Dry, Itchy, and Flaky

Most people who have dry skin do not go about taking care of it in the appropriate way. You need to figure out the cause of your dry skin and work on eliminating the cause (rather than working around it).

Your skin has a layer of lipids and fats that keep the moisture in your skin resulting in smooth and soft skin. There is a variety of environmental and external factors out there that are robbing you of your skins natural oils.

Lets list off some of these causes.

Hot showers. Hot showers and baths WILL wash away all your skins oils further drying your skin. You do not necessarily need to use cold water, lukewarm water will do just fine. To further reduce the washing away of all the good stuff on your skin. On top of that, unless you are rolling around in the dirt, you do not need to heavily soap up. The only parts that need to be regularly washed are your arms, face, hands, feet, and your privates. Everything else can be rinsed and be just fine.

The soap you buy should not be harsh on your skin. Something along the lines of a gentle face cleanser (it doesn't always need to be used on your face) would be just fine for most of your hygienic needs.

Moisturizers. If you feel like you have dry skin, you have probably tried countless moisturizers. First of all, when you use them, you have to apply them while your skin is still damp. That means almost immediately after you shower. That is when they work best. Do not vigorously rub yourself dry. Pat yourself dry. Then apply the moisturizer. Let it soak for a few minutes and then pat the rest of it off with your towel.

Dry air. This is aggravated by air conditioning in the summer, and heating in the winter. The simplest solution is the use of a humidifier.

You may have dry skin due to some medication you may be taking. It may also be the side of effect of something much more serious. If you feel like this is the case, you should not hesitate to speak with your doctor.

Finally, why should it matter whether or not you do or do not have dry skin. The truth is, dry cracked skin exposes you to bacteria, and lead to an infection or something much worse. Your skin is precious, and it deserves your attention.

Here is my source.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/features/whats-causing-your-dry-skin-problem?page=4