Dermatologist explains dry skin solutionsfrom @denverskindoc

Transcript

Does anyone else have skin like this? Hi. I'm a dermatologist, and that's a skin condition called ichthyosis vulgaris. It's actually from a genetic mutation in your skin barrier where your skin cells just don't shed like they're used to, so they're adherent more, which leads to that kind of dry riverbed look and really dry skin. But I thought I'd make a quick video because I often hear from my patients here in Colorado, hey. I'm moisturizing, but my legs still feel dry or my whole body feels dry. So then what do you do? Here's a few practical tips. Number one, you wanna make sure you're moisturizing with a cream, not a lotion. Creams are gonna be more moisturizing. They typically come in a tub, and the best time to apply them is right when you get out of the shower and your skin's still damp. In cases of ichthyosis, though, that's usually not enough, and that's when you need to use a chemical exfoliator. So things like lactic acid or urea are what I typically recommend. So in addition to your moisturizing cream, you incorporate these chemical exfoliants, which are typically lotions or creams as well. Lactic acid and urea help break down those skin bonds so that the skin can actually shed away, leading to smoother skin. And then you add in your moisturizer to hydrate. And last, you wanna look at what soap you're using in the shower to make sure it's not more irritating. I recommend shower oils for my dry patients. That's what I use myself. I'll put a few of my favorites up here. It's better. Dry skin is very common now. Let me know what questions you have.