[kikkoman]

I've always had dry skin but in the winter it get really bad. The skin on my knuckles split open. Lotions provide temporary relief. What can I do about this? Is there something I can change in my diet to help this condition?

[deej5871]

The obvious: Drink lots of water.

You mentioned: Continue using lotions (maybe carry a pocket-sized thing with you for when you need it).

[Captain Obvious]

Drink lots of water, a humidifier, wear gloves in the colder weather, and expensive lotion for your hands and face. My bathroom looks like the Kiehl’s mens department but then again I had some 19 year old chick ask me if I was a sophomore or junior not too long ago.

[rezzi]

Get some cholesterol-free oil in you, such as cold-pressed Flax Seed or oil pressed from grape seeds. You can usualy find them in health-food stores. I tend to be very dry also and water alone just won't cut it (for me, anyways). As with all things dietary, you may want to check with your doc first. Oh yeah, drink lots of h2o.

[ManOfSteal]

C.O. Bigelow rocks for some damn good lotion...

[Disgruntled Head of C-3PO]

To heck with lotions, you need cortisone cream as it sounds like eczema. You can get it at the drug store at .5% and if that doesn't work to to the doc and get a higher dose.

[CD Hanks]

Originally posted by Disgruntled Head of C-3PO:
To heck with lotions, you need cortisone cream as it sounds like eczema. You can get it at the drug store at .5% and if that doesn't work to to the doc and get a higher dose.

In similar vain, if it is eczema, may I suggest you go to a dermatologist and get some Elidel. I had a severe case of eczema several years ago, and after trying literally dozens of different things (none of which provided any relief), my dermatologist introduced me to Elidel (which at the time was literally brand new.) He was interested to see how it'd work as I was the first person whom he had prescribed it to, and sure enough, after about two weeks, the eczema started to go away. A month later, it was completely gone.

[malvolio]

Freakin' wimp!
Use a cheese grater on your "dry skin" and enjoy really being exposed to the elements!

[kikkoman]

Well I'm sure it's not eczema, just extreme dryness. It pretty much happens every winter and it's fine once the warmer weather returns. Sometimes my lip splits open when i sneeze. Ouch! I try to drink water throughout the day but it seems like I need to drink gallons to make any difference.

[Hawkeye_a]

www.webmd.com (i usually go there anytime i need any information on health.

When i lived in Michigan (moving there from a more tropical climate) i noticed it as well, but couldnt imagine what was causing it. what was i recommended to do ?

-humidifier
-lots of water
-moisturizers, chapstick,etc
-and using oils and such.... i only use olive oil when i cook (dont know if thats relevant)

Hope that helps.

PS> how do you tell the difference between eczema(sp?) and normal dry skin ?

[Albert Pujols]

Originally posted by kikkoman:
Well I'm sure it's not eczema, just extreme dryness. It pretty much happens every winter and it's fine once the warmer weather returns. Sometimes my lip splits open when i sneeze. Ouch! I try to drink water throughout the day but it seems like I need to drink gallons to make any difference.

That sounds like eczema. The same thing happens to me every winter. Although it is a lot worse on my right hand than it is on my left hand. Neutrogena Hand Cream (Norwegian Formula) works great. Definitely try it.

[wdlove]

Drinking plenty of fluids is very important. At least 6 - 8 glasses a day.

If it is really bothersome, you should visit a dermatologist.

[Oisín]

Originally posted by Albert Pujols:
Neutrogena Hand Cream (Norwegian Formula) works great.

Wow, you have that stuff all the way over there? I thought it was a purely Northern-European (or Scandinavian) thing.

But yes, it works extremely well. I have extremely dry skin, too, and it was especially bad in winter in Beijing, where humidity can oftentimes dive below 20%. Apart from some disgustingly thick and greasy carbamide cream that I had to use when I was a small kid (and which hurt like hell to use due to all the carbamide), the Neutrogena is definitely the most efficient I've tried.

I'm very glad I'm back in Denmark again, with our very humid weather

Edit: Oh yeah, and another little tip: For areas like your hands and lips, you can try mixing some vaseline and olive oil (it's not supposed to become liquid, just like extra greasy vaseline), that works wonders and you can take it with you in a pocket or something.

[Kevin Moon]

I have eczema which appeared while I was taking accutane. That is the worst drug I have ever had to take I had severe eczema due to it. My dermatologist gave me a steriod cream to get it the eczema under control at first. Now it is managed by using Cetaphil lotion which works miracles, eucerin plus for moderate problems, aquaphor for severe problems and steriod cream for extreme problems. I have also had to switch to dove soap which helped dramatically. I would say the extra water helps but isn't enough for some cases. Try to avoid soaps and such that dry the skin out and apply lotion just before going outdoors. If you have cracked skin use the aquaphor as it will most likely heal it over night and after that use a lotion such as cetaphil which binds the water to the skin. Use lots of lotion and often and you should be good. Be careful with some of the stuff that the stores sell as a lot of it is useless crap.