Dry skin patches are a common problem that can occur on hands, feet and the face amongst other regions. Treating dry skin usually focuses on preventing any further drying that allows the skin to heal naturally. Some tips for dry skin treatment include using moisturizer after washing, washing in warm rather than hot water and exfoliating at least once a week. It’s also a good idea to avoid using certain soaps as these can be drying to the skin.

Moisturizing dry skin patches is probably the quickest and most effective way of treating them. For the best results you should apply the moisturizer after washing when the skin is still damp — but not wet — and you should start to see results within a few days. Dry skin patches can also be itchy as well as unsightly and moisturizer will help with that too. It can sometimes be a good idea to carry moisturizer with you so that if your skin starts to feel dry you can apply it immediately.

A common mistake is to wash with hot water on a daily basis. This can actually dry out the skin and cause dry patches. For this reason long, hot showers are not a good idea if you’re trying to treat dry skin patches. If you enjoy having a hot shower then keeping the length to a minimum is a good way of reducing the amount of skin damage.

If you commonly use soaps to wash your face or other areas of skin where the dry patches occur then this may be a problem. Many soaps are drying on the skin and hence it’s usually better to use shower gel or specially made face wash that includes a moisturizer. Replacing soap with a more skin-friendly product is a simple way of reducing the chances of getting more dry skin patches.

Some other tips for treating dry skin patches include avoiding using tap water on sensitive areas of the skin, making sure that you stay hydrated and using a humidifier in the bedroom to keep moisture in the air. Although these are forms of dry skin prevention they can also be used to treat the problem if it has already occurred. Dry skin is often more common during the winter months due to the cold and hence you should be especially aware of prevention techniques during this season.