Guest Author - Grace D. Dooley

Moisturizing extremely dry skin can be a real challenge. If you suffer with extremely dry skin you know what I am talking about. The rough dry patches. The itching, the cracking and the pain of it all. You have to remember to always put lotion on or use cream. Some women are even embarrassed by their extremely dry skin. They feel less than attractive and dry skin is far from being supple and soft.

Well, here's a little advice I can offer if you are one who suffers with extremely dry skin. Understand though, dry skin is something that is very difficult to heal so you've had to learned how to live with it.

Let's start with your personal and body care regimen. I'm talking about your bath and shower time. This is where it all starts. Now understand, you will need to spend a little extra time on your self here. I know we are all in a hurry to go places and do things, but in order to take care of extremely dry skin you have to pamper and love your skin. You have to spend time doing what is necessary to help it along. So make sure you leave your self enough time in your schedule to deal with your dry skin condition

During your shower time do not use hot water. This tends to dry your skin even more. It actually leaches the oils and moisture from your skin. The hot water makes you sweat, opening up your pores to release what is at the surface of your skin. When you bathe use a liquid body wash or an extremely emollient rich bar soap. Whether you shower or take a bath use a moisturizing liquid body wash.

Try to stay away from shower gels. Sometimes shower gels, even though they say moisturizing, can have a more drying effect on already extremely dry skin. Shower gels are good for people who do not have "extremely" dry skin. You want a cleanser that contains some type of lotion or cream. You want to be able to see and feel the difference in your skin after a shower. Body washes are usually the best for extremely dry skin. Make sure though you are not allergic and it is indeed a moisturizing body wash.

Also when getting out the shower apply an oil, usually baby oil, before you dry off, which will seal in the moisture applied from your body wash. Be gentle with your skin when drying off. Do not rub hard. Consider patting yourself dry. If you can allow your body to air dry this is even better. The skin though, is more receptive to lotions or creams when the pores are already open from your shower.

Always make sure to use a lotion specifically for extremely dry skin or cream for all over body moisturizing. It is also better if the moisturizer contains some sort of pro-vitamin complex along with vitamins A and E. Be sure to apply moisturizer morning and night. If you use a good moisturizer it will keep your skin hydrated for at least 8 hours, regardless of your schedule.

Many of you probably work outside the home, so you need something that will keep your skin hydrated all day. With a good moisturizer you should be able to notice and feel the difference in your skin. With continued use you should begin to see changes in the way your skin responds to the moisturizer, even to the point of healing. But remember once you begin pampering your skin in this way you must continue to do so to get the desired results.

With all this said I would highly recommend AVON Skin So Soft and Moisture Therapy personal care line of moisturizing products. Moisture Therapy does what it says it is truly "Moisture Therapy" for extremely dry skin. There is also an Intensive Extra Strength Moisture Therapy cream that works wonders in the winter time. The Skin So Soft line has everything from creamy body washes to spray lotions to dual moisturizing products. The products do soften and condition even the most extreme cases of dry skin making it very soft and supple.