Very dry and sensitive skin: need moisterizer reccomendation

[sgtiger]

In the shower this morning, my shins were itchy and a bit painful. I looked down to see that my shins are all scratched up, but I didn't remember scraping them anywhere. On closer inspection they look like shaving nicks, but they run perpendicular to the direction I shave. Also with my legs being mostly covered up this time of year, and an ocean and a continent or two separating the man and I; I haven't been shaving on a regular basis.

Anyhoo, I've been using Cetaphil cream to moisturize my legs but appently it's not enough. I do have some L'Occitane ultra rich cream, which is shea butter based, but it doesn't absorb very quickly and feels goopy for a long time after I apply. The good thing about it is that despite being very rich, it doesn't irritate my skin or make me break out. Should I be using some sort of light oil, like sesame, from the health food store? Or is there something else that y'all can recommend for someone with sensitive skin?

Thanks in advance,

Soo

[Biciclista]

my ayurvedic lady says use sesame oil!
(smells good too)

ps don't shave for a while!!!

[ny biker]

I have very sensitive skin but it's not as dry as what you're describing. I use Complex 15 for most of me. It's hard to find at drug stores but you can get it on drugstore.com.

For my hands I use Aveeno, since it seems to last through a day of washing my hands better than the Complex 15.

If my legs were really bad, I would try putting Aquafor on them. It's kind of greasy (similar to Vaseline in consistency) but if you don't use too much and rub it in well, I think it would be okay. It's made by Eucerin and easy to find at drug stores.

[shootingstar]

I hope the sesame oil works or other stuff here for you stiger.

Please ask the pharmacist what they would recommend for over the counter lotions also. (Not the pharmacy technician). A pharmacist has considerable knowledge on over the counter ointments and drugs to remain licensed.

Since I live in Vancouver now, I don't have the severe dry skin problem because our winters are not as cold. But when I lived in Ontario I did have perpetual problem of very dry, scaly leg skin. Skin condition is called icthomyosis --fish-scale. The skin surface becomes harder and shiny. It would show up on dark tights when I removed my slacks, hose, etc. My dermatologist recommended Uremol, which is an over the counter, but expensive lotion. I switched to Keri.

I currently use Keri lotion for legs, arms only. I don't need it elsewhere.
For any moisturizer, must be applied immediately after drying self out of shower.
_________________________________________

From someone with 2 sister-pharmacists and 2-cousin-pharmacists.

[KnottedYet]

Pure shea butter for the very dry stuff ($12 for a tiny jar)
Pure olive oil for medium dry stuff ($6 for a quart)
Pure grape seed oil for the fine (like face) or not-so-dry stuff ($4 for a little 4 oz bottle)

My legs get super dry, too. A blob of shea butter melted between my hands and then rubbed on my lower legs is blissful and lasts for hours. It absorbs surprisingly quickly.

[GLC1968]

You could also help the problem from the inside (assuming you don't have oily skin somewhere else on your body like your face) by taking flax oil and/or fish oil caps. Three to four caps a day (two in am, two in pm) will make a huge difference if you have dry skin.

This is how I survived my stint on Accutane when my skin became unbearably dry. I've also been encouraging my husband to take them twice a day in the winter since then because he's got very dry skin and it really helps him.

[rocknrollgirl]

You could also help the problem from the inside (assuming you don't have oily skin somewhere else on your body like your face) by taking flax oil and/or fish oil caps. Three to four caps a day (two in am, two in pm) will make a huge difference if you have dry skin.

This is how I survived my stint on Accutane when my skin became unbearably dry. I've also been encouraging my husband to take them twice a day in the winter since then because he's got very dry skin and it really helps him.

What dosage on the fish oil to help with dry skin?

[bmccasland]

Lotions that contain lanolin. Lubriderm comes to mind. Put a bit of lavender and rosemary essential oils in it - one has antibiotic properties and the other increaseses blood circulation, both smell nice.

Vasoline Intensive Care doesn't do diddly for my dry skin.

the 365 Lotion from WF is pretty nice, and I add lavender oil to it.

Seems one of my quilt magazines recently did a comparison on lotions, let me see if I can find it... I'll be back....

[deeaimond]

I'm a huge fan of shea butter, but my supply is running out.

Gold Bond ultimate is really good. I have very sensitive skin, and I really dislike lotions coz they're slimy. I use the shea butter gold bond. it's a little more expensive than regular lotions, but its available at the drugstore and still cheaper than pure shea butter.

[hoffsquared]

I like Udderly Smooth for my legs and hands. Seems to do the trick.

[kelownagirl]

I use Aveeno everything. Got rid of all my dry skin as well as excema. (sp?)

In the shower this morning, my shins were itchy and a bit painful. I looked down to see that my shins are all scratched up, but I didn't remember scraping them anywhere. On closer inspection they look like shaving nicks, but they run perpendicular to the direction I shave. Also with my legs being mostly covered up this time of year, and an ocean and a continent or two separating the man and I; I haven't been shaving on a regular basis.

Anyhoo, I've been using Cetaphil cream to moisturize my legs but appently it's not enough. I do have some L'Occitane ultra rich cream, which is shea butter based, but it doesn't absorb very quickly and feels goopy for a long time after I apply. The good thing about it is that despite being very rich, it doesn't irritate my skin or make me break out. Should I be using some sort of light oil, like sesame, from the health food store? Or is there something else that y'all can recommend for someone with sensitive skin?

Thanks in advance,

Soo

[Tuckervill]

I get psoriasis-like patches on my legs in the winter. I hate applying lotion because I then have to wait for it to soak in (depending on the type), so I just don't use it. I'm not a creams and potions kind of girl anyway.

What I do use is Aveeno Shower & Bath Oil. I keep the bottle in the shower and slather on a quarter-sized amount before I step out of the shower. That covers my whole body, though I concentrate it in the parts that really need it. The water then sheets off of me and by the time I get into the bedroom, I'm ready to dress.

My hands can get terribly cracked and painful in winter (I've got two cuts on the back of my right hand from my left thumbnail right now!). For that I use Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream. Soaks right in.

Karen