A common problem with adults and children alike, dry skin care for your legs should be something to think about. It is often worse during the winter when environmental humidity is low, and afflicts all ages - it even occurs in people without other skin problems. So what can you do to treat dry skin on the legs?
The most important thing is to find a good moisturiser. There are four different types of moisturiser which can be perfect for dry skin care: ointments, oils, creams and lotions (listed in decreasing order of moisturizing power).
- Ointment moisturizers are most effective at trapping moisture in the skin, but often have the greasy consistency and feel of Vaseline.
- Oil moisturizers are less greasy but still effective.
- Cream moisturizers are typically white, and disappear when rubbed into the skin.
- Lotion moisturizers are suspensions of oily chemicals in alcohol and water and tend to be least greasy and the most popular. However, because of their alcohol content, they can be somewhat drying when used repeatedly.
The best approach is to apply a moisturizer immediately after bathing or showering. Pat the skin partially dry with a towel (don't rub), then apply the moisturizer. Throughout the day, reapply the moisturizer regularly, or whenever the area becomes itchy.
One area that can exacerbate this problem is shaving. Women who have this problem report that the best approach is to shave while in the shower - apply a good amount of baby oil all over your legs and then shave, using the baby oil as shaving gel.
