What's Causing Your Dry Skin Problem?

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If you've been contending with dry skin, you've probably already tried a moisturizer -- if not dozens.  But while moisturizers are a crucial part of dry skin care, experts say that we don't always use them very well. 

The biggest mistake we make is applying moisturizer on dry skin, when it's least likely to help.  "You have to put on moisturizer when your skin is still damp," says Kenet, author of How to Wash Your Face.  "That way, the moisturizer is trapping the moisture still on your skin." Your skin shouldn't be sopping wet -- just pat yourself dry with a towel and put it on.  Let it soak in for a few minutes, and then towel off the excess, Kenet says.

You've also got to get the right type of moisturizer.  Experts recommend that people with dry skin get mild moisturizers that have no perfumes.  Often, the cheaper stuff you can get at the drugstore is better than the high-end products, Kenet says.  The moisturizer must also be thick and greasy for good dry skin care.

Petronic-Rosic has a simple moisturizer test.  "Put some of your lotion in the palm of your hand and flip your hand over," she tells WebMD.  "If it runs or drips, it's not thick enough for dry skin."

Dry Skin Problem: Dry Air

"Dry air is probably the most common cause of dry skin, especially during the winter," says Kenet, "It draws the moisture right out of the skin."  Dry skin during winter even gets its own name: winter itch.

While cold, harsh weather does dry your skin, the biggest problem in the winter lies indoors -- the dry heat churned out by your furnace.  (During the summer, air conditioning can have a similar effect.) To counteract the dry heat, start with a moisturizer.  Turning down the thermostat a bit in the winter can also help, Kenet says.

Other dry skin care tips include using a humidifier in your bedroom, and bundling up -- with hats, scarves and gloves, when you're outside.  Petronic-Rosic recommends that people wear socks that go high up their shins during the winter.  "Cold air can actually get under the pant leg and dry out the skin on the legs," she tells WebMD.  "I see it all the time, but it's the sort of thing people don't think about."

Dry Skin Problem: Long, Hot Showers & Baths

Prolonged exposure to water -- especially hot water -- can wash away the natural oils that protect your skin.  If you get out of the bath or shower and your skin feels tight, it's dried out.

So what should you do? First, choose showers over baths.  But that's not all.  If you're accustomed to waking up in the morning with a long, languid shower, dermatologists have some brutal advice: limit showers to a few minutes and skip the hot water.