Tips for Dealing With Dry Skin

We are still in the thick of winter everyone! This time of year, a lot of my patients make appointments because their skin is dry, red and itchy. Dermatologists generally term this condition Eczema; however, it can also be called Atopic Dermatitis. It is described as a chronic itchy skin condition due to a weakened skin barrier and an overactive immune system. There are a multitude of potential risk factors for the development of this condition, which include genetics and environmental exposure. We also know that patients who have eczema are also likely to have a family history of eczema and/or other conditions like asthma, hay fever, and food allergies. Eczema usually develops prior to the age of 2; however, it can also have an adult onset. 

True eczema tends to be a chronic condition and flares are more common during the winter time when the skin is dryer. It can also be a condition that people suffer with all year long which can cause a significant negative impact on physical and mental health. We cannot cure eczema however there are many ways to control flares and reduce the rash and the itch which can be the most burdensome part of the condition.

Simple changes in skin hygiene that can help include:

• Daily warm, not hot, showers for 10 minutes or less.
• Using gentle, hypoallergenic liquid skin cleansers to bathe in the shower and applying a hypoallergenic moisturizer within 2 minutes after bathing.
• Don’t rub dry. Try to pat dry your skin after bathing.

It is also important to break the itch scratch cycle and this can be very difficult. Resist the urge to itch whenever possible. Keeping a moisturizer in the refrigerator and applying whenever you have the urge to itch is a safe way to calm the itch quickly instead of scratching. Sometimes these changes can make a big impact on this skin disease. In cases where this alone does not help we also recommend topical anti-inflammatory creams, and in more severe cases we can prescribe systemic therapies that are taken by mouth or injected into your skin. Today, there are many very very safe treatments that are very effective in stopping the itch and clearing the rash. People should not suffer with this condition anymore. Don’t let the itch get to you! We are here to help.

On behalf of Connolly Dermatology, I wish you all a safe and healthy 2026.