Why Is My Skin So Dry and Itchy?

It’s 10 p.m. and you’re scratching your shins through your pajamas. There are pale flaky lines on your dark leggings. The lotion you put on at 5 p.m. was gone by dinner.

Why skin dries out

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)¹ says cold temperatures and low humidity make it hard for skin to retain moisture, which leads to itchy, dry skin and cracked lips. It adds that indoor heating makes it worse, since furnaces and fireplaces take moisture out of the air in your home.

Hormones come into it. The National Institute on Aging (NIA)² lists skin that becomes thinner and drier among the changes of the menopausal transition, along with stiff joints and a larger waist. The NHS³ says pregnancy and menopause commonly trigger itching.

So if your skin changed around the same time your periods did, that may be why.

The shower is part of the problem

The AAD’s⁴ advice on bathing is specific. Limit baths and showers to five to ten minutes, in warm water. Its winter guidance goes further and says to use lukewarm water, since hot water worsens dryness.

Use a gentle cleanser, and only enough to remove dirt and oil, with no thick lather. Pat your skin dry instead of rubbing.

Then comes a detail that catches a lot of us. The AAD⁴ says to choose products labeled “fragrance-free,” and to avoid ones labeled “unscented,” because unscented products may contain chemicals that irritate.

Moisturizer: when and what

Timing matters as much as the product. The AAD⁴ says to apply moisturizer when your skin is still damp after a shower or bath, after washing your hands, and whenever your skin feels dry.

On type, the AAD⁴ says ointments and creams add more moisture than lotions and do more for dry skin. It lists ingredients to look for, including glycerin, hyaluronic acid, petrolatum, shea butter and jojoba oil. For winter, it says to choose heavier creams over lotions.

That may explain the lotion that was gone by dinner.

The rest of your day

Clothing counts. The AAD⁴ says to wear loose-fitting cotton clothes and to avoid tight or rough fabrics. The NHS³ says loose cotton or silk, and to avoid wool, tight clothes and perfumed products. The AAD also suggests fragrance-free laundry detergent, and gloves for washing dishes.

Air counts too. The AAD¹ says a humidifier helps, and a cool-mist humidifier in the bedroom can be useful, as long as you clean it regularly to prevent mold. It also says to cut back on exfoliating acids in winter, because they can irritate sensitive skin, and to wear lip balm outside in the cold.

When the itch strikes, the NHS³ says to pat or tap your skin instead of scratching it, and to hold something cool on it, like a damp towel.

The play

Try this: moisturize while damp

Keep the shower short and warm, not hot.

Pat dry, leaving your skin a little damp.

Put on an ointment or cream right away, before the pajamas.

When it isn’t only dry skin

Itching has a long list of owners. The NHS³ names allergies, hives and heat rash, long-term conditions like eczema and psoriasis, fungal infections, scabies and head lice, and pregnancy and menopause. It says that less commonly, itchy skin can be a sign of a more serious condition, such as thyroid, liver or kidney problems.

The AAD⁴ adds that dryness can come from an underlying condition such as atopic dermatitis or psoriasis.

That’s why itch with no obvious cause deserves attention.

When to get checked

The AAD⁴ says to see a dermatologist if you still have dry skin after trying its tips. In the winter guidance, it adds that a prescription may be needed to treat inflammation or dryness that’s gotten out of control, and says not to wait until your skin is severely damaged.

The NHS³ says to see a GP if the itching affects your daily life, doesn’t get better with self-care or keeps coming back, is severe or widespread, comes with a new rash, lump or swelling, or happens during pregnancy. A GP may run blood tests.

Book an appointment if any of these fit:

• Itching has lasted despite the steps above
• It keeps coming back
• It’s widespread or severe
• You see a new rash, lump or swelling
• It’s affecting your daily life

Tonight, pat dry and moisturize before the pajamas.