What Do Dermatologist Recommend For Dry Skin

Two out of seven dermatologists recommend this drugstore favourite for treating dry skin. "It has a high lipid content, which really helps repair dry, cracked skin," says Dr. Susan Binder, who notes that this is one of her preferred moisturisers. Binder suggests patients look for a cream, which has a higher lipid content than lotions. Nazarian likes CeraVe because it's a "barrier-repair cream" and contains ceramides. "Dry skin requires both humectants and emollients that draw in moisture and lock in moisture, respectively," she says. "My skin was flawless, luminous even, and not at all greasy," Danler told us after trying it for the first time.

Weleda brands the balmlike cream as a natural remedy for excessively dry skin . Although it doesn't feature ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides that we've called out before, it is chock-full of fatty acids and vitamin E, which naturally moisturize and soften the skin. On top of that, pansy soothes irritation while the calendula flower extract helps to repair the damaged skin. Instead of just buying a lotion or cream claiming to "heal dry skin" be sure to check and see it has a proven hydrating ingredient, such as ceramides, glycerin, shea butter or stearic acid, lactic acid, dimethicone, urea or mineral oil. "If your skin is dry, find an oil-based cream or lotion," says Dr. Sandra Kopp from Schweiger Dermatology Group in Whiting, New Jersey.

When shopping for body lotions, you'll want to look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, glycerin, shea butter, and ceramides, which are all recommended by dermatologists for hydrating dry skin. And if you're wondering what the difference is between lotions and creams, know that it's all about the consistency. Perhaps one of the most important and commonly overlooked steps in the dry skin game is changing to a seriously hydrating moisturizer.

"Look for creams, rather than lotions, that are made with ceramides and hyaluronic acid," Marchbein says. Ceramides aid in the prevention of the skin's barrier, which is "easily broken down during the winter." For patients with severely chapped faces, pack on a hefty amount of product, she says, morning and night. There are those with skin that tends to get parched and flaky, particularly in the winter months, and then there are those whose skin is so dry it can actually look scaly and, as a result, is exceptionally hard to nourish. If you're in the latter category, Dr. Susan Binder and Dr. Katelyn Woolridge of Westlake Dermatology recommend Aquaphor.

"Ointments are the best at fortifying the skin barrier and locking in moisture," says Woolridge, and Aquaphor does just that. The added glycerin can also help repair a damaged skin barrier, a common culprit for a lack of moisture. In Strategist UK writer Rachael Griffiths's skin-care routine, Cicaplast Baume is an absolute staple. Suffering from extremely dry, sensitive skin and finding a moisturiser that could quench her skin without irritating it was somewhat of a task. "I used to step out of the shower and feel as though my skin was going to crack," Griffiths says.

"But if I apply a layer of Baume before bed , instead of finding my skin dry and irritated in the morning, it's soft and actively hydrated. It truly makes a monumental difference." For patches of extremely dry skin, Griffiths recommends pairing the Baume with a drop or two of the Ordinary's hyaluronic acid. In 2005, CeraVe's dermatologists developed a line of skin care products enriched with a blend of three essential ceramides to help restore the skin's natural barrier.

Additionally, we are committed to the continued development of safe, effective skincare products informed by expertise of dermatologists. Heal and prevent dry skin with my dermatologist's treatment tips developed from over 30 years of dermatology practice. It is important to treat dry skin by using a skin care routine that does not damage your skin's barrier and that also helps to strengthen it.

Skin with healthy barrier will hold water and resist dryness. It's simple with the right skin care routine and products. If you're in the latter category, Binder recommends Aquaphor. It's an emollient that can help repair a damaged skin barrier, a common culprit for a lack of moisture, and that is easily accessible at any chemist.

"The price point on this line of moisturisers makes it a no-brainer," says Linker. She recommends transitioning to Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion in the summer because it's much lighter than the cream for those months when your sebum levels (your skin's natural lubrication) have balanced out. It's fragrance-free and non-irritating, so it's a great option for those with sensitive skin or eczema. We recommend daily showers with warm water and a gentle fragrance free soap. A gentle moisturizer should be applied afterwards and throughout the day. Lotions and creams with an ingredient called ceramides help restore the skins natural lipids and pH to allow the skin to function more optimally as a barrier.

Ingredients petrolatum or lanolin help seal moisture into the skin. Urea and lactic acid help the skin hold water, but these ingredients may be irritating to some. We recommend gentle moisturizers such as Cetaphil cream, Cerave cream, and Vanicream for especially sensitive skin. If you have dry skin, regular moisturization is crucially important, according to Craig Kraffert, M.D., board certified dermatologist and founder of Dermstore. But it has to be the right moisturizer to actually heal severely dry skin. Dr. Kraffert says richer products — like thicker body creams in place of thinner body lotions — is key for quenching extreme dryness.

