Dry skin on the legs can be incredibly uncomfortable and even painful, especially when you’re wearing your favorite shorts or hitting the sand at the beach! Unfortunately, it’s not easy to tell what causes this type of dry skin, but there are several common triggers. In this article, you’ll learn about the possible causes of dry skin on the legs, as well as how to treat it quickly and effectively so that you can get back to living life without pain or discomfort in your day-to-day activities.
Tips to getting Rid of Dry Skin
Dry skin on your legs is irritating and annoying. You can improve how your skin looks with a few changes to your lifestyle habits and some moisturizing creams. Find out how you can make dry skin better! Dry skin occurs when there isn’t enough moisture in your body. This causes your skin to crack, peel, and itch as it tries to get more water from anywhere it can find it. Moisturizers help by increasing moisture levels in your body so that dryness isn’t an issue anymore. But why do you have dry skin on your legs in the first place?
Good nutrition is particularly important because of your skin’s constant renewal process. You’re constantly shedding dead skin cells and replacing them with new ones, so it’s important to have enough nutrients in your diet to help keep your skin healthy. Top vitamins for dry skin include A, C and E, which help build strong cell walls. If you can’t get all three through a balanced diet, supplements are an easy way to fill any gaps and make sure your body gets what it needs to fight dryness.
Essential Oils
Lotion
Applying lotion to dry skin is an important preventative measure. Your skin relies on hydration and oil to keep it supple, and can get irritated when that gets out of balance. Lotion also helps protect your skin from harmful elements like sun damage, windburn, heat, cold, and other irritants. If you’re concerned about dry skin on your legs or elsewhere on your body (the underarms are another common problem), check out our ultimate guide to preventing dry skin for some additional tips—and consider picking up a hydrating moisturizer like our Editors’ Choice winner for sensitive-skin Dermalogica’s Rapid Resurfacing Concentrate. It contains both glycerin and shea butter to help restore moisture balance in addition to helping soothe irritation.
One of the best things you can do for dry skin is keep it hydrated with a lotion or moisturizer. And remember: no matter what, you’ll need to reapply after sweating, toweling off, or getting out of water to lock in as much moisture as possible.
Socks and Gloves
Avoid Harsh Products
Moisturize Every Day
If you have dry skin, it’s important to apply a moisturizer every day. A lot of people think they can just do it once or twice a week, but dry skin on legs is difficult to treat and keep under control. You need to make sure that you’re keeping your legs from getting too dried out throughout your daily activities (like walking around town or running errands) and also throughout nighttime hours when you sleep. Don’t forget about your knees! Those are some of the hardest places for moisture to penetrate and help make sure that your skin stays healthy and soft. The best way to moisturize is with products that contain glycerin—they’re all over drugstore shelves and can be found relatively cheaply.
When it comes to preventing dry skin on legs, moisturizing every day is one of your most important tasks. That doesn’t mean that you have to do a full-body routine—your arms and torso don’t need as much moisture as your legs do. You should use at least one product (like a lotion or gel) in addition to any products designed for other areas of your body, like a facial moisturizer. For best results, try using something with shea butter or glycerin in it. In general, though, dry skin on legs is a difficult condition to treat and can feel very uncomfortable! So be sure to keep up with your application schedule—and try not to forget about treating your knees!
Wear Protective Clothing
When you’re spending time outdoors, wear clothing that will protect your skin from direct contact with sunlight. Fabric, such as cotton and wool, helps keep your skin moist by absorbing sweat, which is then transported to your skin’s surface. This makes it easier for you to cool down if you start to overheat. To keep yourself safe in hot weather when swimming or doing water sports like windsurfing or boating, make sure to wear a full-body rash guard or wet suit. Make sure that there are no gaps in between your pants and long sleeves so they don’t rub against your dry skin.
The best thing you can do for your skin is to prevent it from drying out by wearing protective clothing that blocks sunlight. Swimwear, for example, should have a long-sleeved top and thick bottoms with an elastic waistband that fit snugly to keep water out of your bathing suit. In winter months when temperatures plummet, use a knit cap and gloves. If there are any areas of dry skin on your legs, always wear socks or tights under your pants so they’re less likely to rub against them. Always carry lip balm or moisturiser with you in case you need to reapply.
Sunscreen, Sunscreen, Sunscreen
Avoid dry skin by applying sunscreen to your legs. When you first apply, it might feel sticky or greasy, but that feeling usually goes away after a few minutes. To avoid any irritation and make sure your moisturizer stays put, choose a water-resistant sunscreen and apply it before you leave home for work or play. It’s also important to avoid using exfoliating scrubs or loofahs on your legs; these are abrasive and can worsen dryness as well as cause cuts that can lead to infections. To help prevent dry skin on your legs, change out of wet bathing suits quickly and pat them dry rather than rubbing them with a towel. You should also wear cotton clothing around your calves to reduce moisture from sweat soaking into your pants, socks or shoes.
Dry skin on your legs can also be caused by factors outside of your control, such as genetics. If you have thinning hair or are losing color in patches, that could mean your body is losing more melanin. While excessive dryness isn’t usually a sign of diabetes, it can increase your risk of developing diabetes and prediabetes if it affects other parts of your body such as hands or feet. Your doctor may recommend applying lotion three times a day to avoid infections and other complications associated with dry skin on legs. He or she may also suggest prescription topical agents like retinoids to help improve color and texture and offer sun protection at the same time.
Eat Well And Stay Hydrated
The best way to treat dry skin is to maintain proper hydration levels. That’s because water helps your body slough off dead skin cells, allowing for healthier skin underneath. If you don’t get enough water, your hair, skin and nails will suffer—so make sure you’re getting at least 2 liters per day. It’s also important to eat well. A healthy diet will improve your overall health and encourage better cell turnover within your body, resulting in radiant skin. Make sure you’re getting a variety of foods with every meal; focus on fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants—these help combat signs of aging like wrinkles and fine lines.
Next, remember to moisturize your skin. Use a lotion containing glycerin at least once a day to help lock in moisture and nourish your skin. There are many other ingredients that can benefit dry skin as well, including shea butter, oatmeal, and vitamin E. Make sure you don’t pick any products with alcohol or fragrances—these will only dry out your skin further. The best time to apply lotion is right after a bath or shower; that way you have softened up your skin already so it absorbs quickly and completely.
Exercise To Reduce Stress
A quick run around your neighborhood is a great way to reduce stress. Exercise, in general, lowers cortisol (the stress hormone) and increases feel-good endorphins. Exercise also makes you sweat, which opens pores and loosens dead skin cells that are trapping dryness. Get moving; you’ll soon notice how much better your skin looks when it’s finally breathing!
As with any new exercise program, start slowly and work your way up. A good rule of thumb is to work out three times a week for at least 20 minutes, increasing as you go. Consider adding yoga or Pilates to your workout routine. These activities work with, rather than against, gravity to stretch and lengthen muscles, which can help reduce scarring and improve circulation.