Healthy skin has soft, supple, and moisturized. However, it can become dry and unhealthy when the skin loses its moisture and needs to be regularly replenished with creams and lotions. Severe dry skin may even start to crack. What do you do if your skin has developed painful, gaping cracks? Add moisture, stat.
No. 1: Soaks and Baths
Soaking dry, cracked skin in warm water is a great way to restore moisture. You would be wrong. Christine Lopez, MD, a dermatologist, says water can dry the skin. She is also the assistant program director at the Cleveland Clinic’s department of dermatology.
Dr. Lopez explained that water alone would strip the skin of essential oils. However, this doesn’t mean that baths and soaks aren’t beneficial for cracked or dry skin. You need to do it the right way.
Lopez suggests that a few drops (or more) of natural oils can help to heal cracked or dry skin. Lopez says a few drops of crude oil, such as mineral, almond, or avocado oil, can help heal dry, cracked skin. However, you should limit the time spent in a bath or shower. Use only warm water, not hot. Hot water will only cause more damage to your skin. Lopez suggests adding oatmeal or baking powder to your bath, about 1 cup per tub. This will soothe the skin and keep it moist.
No. 2: Dry Skin Solution 2: Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize
Lopez recommends gently drying your skin with a towel after getting out of the tub. Don’t rub the water off. Apply a few drops to your skin with a moisturizing cream or natural oil. This will seal in the moisture.
Petroleum jelly is inexpensive and practical for very dry or cracked skin. Lopez recommends rubbing the petroleum jelly onto the skin and letting it soak in. If there are cracks on your hands or feet, you can apply petroleum jelly and then cover them with cotton gloves.
No. 3: Pumice with Caution
Pumice or file dry, cracked skin is generally not a good idea.
Lopez says he would limit using pumice stones and other similar tools. Lopez says, “I would not use that on skin other than my feet or heels.” Dead skin can build up on feet from repeated trauma. This is where files or pumice stones can remove dead skin cells and make the moisturizing cream more absorbable.
No. 4: Dry Skin Solution 4: Super Glue
Another good use for Super Glue is that dermatologists recommend using a dab on cracked skin to encourage healing and prevent further drying. It has the same active ingredient as liquid bandages or other medical adhesives used to close wounds and cuts.
Lopez says first to clean the skin crack. Next, squeeze the crack’s edges together and apply a little Super Glue to seal it. To ensure that the break does not open, hold the edges together until the glue dries.
Lopez says prevention is the best treatment for cracked and dry skin. Apply a daily moisturizer to your skin to prevent dry and cracked skin. Lopez recommends avoiding using too many creams or oils on your skin if you suffer from dry skin. This can cause acne.