Every night before bed, Marchbein recommends sticking to a routine that will ensure healthy skin come morning. After your face serum and moisturizer, apply a gentle eye cream to the under eyes and lids, like Kiehl's avocado treatment. "The product will seal in the cream and prevent against redness and eczema," both of which are common during this time of year. Not only are our products developed with dermatologists, but CeraVe is the #1 dermatologist recommended skincare brand1. Containing three essential ceramides to help restore the skin's natural barrier with continuous release technology for all day hydration, CeraVe offers effective, dermatologic skin care products for all skin types.

CeraVe has been widely endorsed worldwide by skincare organizations, including being awarded more Seal of AcceptanceTM awards from the National Eczema Association than any other brand. While many dermatologists already recommend applying body lotions immediately after bathing, this Jergens moisturizer was specifically designed to be used on wet skin. It contains shea butter and hyaluronic acid (two expert-approved ingredients) that start hydrating skin as soon as you hop out of the shower. "I'm one of those people that always buys lotion and says that I'll put it on after the shower, but somehow always end up forgetting," wrote one shopper.

"Having this stuff right in the shower with me and not needing to dry off before using it makes it so easy to incorporate into my routine." The cocoa butter and vitamin E in this affordable Nivea creammake it a dermatologist-favorite for lasting hydrating on very dry skin. You can use the cream all over your body, but the thick consistency makes it especially great for slathering on cracked hands and feet. If you have a little bit more in your budget for skin care products, Chiu recommended Skinbetter's Trio Rebalancing Moisture Treatment for dry skin repair.

" has urea and provides deep moisture without the heaviness," she explained. According to the brand, it's also formulated with hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin and ceramides and squalane to lock in moisture. Dermatologists also liked Aquaphor and Vanicream for those with eczema, because it's unlikely they will trigger any sort of reaction.

But for a more dedicated product, Aveeno's eczema-therapy line has been recommended to us by multiple dermatologists for body lotions and eczema-specific treatments, especially this itch-relief balm. "Rather than just hydrating, I recommend people with eczema also use calming and anti-inflammatory ingredients," says Nazarian. A "core characteristic" of eczema is skin inflammation, she notes, so this Aveeno cream with colloidal oatmeal, which is "naturally anti-inflammatory," will help soothe any flare-ups. It also contains ceramides "to improve the quality of skin with continued use," she adds. Four of our dermatologists also love this Neutrogena gel cream formulated for extra-dry skin.

And so do our readers; it has been on best-sellers lists over ten times. Gel textures are typically targeted toward those with normal or oily skin, but Mitchell says this cream is actually "perfect" for dry skin, and it works pretty quickly. The hyaluronic acid and glycerin will quench the dryness and deliver soft, smooth, and hydrated skin," she says.

The gel texture also means that it "smoothly disappears into the skin, so it can be worn alone or under makeup," says Rodney. We've also recommended this product for mature skin, sunburned skin, Accutane users, and even for pregnant women, because it's so hydrating and gentle. Dry-skin types often need more attention in the moisturising department to avoid flaking and painfully tight, sandpapery skin. But not every moisturiser will work for severely dehydrated skin. Noelani Gonzalez, the director of cosmetic dermatology at Mount Sinai West, says people with dry skin, especially eczema sufferers, have to be very mindful of the moisturisers they use.

Generally speaking, "goopy and greasy creams and ointments are your best friend if you have dry skin, because they are oil based, have a thicker consistency, and provide more hydration than lotions," she says. "My skin-care routine starts in the shower with a moisturizing body wash," Dr. Nussbaum tells Allure. A face mask can offer a concentrated boost of hydration to your skin (plus, they work perfectly for a self-care sesh). Coppola says to look for ones with moisturizing properties. "The key ingredients to look for are those that will draw in and bind water to the skin, like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, vitamin C, glycerin, and almond oil," she tells Bustle.

What Does Dermatologist Recommend For Dry Skin Developed with dermatologists, CeraVe is the #1 dermatologist recommended skincare brand1. Even though thick creams are typically more hydrating than milky lotions, Dr. Zalka says the latter is still great because they're easier to apply on your skin. One of her recommendations is this skin-smoothing lotion from AmLactin.

