Dry skin can be particularly difficult to treat in the dry heat of Austin, Texas. Here are some tips on how to maintain healthy skin, despite a sun denying your skin its much-needed hydration.

Drink Water. Your body needs at least 8 glasses per day to stay fully hydrated. Many people get used to drinking milk, juice or soda when they get thirsty. Nothing can substitute pure water for internal anti-aging hydration.

Decrease Your Intake of Caffeine & Alcohol. These liquids dehydrate the body. Make sure when you do enjoy them, you drink lots of water before and after that cup’a Joe with a shot in it.

Increase Your Intake of Omega-3 Fatty Acids. Some useful pills to have on-hand include Vitamin E, primrose oil and flaxseed oil. Taking these daily helps retain hydration in that rash-ridden skin.

Bathe Minimally. Try to keep showers and baths between 5 and 10 minutes, and don’t turn the water on hot; hot water causes skin irritation in dry skin.

Put Oil on Skin After Soaking. Whether you just got out of a bath or washed your hands, pat the itchy skin dry. You don’t want to rub it, because that dries the skin out more. Then put some oil on your skin to seal the hydration in – olive oil, primrose oil or even Vaseline can work wonders.

Get a Humidifier. A humidifier in your Austin home or office can help retain water in the air, keeping all your hard hydration work from going to waste.

Exfoliate & Moisturize. Depending on the level of eczema or dry skin you have, exfoliate and moisturize at least once a week, if not more.

Read the Labels. Many lotions and facial creams are actually detrimental to dry, sensitive skin. Make sure the lotions you’re getting hydrate the skin and don’t just make it smell nice. A similar warning goes to soap; a soap with high fat content, not high lye content, will soothe your skin irritation.

Superglue the Cracks. If you have a small crack in your skin, just put a little superglue on it. If the crack is deep – more like a wound – do not use superglue; use antibacterial or hydrogen peroxide.

Cotton-Covered Sleep. Before going to bed, cover your hands or feet as the case may be with Vaseline or oil; rub it in only slightly. Put on cotton gloves or socks. The cotton allows your skin to breathe while still hydrating and protecting it overnight.

For more information on skin treatments for all kinds of skin, contact your Austin dermatologist at Zimmet Dermatology & Vein. Call today to schedule your initial skin analysis; they’ll develop a professional skin treatment plan personalized to your unique condition.