How to Treat Dry Skin

Experiencing dry skin? Take comfort in knowing you are not alone. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, nearly everyone will experience dry skin within their lifetime, occurring for various reasons. Keep reading as we discover what the condition is, how to treat dry skin, and the best products to soothe dryness.

Dry Skin 101

What technically is dry skin? Dry skin is skin that doesn’t have enough moisture in it to keep it feeling soft, says the Cleveland Clinic. It’s usually due to water loss from the outer layer of skin. The condition can make skin look and feel rough, itchy, flaky, or scaly, adds the Mayo Clinic. While it may only be temporary or seasonal, it can also be frustratingly chronic or long-term.

Dry Skin Causes

While skincare can help treat dry skin, getting to the root cause of the issue is helpful, too—but the causes of dry skin are as varied as its appearance. Here are some of the most common reasons for dry skin.

Temperature 

Extreme temperatures can be incredibly drying on the skin, whether that be the harsh cold of winter or the intense heat of summer. According to the Mayo Clinic, cold, windy conditions, along with central heating, wood-burning stoves, space heaters, and fireplaces are all environments with reduced humidity, which can be incredibly drying to the skin. The AAD recommends a humidifier, which can be ideal year-round to combat the dry air associated with both A/C and heating units. Additionally, temperature-specific skincare needs can be addressed with a winter skincare routine, or one for humidity.

Showering 

While cleansing is vital to the skin, taking it too far can be detrimental to skin’s natural moisture levels. Too long or too hot of a shower can be irritating, as can harsh soaps and cleansers used within the shower. Aim for warm, quick showers with gentle products. The AAD suggests seeking out products labeled fragrance-free if skin is particularly sensitive and inflamed.

Aging

Aging is a gift, but it does come with a few downsides, including dry skin. “As people age, the skin thins and produces less of the oils needed for the skin to retain water,” notes the Mayo Clinic. Following a skincare routine for healthy-aging will help mitigate dry skin associated with the gift of growing older.

Moisturizing Incorrectly 

We’re all trying our best to nurture and care for our skin, but dry skin needs a little more TLC. The AAD recommends slathering on a moisturizer immediately after washing the skin (directly after drying off). “Ointments, creams, and lotions (moisturizers) work by trapping existing moisture in your skin,” says the AAD. “To trap this much-needed moisture, you need to apply a moisturizer within a few minutes.” This extends to the hands and face, too.

However, not all moisturizers were created equally. There are even specific moisturizers for each skin type. The AAD suggests an ointment or cream for very dry skin, particularly one with hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, glycerin, and shea butter (to name a few). These ingredients can hydrate more effectively and longer term.

Dry Skin Treatment

In addition to taking the steps above to eliminate the most common causes of dry skin, using skincare for dry skin—made from ingredients that can not only hydrate but also soothe redness and visible irritation—is key to an effective dry skin treatment. Here are the most important products to consider on your journey to get rid of dry skin.

A Calming Cleanser 

A calming, nurturing cleanser (that still effectively cleanses) is necessary for dry skin. We know harsh formulas can strip the barrier’s natural oils, leading to more damage and dryness, so a gentle cleanser is a crucial first step in your dry skin-healing regime. A double cleanse can help remove impurities while adding back much needed moisture and oils.

Consider one of Tatcha’s newest innovations: The Indigo Cleansing Balm. This skin-strengthening formula instantly calms visible irritation, while also supporting and transforming the barrier. The dermatologist-tested and fragrance-free formula was crafted with weakened, sensitized skin in mind, knowing traditional cleansing can be painful and damaging. This is why the balm is designed to reduce friction while cleansing, helping to soothe while cleansing. It still effectively cleanses though, efficiently removing even waterproof makeup. The formula includes Japanese indigo to calm visibly irritated skin, lipids, and ceramides to replenish the barrier, Japanese lotus root to soothe, and mondo grass root to balance the microbiome. The results are stunning, too: In clinical studies, 100 percent of participants demonstrated an improvement in barrier function after just one week of use.* But unlike harsh cleansers, the Indigo Cleansing Balm also soothes visible irritation and replenishes moisture—strengthening the skin barrier so it can help prevent future damage for smooth, plump, and radiant-looking skin.

*Based on bio-instrumentation (TEWL) clinical study on 40 panelists.

A Hydrating and Repairing Cream

Not all moisturizers are created equally when it comes to soothing hydration. A moisturizer rich in ceramides, lipids, and fatty acids (all of which are already present in the barrier) is superior. This is because it’s been scientifically shown that hydration is significantly increased when a moisturizer’s formulation mimics the skin’s natural barrier, helping to replace nutrients lost throughout the day. It’s also helpful if the moisturizer includes humectants and emollients, which address hydration levels.

Dry skin loves pampering, so restore it with a deeply nourishing formula, like The Dewy Skin Cream. The rich, moisturizing cream plumps skin for a dewy, healthy-looking glow—thanks to the antioxidant-packed Japanese purple rice, algae, hyaluronic acid, and our superpowered Hadasei-3 Complex (a trinity of Japanese superfoods that restore healthy radiance). The rich texture increases hydration, radiance, plumpness, and overall texture and firmness—perfect for dry skin.

An Overnight Treatment

To boost your skin’s hydration overnight, try a treatment or mask with supercharged ingredients. Consider Tatcha’s award-winning Indigo Overnight Repair, a fragrance-free soothing serum-in-moisturizer treatment that visibly calms irritation, strengthens skin’s barrier, and balances the microbiome. The formula includes Japanese indigo, red sage root, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and mondo grass root for an immediate improvement in moisture, smoothness, and radiance. In clinical studies, 100 percent of users saw an improvement in their skin barrier strength within four weeks.**

**Based on a 4-week clinical study on 25 participants.

A Healing Lip Balm

The AAD recommends finding a lip balm that feels good on the lips—if it tingles or stings upon application, find a different option. Our game-changing, bestselling Kissu Lip Mask is a decadent treat for the pout any time of day. Made with squalene, Japanese peach, and camellia oil to nourish, calm, and hydrate, this jelly-like leave-on mask restores lips to lushness.

A Hydrating Sunscreen 

We know sun exposure is dangerous, but it’s also particularly harmful to dry skin. The Cleveland Clinic says sun exposure can evaporate oils and moisture from the skin, causing even more dryness. Ensure that you’re always prioritizing UV protection with a broad-spectrum sunscreen every day. But if you have dry skin, sunscreen options can often be difficult to find, as many can trigger irritation, redness, or more dryness. Here’s how to choose the best sunscreen for dry skin.

Try The Silk Sunscreen, a broad-spectrum formula that both hydrates and protects against UVA and UVB rays with 10 percent zinc oxide for a mineral, reef-safe filter. The formula includes niacinamide to reduce redness, visibly even skin tone, and firm the look of pores, and hyaluronic acid helps to immediately boost skin’s natural moisture levels, softness, and skin tone.

Experiencing dry skin can leave you feeling (both emotionally and physically) frustrated. You’ll likely spend hours searching “how to treat dry skin” with countless tips and tricks. But the simplest tip is also the easiest to implement: put the ‘care’ back into your skincare routine. Grab gentle, soothing products that hydrate, provide relief, and are easy to use. With consistency and care your skin (and hopefully your mind) can be filled with ease, too.