Dry skin is most common in the winter, but it can happen any time your skin gets dried out from cold weather, lack of humidity, moisture-robbing soaps and even too many showers, according to MedLine Plus, the online health information resource maintained by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. The most effective way to treat dry skin is to restore its missing moisture, and you can find plenty of products on drugstore and department store shelves designed to do just that. You can also whip up your own dry skin remedies at home for a fraction of the cost.
Oatmeal Soak
Oatmeal has the power to soothe and repair itchy, dry skin–and for less than a $1 per serving as of 2010, it’s an affordable alternative to pricier scrubs. Whole oatmeal can clog your tub bath, so mix it in a blender until it is in powder form before adding a handful or two of the oatmeal to your bath. The bath water should also be lukewarm rather than hot, since water that is too hot can exacerbate dry skin.
Petroleum Protection
Plain petroleum jelly has the same skin-protective benefits as more expensive moisturizers for a fraction of the cost–a 13-oz. tub of petroleum jelly typically costs less than $5 as of 2010. Petroleum jelly soothes dry skin, creating a barrier that locks moisture inside your skin while preventing environmental factors from sucking moisture out of your skin. For best results, apply petroleum jelly to still damp skin right after your bath or shower to seal in moisture. Keep in mind that petroleum jelly, like most moisturizers, can be a little greasy, so if you’re putting it on your feet, put on a pair of socks to prevent slipping.
Salt Exfoliator
Just like expensive exfoliators, regular table salt will slough away dead skin cells and flaking skin, leaving renewed, hydrated skin in their place–and it costs less than $1 to make a dose of salt scrub as of 2010. Take a handful of regular table salt and rub it over your skin when you shower, paying special attention to potential rough spots like your heels, knees and elbows. If the salt feels a little too rough, try mixing it with an equal amount of vegetable oil or olive oil from your pantry before applying it to your skin.
