Finding Skin Creams That Work

While any good skin care treatment will help dryness, only a few can actually renew your complexion.

    Walk through any drugstore or department store aisle, and you’ll see dozens of skin cream options that promise to erase wrinkles, eliminate dryness, and bring back that youthful glow. Some creams are highly specialized, while others focus on treating a specific issue.

The Dry Skin Diet

A diet rich in omega-3s and other healthy fats may help keep skin supple and hydrated.

    If you have dry skin, you know that lotions and moisturizers help. But can certain dietary choices combat dry, itchy, scaly skin?

"The most important part of the skin barrier is lipids, including phospholipids, free fatty acids, cholesterol, and ceramides," says Amy Newburger, MD, an attending physician in the Dermatology Department at St. Luke's Roosevelt Medical Center. "Skin without enough fat in it has a protein predominance and is kind of like a mess made just of twigs with no glue between them." Water easily escapes through a barrier without lipids, allowing skin to become dehydrated.