Skin Problems: Dry, Itchy Skin

How can I keep my skin from getting dry?
Dry air can cause your skin to become dry and itchy. In your home, use ahumidifier to put moisture in the air during the winter and in dry weather.

How do I treat dry skin?
Moisturizers work well to treat dry skin. Choose a moisturizer that ishypoallergenic (it should say so on the label). The best moisturizers arealso the most "gooey." Ointments (or oils) are best, followed by creams, andthen lotions. Petroleum jelly is an excellent skin lubricant, but it can bemessy to use.

Put a moisturizer on your skin 3 or 4 times during the day. Put moisturizeron right after you wash or bathe. This will hold in the moisture from thewater. If you have very dry hands, put petroleum jelly on them before you goto bed at night and sleep with your hands in cotton-lined gloves.

Changing your bathing habits can also help. If you bathe too often, it maydry out your skin. Try to take short, lukewarm baths or showers. Oatmealbaths may be soothing to dry skin. After a bath or shower, pat your skin dryand put a moisturizer on your skin right away. Use a mild soap every day toclean your genital area and under your arms. Only clean other parts of yourbody 2 or 3 times a week with soap.

Some people use bath oils to help make their skin less dry. However, theseoils can be dangerous because they make your tub slippery. To avoid slippingand falling, put the oil on your skin after you get out of the bathtub.Plain baby oil works well.

When should I see my doctor because of itchy skin?
Dry, irritated skin is more likely to get infected. Infected skin is red,warm and swollen. It may ooze fluid. You may need antibiotics to get rid ofthis kind of infection.

Severe itching or pain, especially in older adults, sometimes is caused by aserious medical problem. Call your doctor if you are an older person who hassevere itching or pain that doesn't have an obvious cause and doesn't getbetter within 2 weeks.

What medicines treat itching?
A moisturizer might be all you need to relieve itching. If a moisturizerdoes not help enough, you could try using 1 percent hydrocortisone steroidskin cream for a week. If this is not helpful, your doctor may prescribestronger steroids or antihistamine pills.

If you use a steroid cream to treat itching, you should not use the medicinefor longer than 1 to 2 weeks. Be very careful when you put a steroid creamon your face or genital area. Steroid creams may make your skin get verythin and may cause other skin problems. Be sure to talk with your doctor ifyou are using a steroid cream or ointment to treat your itching. (AAFP)