Dry and sensitive skin requires special consideration, from the skincare products that you use to the lifestyle choices that you make. Finding ways to help support your skin’s moisture barrier and keep skin hydrated can help keep your skin looking and feeling smooth and healthy.

Read on to learn more about what dry and sensitive skin looks like, what contributes to it, and how you can help care for your skin with Aquaphor^®.

If you have dry and sensitive skin, you may notice the following signs:

• Dull skin due to dry, dead skin buildup
• Skin that feels tight or itchy from dryness
• Flaking skin from dryness
• Skin that gets easily irritated from exposure to soaps, detergents, fragrances, certain fabrics, or extreme temperatures

If your skin develops more severe reactions such as blistering, itching with redness and cracking, or other more severe symptoms, you may be dealing with something more serious than dry, sensitive skin. Be sure to contact a healthcare provider for further guidance.

A number of factors can contribute to dry and sensitive skin, both internal and external. Here are some common causes and contributors to dry and sensitive skin:

1. Genetics – you may be more prone to dry, sensitive skin if you have family members of the same skin type¹.
2. Taking long, hot showers - Skin can become more sensitive and dry when its natural moisture barrier is compromised, leaving the skin vulnerable to moisture loss and sensitivity. Spending extended time in contact with hot water can strip the skin of its natural oils and compromise the moisture barrier².
3. Using harsh soaps and detergents – the chemicals and fragrances used in more traditional soaps or detergents can cause dryness in some people with sensitive skin².
4. Extreme weather, particularly cold, dry air – cold, dry air can sap the skin of its natural moisture and cause dry skin that can lead to cracking or chapping, particularly on hands and lips³.
5. Aging – As we age, our skin naturally starts to lose moisture and become thinner, causing it to become dry more easily and have a harder time holding onto moisture³.
6. Smoking – Smoking has been shown to negatively impact the skin’s moisture barrier, leading to signs of premature aging and dry skin⁴.
7. Sun exposure – Unprotected exposure to the sun can damage the skin, negatively affecting its moisture levels and elasticity⁵.
8. Anything that compromises the skin’s natural moisture barrier – this could include environmental pollution, exfoliating the skin too harshly or too frequently, or exposure to allergens⁶.

One of the most impactful ways to help dry, sensitive skin is to incorporate products specially formulated for use with sensitive skin into your daily skincare routine. Aquaphor^® is known for its versatile skin protectant Aquaphor Healing Ointment^® that can help everything from chafing to blisters, dry hands to chapped lips, but what about daily all-over hydrating skincare?

For daily moisture and skin nourishment for both face and body, Aquaphor^® Hydrating Daily Lotion provides 72-hour hydration to dry, sensitive skin. With a lightweight, fast-absorbing formula, this daily moisturizer brings the comfort and soothing properties of Aquaphor^® to products you can introduce into your morning and evening skincare routines. Hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic, fragrance-, dye-, and paraben-free, this nourishing moisturizer is suitable for sensitive skin, supports the skin moisture barrier and instantly soothes for soft, healthy-looking skin. Aquaphor^® Hydrating Daily Lotion is accepted by the National Eczema Association.

Aquaphor^® Moisturizing Cream delivers 48-hour hydration to dry, sensitive skin in a rich, silky, creamy formula that still maintains a lightweight, non-greasy texture. This fragrance-free, hypoallergenic moisturizing cream is suitable for sensitive skin, instantly soothes and supports the skin’s moisture barrier for long-lasting hydration and nourishment. This product is also accepted by the National Eczema Association and has been tested with dermatologists.

There’s a reason so many happy customers keep Aquaphor Healing Ointment^® in their bags and medicine cabinets. This versatile skin protectant ointment provides soothing relief of chapped, dry, cracked or irritated skin when you need it most. Preservative- and fragrance-free, Aquaphor Healing Ointment^® protects and soothes minor cuts, scrapes, and burns, and helps nourish and protect skin to enhance healing. Apply Aquaphor Healing Ointment^® to skin at the first sign of dryness to help soothe dry skin and keep skin protected from the drying effects of wind and cold weather.

