Banish Dry Skin

My skin is extremely dry -- especially on my legs and arms. I didn't think this happened during the summer! What can I do?

Your legs and arms have very few oil glands, which causes them to be drier than other parts of your body, says California-based dermatologist David Sire, M.D. He suggests making a few small changes to your showering routine. First, take only short showers (about 5 minutes) using tepid water. Lengthy, hot showers can cause dry skin. Also, regular and deodorant soaps can dry your skin, so wash with a soap substitute, such as Cetaphil.

After your shower, wipe your legs and arms with a damp cloth to keep the skin as wet as possible. Then, apply a moisturizer containing glycolic or lactic acid to exfoliate and get rid of flakes (opens in new tab). (We like Curél Age Defying Therapeutic Moisturizing Lotion.) Finally, avoid loofahs and abrasive body scrubs, which will only irritate your skin.