Scratching Your Dry Skin

The problem with dry skin is not just that it is dry. It is not just that it looks dull. It is not just that it can be flaky. One of the main things about dry skin that can drive people crazy is when dry skin becomes itchy.

Some people can have dry skin and never be bothered by any itching their dry skin might bring up. However, there are other people who might scratch, scratch, scratch away and still not feel relief from their dry skin. Having annoyingly itchy skin may occur at any time if you naturally tend to have dry skin. There are other people who experience the worst itch during dry winter months and even moisturizers and creams do not seem to help.

You can experience itchy dry skin just about anywhere on your body. Legs can become annoying when you are at work or school, the top of you head can be embarrassing because dry skin and constant itching can lead to dandruff-like flakes, and itchiness on the face can lead to a less than pleasant look.
 

Yes, it is hard to stop scratching, but the important thing is that you need to learn how to do so.

Even if scratching at a patch of dry skin seems to yield results in the form of dead skin cells flaking off, scratching is doing you no good. Constantly scraping away at your skin with your fingernails will only serve to aggravate your skin further and worsen your condition. For some people with dry skin that happens to be the result of a skin condition such as eczema, psoriasis, scratching can have some very nasty results.

Scratching your dry skin can lead to skin cracking or splitting, which can be very painful and lead to potential infections, giving you yet one more problem to deal with when it comes to your skin.
So if you cannot scratch, what do you do to relieve the itch? First off, if your skin is so dry that it is creating an unbearable itchiness, you need to look into a better moisturizer.

If you do not currently use a moisturizer, you need to get one, pronto. It would be a very good idea to get a moisturizer that is an extra emollient in order to enhance the strength of the moisturizing power, as your skin needs it badly. Avoid moisturizers with fragrance; you want a moisturizer with performance, not one that smells nice (not to say that you should get one that smells disgusting; most moisturizers smell fine even without any extra scents).

There are also products out there meant to help exceptionally dry skin in terms of both moisturizing as well as stopping the itch. You might want to try one of these products if your itchy skin is driving you crazy. If one moisturizer works during several months of the year and suddenly you find it is inadequate during winter months, try switching it up with something more powerful during those times.

You may also want to buy a humidifier to help keep the air in your home a little less dry.
Even if you have dry skin, you do not have to be at the mercy of its itch. Make a note of any products that may worsen your condition instead of making it better and get rid of them right away. By taking a few steps, such as avoiding long, hot showers, and using moisturizers, you can stop the itch and be free from the concern of harming your skin by forever scratching away.

Also read  Ayurvedic Treatment and Home Remedies for Dry Skin

Author - Louise Forrest