I can say, hands down, this is the absolute best moisturizing lotion for extremely dry skin. This lotion was given to me by my mother for my almost scaly, extremely dry skin, and within a few days of use it made my skin soft, with no dry patches. Although my skin is normal now, I still use it every day in conjunction with self tanner. It keeps my skin evenly moisturized so there or no streaks or darker patches when I apply the tanner.

Side Effects: The active ingredient is 12% lactic acid neutralized with ammonium hydroxide, and it can sting slightly the first few times it’s applied, especially if you have cracks in your skin, but it stings because it’s working, trust me. Caution should be used if applying it to the face, because irritation can occur, especially if you use any anti-aging or retinol products. It makes some peoples skin more sensitive to the sun.

Ammonium Lactate Lotion 12 used to be available only with a doctors prescription, but now you can get at various on-line stores. It ranges in price depending upon the store from $8 to $22. To be safe and make sure I’m getting a bottle that hasn’t expired I pay about $17 for a 14 oz bottle plus shipping. A little goes a long way with this lotion, so a bottle lasts me almost 3 months.

PHOTO COURTESY OF IMAGEANDSTYLENEWS.COM

Although many of us think that itis difficult and taxing to maintain fine and smooth skin, there are actuallyeffective and efficient yet reasonably priced ways to preserve the silkiness ofthe skin. You may want to consider the following:

1.      Cleanliness is the best way to get rid of skinproblems and sustain the youthful glow of the skin. Washing the face and bodyparts with warm water and mild soap twice a day will greatly diminish thebacteria level on our skin thus giving it a healthy glow.

2.      Stay out of the sun especially when the temperatureis too hot. Apply sunscreen whenever you go out.

3.      Observe proper hygiene. Always keep your skinclean to avoid irritation. Keep your hands clean by applying alcohol or a handgel. There are alcohol and hand gel products that do keep the skin moisturized.

4.       Avoidscrubbing too hard as this might damage your skin cells.

5.      Apply skin lotion that contains benzoyl peroxidebecause this helps lessen the bacteria and oil on your skin.

6.      Try to avoid dehydration by drinking eight or moreglasses of water everyday. This practice will keep the skip moisturized.

There are tons of beauty products for dry skin, but before you start buying any in the hopes of restoring your skin to its former glory, know that there are better ways to get rid of dryness. Skin problems are caused by many factors,and as these can be subject to the lifestyle of each individual, it would thenbe better to tackle the issue at the very source. So before proceeding, ask yourself: what causes my skin to dry?

Itcould be the climate, pollution, or even your eating habits – whatever the case, know that the best natural remedies usually involve a change in lifestyle:

·        Get in bed earlier and exercise more often. Exercise and proper sleep can regulate blood flow,thus giving your skin a better complexion and a natural radiance.

·        Don’t just splash water on your face – drink it! Mineral water works great on yourface, but it would be better if you drink more of it, too, since dehydration isone of the leading factors in dry skin.

·        Bewary of the things you put in and on your body. This is not just referring to lotions, toners, moisturizers and other skincare products (although avoidingthe alcohol-based ones might help lessen the dryness); this is about alcohol,caffeine and nicotine intake – the bad stuff we get from bad habits. Take that out and replace it with the good, like food with lots of vitamins A, B, E, andomega-3 acids, and your skin will have a healthier glow in no time.

** Photo Courtesy of TeamSugar.com 

During these blustery winter months, our skin get dry and cracked. Personally, I itch more and my skin looks older. Of course you know a good moisturizer is important, but during the really cold months, sometimes it takes more. The first thing I do after a shower in the morning is apply moisturizer. I just lightly towel dry, still damp and then apply moisturizer. This locks in the moisturizer from my shower. I use a heavy duty cream for my body, like Lubriderm. Anything from the drugstore will do, as long as it is for extra dry skin. For my hands, I like Gold Bond Ultimate softening skin therapy lotion. You can use this on your skin also, but it's quite rich and thick and may be too much, but for exposed hands, it's perfect. Then for my face I use Kinerase Pro+Therapy Ultra Rich Day Repair, this is a great moisturizer as well as anti-aging treatment. Usually this is enough, but when it's not, I grab a bottle of olive oil and apply it directly to the affected area, and by the next day, my skin is healed. Recently, my lips were cracked and bleeding, so I rubbed some olive oil on them before bedtime, and the next morning they were completely healed.  

For more serious dry skin conditions like Eczema, Dermatitis or Psoriasis, you may need to see a dermatologist.