. it seems to absorb faster, so that i don't find myself already trying to scratch away at my itchy dry skin while it still has lotion on it, and it doesn't leave any residue.

ALSO, i usually keep a tube of hydrocortisone cream handy at all times in case i get particularly itchy. it's a good temporary fix.

[aesc.livejournal.com]

Heh, I might order some anyway because, well, I love Lush :D

I also have the same problem--when I'm itching like crazy and waiting for the lotion to absorb. URGH how I hate that.

[stillane.livejournal.com]

I'll third the rec for the Neutrogena Norwegian formula stuff, although I don't know how it works on areas larger than hands. I like it because I can wash my hands pretty frequently during the day without losing the benefits of it. (Upon further reflection, I realize this makes me sound like a germaphobe. Note: I have not gone Monk-like. I just touch fairly icky stuff fairly often. I've had two labs on parasites in poop in the last week, for instance.)

One of the simplest tricks that I didn't know for the longest time (which likely means everyone else in the world does know it) for keeping skin from drying out is to moisturize like crazy right after a shower, when the room is still steamy and your skin is still receptive. It's kind of awesome how much of a difference it makes.

[aesc.livejournal.com]

Yes, knowing what you do most of your day, I can definitely say you can't be too careful with the handwashing :D

I've started to realize not having cracked/scaly skin may require a multipronged approach. An evaporator may be invested in tomorrow, along with a selection of lotions and creams.

[stillwaters11.livejournal.com]

My family and I had the same symptoms for years. When I told a dermatologist, she asked me if I used fabric softener dryer sheets. I did. She said many people are allergic to them, and gave me a list of what to do.
After cleaning out the build-up of fabric-softener product from the inside of the dryer with a mild bleach solution, and laundering ALL clothes/sheets/towels without the dryer sheets, the TOTAL RELIEF we all had from dry and intensely itchy winter skin was nothing short of miraculous.

/miracle cure ad

[aesc.livejournal.com]

I don't use dryer sheets, but I do use the liquid softener. I haven't noticed any problems, at least during the summer, but maybe there is some sensitivity that the winter just makes worse. I'll lay off the softener for a bit and see what happens :) Thanks!

[wintercreek]

Cocoa Butter Intensive Moisturizing Crème (70% Organic) - it's two-thirds of the way down the page. I have horrible winter skin that itches so much that I scratch my legs in to bruises and red irritated patches. Using this stuff (which I buy at the local store and/or Whole Foods) has reduced that to a much more reasonable itch or no itch at all!

Good luck - I share your dry skin pain, and it is no fun at all. :(

[aesc.livejournal.com]

Thank you!! *bookmarks* I went to our small whole foods store here because they sell Jason's, but I think there must be a run on the moisturizing market... there was none to be had!

[rsharpe.livejournal.com]

No matter what kind of moisturing lotion or soap you use, I've found that carrying a trial size of Johnson's Baby Lotion and Baby Powder in my purse at work is great for touch-ups in intimate places where you may not realize that you're perspiring. The lotion first to smooth then after it dries a bit use just a sprinkle of the powder. And guess what? I learned this little trick from a guy!

[aesc.livejournal.com]

I have an office this year (yay yay yay!) so I keep a small stock of lotiony things for emergencies--but those emergencies have been cropping up more and more frequently as the air gets drier. Now I'm restocked, and hopefully have found some cream that will keep me from going crazy and racing to my office every few hours :D

[raucousraven.livejournal.com]

Hallo, fellow dry-skinned human! I strongly recommend investing in a humidifier and a little magic which is Cliniderm where I come from, but which the US calls Vanicream (http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=17163&catid=20&brand=9079&trx=PLST-0-BRAND&trxp1=20&trxp2=17163&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-BRAND). It's serious stuff -- but it works.

[aesc.livejournal.com]

Yay, thank you so much! *bookmarks*

[rinsbane.livejournal.com]

Ahava, chickadee. It's a Dead Sea Israeli brand, and I import it. Got hooked on it when I lived over there. Actually, where I live now I'm sure you could find it in a store, but it's actually cheaper to buy it on the internet and ship it in. It's amazing stuff.

[aesc.livejournal.com]

Thank you thank you!

[rivrea.livejournal.com]

I use a combination of Nivea cream and some vaseline-based foot balm from my local chemist's. When I remember to actually rub it in twice a day, my skin does start getting better.

[aesc.livejournal.com]

Thank you kindly! I picked up some Nivea today... that seemed to come highly recommended :D

[pineapplechild.livejournal.com]

Couple months late, I know, but on the humidifier note, my family always just put tins with water in them on our radiators. The water evaporated into the air. Couple downsides are if you have cats or small chidren.