In addition to using nourishing skincare products formulated for use on sensitive skin, there are several things you can do to help your dry and sensitive skin look and feel its best. Here are some tips for helping to soothe existing dry, sensitive skin and to help prevent sensitive skin from becoming dry:

1. Take brief, warm (not hot) showers – Limit the time you spend in the bath or shower to 5-10 minutes and be sure to use water that isn’t too hot⁷. This will help prevent your skin from moisture loss that can happen when exposed to moisture for too long or at too warm a temperature.
2. Take adequate sun protection measures when spending time outdoors – Protecting skin from the sun is important no matter your skin type, as unprotected sun exposure can dry the skin and cause damage known as photoaging. Be sure to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen on all exposed skin any time you’re outdoors (even on overcast days), reapplying every 2 hours or immediately after swimming, sweating, and toweling off. Use sunscreen in conjunction with other sun protection measures such as avoiding sun exposure during peak hours of the day, seeking shade when outdoors, and wearing protective clothing such as long sleeves, pants, hats, and sunglasses.
3. Moisturize your skin, especially after bathing – Keeping skin moisturized is key to helping prevent dry skin, especially if your skin is sensitive or prone to dryness. Apply a nourishing moisturizer each morning and evening, and after bathing, to help keep your skin hydrated.
4. Follow a consistent skincare routine using products appropriate for sensitive skin – For people with sensitive skin, certain cleansers, heavily fragranced creams, or other skincare products may cause irritation or disrupt the skin’s moisture barrier. When creating a daily skincare routine, look for products specially formulated to be appropriate for sensitive skin. You may want to look for terms on the label like “hypoallergenic” “fragrance-free” and “for sensitive skin”.
5. Avoid harsh chemicals, fragrances, and other skin irritants – In addition to being mindful about the skincare products you use, watch for other products your skin comes into contact with that could be a source of irritation, such as scented laundry detergents, abrasive cleaning products, certain nail polish removers⁸ or alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
6. Bundle up in cold weather – Protecting skin from harsh temperatures and wind can help prevent dry winter skin⁹, especially on frequently exposed areas like your nose or your hands. Bundle up with a scarf, gloves, and hat to minimize skin contact with the elements during cold, dry days.
7. Nourish skin at the first signs of dryness – When it comes to dry, sensitive skin, it’s important to watch for signs of dryness and address it right away before it gets worse. Whenever skin begins to feel dry, apply a nourishing lotion or ointment to help keep skin soothed and moisturized.
8. Identify known allergens or skin sensitivity triggers – There may be certain things that trigger reactions in your skin. Be sure to be aware of what those may be, whether you have sensitivities to certain ingredients, fabrics, or environmental allergens so that you can avoid them as much as possible.
9. Wear soft, breathable fabrics –Wear loose, comfortable clothing in breathable fabrics that can help wick moisture away from the skin and allow airflow. People with sensitive skin often respond well to natural fabrics vs. synthetics, aside from scratchy-feeling wool.
10. Hydrate your body from the inside out – Keeping your skin hydrated involves more than applying a moisturizing cream. Be sure to drink plenty of water to support hydration in the skin from the inside out.
11. Avoid skin-compromising lifestyle habits - Smoking or drinking excess amounts of alcohol have been shown to have negative effects on skin health. Follow skin-nourishing lifestyle habits like drinking plenty of water and enjoying a nourishing diet to help your body and skin look and feel its best.
12. Get adequate, high-quality sleep – Lack of sleep and poor quality sleep has been associated with dry, tired-looking skin¹⁰. Incorporate a consistent sleep routine to help your skin make the most of the restorative process of nightly sleep.

Whether you’re looking for a daily moisturizing lotion or cream to complete your body skincare routine, or need a product that can help soothe specific areas of dry, sensitive skin, Aquaphor^® is here to support your skin’s care  so you can look and feel your best. Aquaphor^®’s line of skincare products are appropriate for use on dry, sensitive skin to soothe and moisturize to help protect skin from dryness.

Explore Aquaphor^®’s full product line of nourishing body care to help your dry, sensitive skin feel soothed, smooth, and soft.

The information provided herein is not intended to be medical advice. Nor is it intended to treat the underlying skin disease or condition. The information is provided solely to:

1. Moisturize, soften and smooth dry skin 
2. Improve the appearance of the skin 
3. Achieve healthier-looking skin