Condition guide
Dry Skin
Dry, flaky, or itchy skin? Find the right moisturisers and treatments to restore healthy skin.
Find the right medicineTreatment and relief options
- Moisturise regularly, especially after bathing
- Use gentle, fragrance-free cleansers
- Avoid hot showers - use lukewarm water
- Humidifier to add moisture to air
- Drink adequate water
When to get help
- Severe cracking or bleeding
- Signs of infection (redness, warmth, pus)
- Dry skin with intense itching preventing sleep
- Dry skin not improving with moisturisers
- Widespread scaling or peeling
Good to know
Dry skin, itchy skin or eczema?
Plain dry skin looks flaky and rough. It is not usually very itchy or red, although it can crack and become painful. If itch is the main problem, see itchy skin. Red, itchy patches in the elbow creases, behind the knees or on the wrists and ankles that flare and settle may be eczema (atopic dermatitis), an ongoing condition in which skin is dry and easily irritated. A GP can confirm it, as other skin conditions look similar. For a rash you cannot explain, start with rash.
Getting more from your moisturiser
Keep showers quick and lukewarm rather than hot, and use a soap-free wash instead of soap or bubble bath. Pat your skin dry and apply moisturiser straight away, while the skin is still damp, at least twice a day and more often if it feels dry. Thick, fragrance-free moisturisers or ointments suit eczema-prone skin best. Better Health's eczema advice notes that heated homes in winter and air-conditioning in summer can irritate skin, and that air conditioners dry out the air, so moisturise more in those settings, and rinse and moisturise after swimming in a chlorinated pool. A humidifier may help in dry weather. See a GP if your skin is not improving or shows signs of infection.
Sources: healthdirect — Itchy skin; healthdirect — Eczema; ASCIA — Eczema (atopic dermatitis); Better Health Channel — Eczema (atopic dermatitis)
Frequently asked questions
Low humidity, hot showers, harsh soaps, ageing, or skin conditions like eczema.
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Medical disclaimer
This information is general in nature and isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor about what’s right for you.