Very dry, glassy skin

[shootingstar]

Ok, it's not a super reptile or amphibian. :eek:
It's me- :rolleyes:

For past 20 years my leg skin have been very dry, in fact a slight glassy surface has developed. Doctors have advised that I use high quality super strong body lotions...which works. It is on the outer edges of my legs, not my inner thights. And is up the centre of my legs up to the knees.

Living in Vancouver where it's milder winters has tempered my leg (and arm)skin to flake. Wearing black hosiery in winter in Ontario where it's colder, was just not for me.

Anyone has legs like me? :confused:

[Zen]

just sounds to me like you have a good razor

[bmccasland]

Shootingstar,
Not sure if we have the same problems or not... but here goes. I have chronically dry skin, which I thought would improve when I moved to the deep south, but it didn't. :rolleyes:

Check that the lotion you use has lanolin as one of the prime ingredients. Lubraderm comes to mind. Or see if you can you can find lotion with vitamins A, D, and E, then add some lavender oil and rosemary oil - smells good, and the essential oils will improve circulation and help healing, as will the vitamins. Unfortunately where I was buying my lotion that really helped my legs was shut down by the IRS, some little detail about non payment of taxes. Bah Humbug! They had lotion that worked! Pooh.

Of coures, making sure you're drinking enough water is also important.

Genetics doesn't help (part of my problem).

Unfortunately the humidity in the air doesn't necessarily translate to happy skin.

[mimitabby]

I think Zen is on to something. Do you shave your legs?
I don't. When i was a teen, i noticed my stepsisters (who shaved their legs) had a much different skin surface on their legs than i did after they started shaving their legs.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I think a lot of older people tend to get this skin condition on their legs- really shiny smooth and dry and somewhat flaky or scaly. I suspect it's because they produce less natural skin oil as they get older- as we all do of course. Shins and legs get a lot of wear and tear during daily living.

I would recommend using a soft exfoliant or loofah cloth on your skin in a warm shower once a week, followed by rubbing some nice natural massage or body oil into the skin at least twice a week. The oil lasts days longer than water-based lotions. Rub in just enough to feel silky but not oily.
I get some general dry skin during the winter months, and I do this about once a week. I use Dr. Hauschka's Brich & Arnica body oil. It is a very light silky oil with a nice woodsy aroma, and feels slightly warming. If you take your time and massage it into your skin well (I apply it lightly all over once a week after a hot shower) then you'll feel silky for days afterwards with no dryness at all. It just reals really good. Works for me in preventing winter dry skin.

[shootingstar]

I have had this condition since I was in my late teens. I am 48.

My knees for instance are softer skin, etc. I only need to shave ......hmmm every 4 months or less often. I used to shave more often. I don't have hair growing at all at the backs of my entire legs nor inner thighs.

But I believe my legs going more and more "hairless", is more hereditary as I age, since my mother never shaved. She never had hairy legs. THis hairless trend is coinciding with my armpits...now I only need to shave them hmmmm....every 4-5 months. No hair to shave.

Yes, Lubriderm is a recommended lotion. There is another lotion that has daisies on its logo designs and starts with g.
I use Kerilotion immediately after I shower.

And for the past 15 years, I shower every day now..probably as a result of cycling often though when I lived in Ontario I didn't cycle during the winter.

My sisters do not have same leg condition as me. Some sisters have had to shave way more frequently than I ever did.

THought it was worth finding out if others here have some leg skin.

Since I do cycle often in good weather and am in shorts often, I do use alot of lotion plus sunblock.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

...I used to shave more often. I don't have hair growing at all at the backs of my entire legs nor inner thighs.

But I believe my legs going more and more "hairless", is more hereditary as I age, since my mother never shaved. She never had hairy legs. THis hairless trend is coinciding with my armpits...now I only need to shave them hmmmm....every 4-5 months. No hair to shave.

You should know that it is very normal for women to have less hair on their legs, underarms, etc, as they grow older.

[shootingstar]

There was a very expensive lotion prescribed by the doctor, "Uremol". It works, like Kerilotion.

But I just couldn't afford this over the counter lotion on a long term basis.

When we were vacationing for 3 wks. in Hawaii, we were also cycling nearly every day. Trip included visiting 5 different beautiful beaches in Kauai and Big Hawaii Island.

I had zero incentive to lie out in the sun for tan. Relaxed under the palm trees after biking or walking to a beach... I tan very easily and fast...even wearing a high 45+sfp sunblock. So more sun on legs beyond cycling, really is not required for myself.

[crazybikinchic]

Since I was a child, I have had to use baby oil before I dry off from a shower. If I miss a day, I can really tell a difference in my skin.

[OakLeaf]

I know someone was posting their concerns about parabens in chamois creams... and although I don't always avoid everything I ought to, I do read labels so I at least choose my poisons :rolleyes: . Cetaphil and Aveeno are paraben-free. Lubriderm is not.