Relieve the discomfort of severe dry skin
Severe dry skin looks flaky and dry. It feels uncomfortable and tight after washing. Often it feels itchy and if you give in and scratch, it gets sore. Dry skin tends to get even drier when winter comes with it's indoor heat and brutal winds. Skin can become so bad that it peels and cracks. If you have a dry skin problem, your sebaceous glands (that excrete oil) are not working to secrete enough sebum. This shortage of sebum is what makes skin feel tight after washing.
It is important to use very mild cleansers that do not dry out the skin. After cleansing, a gentle moisturizer should be applied to the skin. Nivea makes a line of gentle products for dry and sensitive skin called "Visage." They are reasonably priced. The cleanser can be followed with one of the Nivea Visage moisturizing creams for dry skin. Some of these include a sunscreen, which is a good idea for anyone's skin. For best results, moisturizers should be applied while the skin is still moist so that it can form a barrier to keep the moisture in the skin.
A widely available and inexpensive lotion is produced by Nutraderm
Nutraderm is another brand of lotion for severely dry, itchy skin that is widely available and moderately priced. It comes in a regular and an advanced formula and costs about $10 for a 16 ounce pump bottle. It soothes the discomfort of dry skin with alpha-hydroxy moisturizers. It is reported not to clog pores, but forms a protective barrier to help the skin retain moisture.
Another serious skin care treatment for extremely dry skin is to use a humidifier in the home, especially during the winter. A humidifier increases the humidity in a dry room, making it less drying to the skin. Diet can help dry skin, too, if you are careful to include healthful fats in the diet, such as that found in nuts, natural nut butter, and oily fish. Supplements like evening primrose or borage oil can be helpful in treating extremely dry skin.