It contains lactic acid , which "helps microscopically slough dead skin cells while leaving a layer of protection on the skin surface," according to Dr. Zalka. That's what makes this lotion a great choice for anyone with rough or bumpy skin. Because the lotion's active ingredients can make your skin more sensitive, remember to wear sunscreen while using it. This drugstore body lotion from Aveeno uses a combination of super hydrating glycerin and oatmeal, which soothes irritated skin.

"Glycerin works to moisturize the skin by drawing water from the air into the skin's outer layer. It generates a protective layer that helps prevent moisture loss," explains Dr. Jaliman. It's non-greasy and fragrance-free, making it a great gentle, everyday lotion for dry skin. You can also purchase a budget-friendly bundlethat comes with the lotion and a moisturizing body wash. If your dry skin is super itchy and eczema-prone, try this soothing cream from La Roche-Posay, which is meant to provide both instant relief and long-term hydration. It comes recommended by Kellie Reed, MD, a Texas-based dermatologist who appreciates that it "has colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and niacinamide" to improve the skin's texture.

Its ingredients are gentle enough for sensitive skin yet hydrating enough to get rid of rough, dry patches, according to reviewers. Plus, it's accepted by the National Eczema Association to treat the condition. I combine the right easy-rinse hand soap with my favorite humectant containing hand moisturizer, which is Dry Skin Hand Cream. This non-greasy cream contains the right humectants and skin barrier enhancers to keep hand skin healthy but never greasy. I keep a tube at every sink and in my lab coat pocket so that I can apply it numerous times a day to prevent dry skin from frequent hand washing. After eczema that was dormant for years popped back up on my face, my skincare routine got a dramatic makeover.

The anti-aging serums, essences, and active-filled creams I used to love became the recipe for disaster. I actually stopped moisturizing the portion of my face with sensitivities because I was scared of reactions. Enough became enough, and I visited my dermatologist to try to get to the bottom of the issue, and I left with almost an entirely new product lineup. The one thing I was doing right for my dry, sensitive skin?

It's pretty easy to remember to apply your daily facial moisturizer each morning, especially if it's got built-in 'block that will help shield your skin from harmful UV rays. However, it's definitely safe to say that we often forget to give the skin on our body the same attention and care as our face. While that deeply moisturizing body wash can definitely keep your skin feeling smooth with each wash, it may not be enough to stand tall against those rough spots and dry patches.

With that in mind, we tapped the skin-care pros to break down the best body lotions of all time. The order of your skincare routine matters for peak hydrating efficacy. "Apply moisturizer day and night after a serum, and before SPF ," says Dr. Engelman.

Whether face or body, dermatologists recommend lathering up immediately after cleansing or showering when skin is still damp. "Applying moisturizer immediately after showering or cleansing allows the product to trap some of the water on your skin, keeping it from evaporating," says Dr. Engelman. While the heat from an evening shower may feel phenomenal on a chilly day, Marchbein advises to limit rinse time to five minutes or less and to use warm—not hot—water, which only adds to surface dehydration. And instead of irritating soap bars or harsh body washes, pick up a creamy cleanser, like Dove's gentle formula.

"Within 60 seconds of ," she says, apply a thick body moisturizer. "Look for something with mineral oil, lanolin, or ceramides," she explains, to help skin hold on to moisture throughout the night. While most summertime products get swapped out come winter, serums are the one exception to that rule. "As long as it's alcohol-free, an antioxidant serum is perfect for year-round usage," says Marchbein.

No matter the climate, skin "gets attacked by free radicals," she explains, causing sun spots, the breakdown of collagen, and premature fine lines. To prevent the damage, apply a vitamin C formula as a first layer in the morning, before layering on heavier products. And don't forget the sunscreen—a daily dose of SPF 30 will keep skin covered, even on cold, cloudy days.

Yes, dry skin is often seasonal—but you don't have to move to a warmer climate to find relief. Instead, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King notes that taking a preventative approach and adding as much moisture back into our skin and immediate environment is key. In addition to choosing a cream with the right ingredients, Dr. King says it's extremely beneficial to apply it at the right time. We've written about this luxury cream many times before. This then guides the ingredients into the cells to help restore the skin.

On top of that, it also includes vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B5, and hydrolyzed rice protein, all of which improve the appearance and texture of the skin as well as deeply hydrate it. We named this our best overall drugstore moisturizer once before because it's full of the ingredients needed to soothe dry, irritated skin, such as ceramides and hyaluronic acid. "These ingredients hold cells together and strengthen the skin's barrier, protecting it from water loss and influx of irritants as well as offer continuous 24-hour maximum hydration while soothing the skin," says Mitchell. It also includes niacinamide, which acts as an anti-inflammatory to calm down any redness and tenderness in the dry areas of skin.