Dry itchy skin remedies.

[eliza61]

My skin has been so dry and itchy this winter, does any have any products the recommend or remedies they swear by?

I had heard that hot showers (which of course, I love to take) contribute to dry skin so I'll try to cool them off. what else?

TIA

 

[cepmom]

we had the same probelm here...hot showers, forced hot air heat caused some major dry,. itchy skin. I tried to cut back on the hot shower a bit but also switched to Dove soap. Much less drying than the Dial we were using!

 

[legalsea]

My skin has been so dry and itchy this winter, does any have any products the recommend or remedies they swear by?

I had heard that hot showers (which of course, I love to take) contribute to dry skin so I'll try to cool them off. what else?

TIA

After reading an article about this very subject last week, I went out and bought "Bag Balm", an ointment developed in 1899 for soothing the udders of cows. The farmer would slap some on his hands and then massage the irritated udders of the milk cows.

The story goes: the farmer's wives were so impressed with how smooth the farmer's hands became, they began to use it themselves.

I found it at a feed store here in Fort Worth. It does seem to do the trick, since my hands were so dry that I kept developing cracks in the skin. A week after beginning usage, no cracks.

It is, I believe, essentially petroleum jelly with some healing properties in it.

 

[dawson5]

You can get Bag Balm at walgreens or cvs too. Hubby and the boys use this sometimes in the summer. Bicyclists use it also. I cannot get around the funky smell though.

Lots of water, humidifier. What works best for me when my hands are really dry. I soak them in warm water for about 10 minutes. Dry them off. Rub lotion on, usually two different kinds (like the thinner lotion from bath & body works and then the thicker lotion/cream on top). I then rub vitamin E onto the cuticles and then Mary Kay sells this stuff that is like petroleum jelly but thicker with more emollients, it's pink. I put that on and some white cotton gloves and go to bed. Next day soft as can be.

*Mary Kay Extra Emollient Night Cream. It's meant for the face, works great on the hands, seals in the moisture.

 

[wvjules]

Humidifier a few nights a week, drink lots of water, and put on baby oil before you are completely dried off after the shower.

I love bag balm for feet, and possibly hands, but I can't imagine that stuff all over my body. Ick!

 

[crashbb]

I have very annoying dry, itchy, allergic, sensitive skin. Bad all year round, but worse in the winter.

One thing that I've done is oatmeal baths. Rather than buy the expensive Aveeno stuff (which always seems to settle on the bottom in a gloppy mess anyway), I just take some oatmeal (the kind you'd buy for baking or breakfast) and fill the toe of an old sock (you could also use a rag, cheesecloth, whatever). Tie it up (string, elastic, whatever) and toss it in the bath while it is running. You can squeeze it to get more "oatmeal milk".

Then moisturizing lotion while skin is still slightly wet.

 

[maslex]

For YEARS, I suffered from EXTREMELY dry skin on my right hand only (not sure why but I never had it on my left hand) Anyhow, I had been to many doctors, dermotologists, etc.... no prescription had ever worked. I used vasoline, many different creams, lotions, soaps, etc....NOTHING!!!! It got so bad that there was not a day that went by that my hand was not so dry, cracked, bleeding and extremely painful. After a while I noticed that I no longer had "fingerprints" on my pointer, middle & ring fingers anymore. And the doctor told me that I also suffered some nerve damage to my fingertips (when I rubbed my fingertips together, I couldn't feel it) Not sure why this all happened and the doctors couldn't even explain it.

ANYWAYS....my SIL told me of a product that she buys for her DH's back (guess he has severe excema?) I was leary, of course, since nothing else has ever worked. Here is the link for it.....it's an intense moisture cream from Avon. I bought some, used it every day and within a month my hand has gone back to "normal". I can feel my fingertips again, no more dry, cracked skin, no bleeding and I even have fingerprints again. Strange, but true. Now, I don't go a day without having some of this cream on. At first I didn't like it because it was so thick but you get used to it and actually "crave" it. LOL

http://shop.avon.com/shop/product.aspx?pf_id=5905

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

Bagbalm Do they make Bagbalm in different scents?? I had a roomate in college who had a serious bagbalm problem....we staged an intervention I don't think she realized that that stuff actually smells like cow udders Sure it works...but I'll take the dry skin...thank you very much.

