Dry skin

<What treatment should be given to very dry skin that sometimes feels itchy?>

In addition to the advice given by your dermatologist, you should take the following precautions:

• Avoid allergens that could produce an acute inflammatory reaction: acarids, pollens, animal hairs and feathers, and the following foods: eggs, milk, shellfish, wheat, peanuts, fish, soya, exotic fruits, ...

• Every day take a 5 to 10 minute bath in moderately warm water (not more than 35 degrees; dry skin does not like hot water). Don’t use bubble baths or bath salts, which always dry and irritate the skin.

• Wash your body with a very high tolerance hygiene product; ideally a liquid syndet or an ultra-rich purifying soap bar (to reduce the inflammation) that restores fats (to strengthen the cutaneous barrier). Cut out the use of ordinary soaps which can irritate and dry the epidermis.

• Dry your skin with the utmost care, dabbing it dry with a cotton towel.

• Once or twice a day generously apply a very high tolerance skin care product that will help rebuild the cutaneous barrier and restore the skin’s softness and suppleness while reducing your cutaneous hyperreactivity.

• During a surge, use an ultra-rich, hydrating product once or twice a day to soothe the itching and reduce the inflammatory reaction.

• Wear cotton clothes preferably, as other fabrics can irritate your skin.

• Take care not to use too much washing powder when you wash your clothes. Too much powder can weaken your epidermis.

• Cut out the use of softeners and bleach, as they irritate the skin.

• Don’t forget to iron your clothes, as they will feel softer when you put them on.

• Ensure that the temperature in your home is not too high, as this may dry out the atmosphere and damage your epidermis.