Extra dry skin is caused by insufficient oil in the skin, not by insufficient water. In a nutshell, that is why, if you have extra dry skin, no amount of water will cure the condition, whether you drink it or spray yourself with it. Even so, adding dehydration to our skin's problems will just accelerate its aging, along with the rest of our body.

One of the best things we can do for our overall health and wellness is to drink enough good water on a daily basis. Most of us are chronically dehydrated. It is a condition that is the first, and easiest, to address in any effective wellness program. The benefits of good hydration will extend to all of the tissue and organs of your body, including your skin. It is a really good idea! It is just that, even if we are well hydrated, our extra dry skin is likely to persist. The dryness is a result of lack of oils in the skin, not lack of water.

Our oil production declines with age. Hormonal changes can amplify the effect. In fact, extra dry skin may be an important signal of hormonal imbalances. Even so, when hormonal balance is restored, the skin is still going to need support from a good moisturizer. The question is, what is a good moisturizer?

Some moisturizers contain ingredients like glycerin and mineral oil that seal the skin's natural water barrier. They prevent water from evaporating from the skin, and they fill in gaps between the cells to give a sense of softer, smoother skin. The problem with them is that they do absolutely nothing to make up for the oil deficit that is at the core of extra dry skin. They can actually make things worse by blocking the pores and preventing the skin from breathing.

So what can we do about the oil deficit?

Wise lifestyle choices are part of the solution, including not smoking, limiting sun exposure, avoiding excess alcohol, and yes, ensuring we are properly hydrated. But even with the best of lifestyles, we are still likely to experience dry skin.

The best moisturizers for extra dry skin are made from high quality, organic, plant-based oils, such as olive oil, jojoba oil, sesame oil, pomegranate oil, and others. You can rely on them to feed your skin and give your appearance that soft, dewy look we all like so much. You will need to use your moisturizer every day, morning and night -- even a good moisturizer will not fix your declining oil production, but it will do a good job of compensating for it, leaving you looking great!