 

[wvjules]

Bagbalm Do they make Bagbalm in different scents?? I had a roomate in college who had a serious bagbalm problem....we staged an intervention I don't think she realized that that stuff actually smells like cow udders Sure it works...but I'll take the dry skin...thank you very much.

I've never smelled a cow's udder.

Bag balm smells like a slighly medicated petroleum jelly to me.

Are you under the impresison that is made from cow's udders?

 

[legalsea]

Well, concerning the bag balm, I am talking about those with very dry skin. Again, the skin on my fingers would literally crack open. I have not noticed much of a smell (there is some if you sniff the container, but I think it smells about the same as petroleum jelly).

I do admit that it is not something you would smear over the entire body! I was thinking mostly of the hands, feet and elbows. And maybe any other 'pointy' body parts you may have.

 

[THE HAT]

My dad has severe dry skin(due to medications and his cancer etc).....he would go take cold showers during the day to try to calm it....I was reccomended by a Dr friend to get him Eucerin CALMING cream. It has done wonders for my father. It is smooth but has oatmeal and some other ing. in it. I think it is fairly new.

 

[curious3069]

I've been using the new Neutrogena Moisture Wrap lotion and LOVE IT. It doesn't sting like other lotions seem to, not greasy or heavy and actually seems to moisturize your skin, not just temporarily make it soft.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

I've never smelled a cow's udder.

Bag balm smells like a slighly medicated petroleum jelly to me.

Are you under the impresison that is made from cow's udders?

I'm aware that it's not made of cow's udders. and although I haven't actually gotten my head down there to smell that area of a cow...or any part of a cow...to me bag balm smells like what I imagine a cow's udder to smell like. Like as if a cow's udder smelled good and then the bag balm made it smell gross Maybe I have a very active imagination, but that stuff DOES NOT smell like ordinary petroleum jelly to me. Different strokes, I guess.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

After I shower, before I dry off, I rub baby oil onto my skin and then dry off. DH and I have been doing this in the winter for several years and it really helps more than lotion.

 

[Hidden_Mickey]

The best lotion is Aveeno, but when that doesn't work I use Burt's Bees almond hand cream. I think it has wax in it. Sometimes at bed time I use petroleum jelly. The key is to drink a lot of water and lay off the coffee/tea/alcohol because they dehydrate you. I rarely drink coffee but I noticed that when I do the next day my skin is awful. Also, be sure to moisturize when your skin is wet. When I wash my hands, I don't dry them, I rub the water into my hands, then when they are damp I put on the lotion. I have not actually soaked them, but have considered it. I hate stupid winter!

 

[crz4mm2]

Glycerin Oil. Mix with equal amount of water. After your shower, pat dry and apply. It is a bit sticky, but works GREAT!

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

DD is really having a hard time with dry, itchy skin this winter. We tried Gold Bond medicated in the yellow tube and it helped a little. The best change we made was switching body washes. Even though I normally get a moisturizing type, it was still drying her skin. I looked online for recommendations and read to use Dove or Oil of Olay which are creamier. I bought store brands to save $, but the results were better than before switching.

This year my face has been really dry. I don't ever remember my cheeks and forehead being so scaly with patches of dryness. I haven't been wearing make up and use Neutrogena Sensitive Skin face wash occasionally and have mostly been using plain water. Eucerin Calming Cream (lotion) instantly improves the appearance, but it's not curing the problem.

For hands, I use Neutrogena Norwegian Formula. It's thick and creamy and you only need a small amount for relief and healing.