The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Pomada de la Campana
Posted by Mari (El Paso TX USA) on 10/01/2023
★★★★★
Pomada de la Campana for dry skin patches
Just wanted to let you know of an inexpensive Mexican ointment called Pomada de La Campana. The ointment has helped me with dry skin patches under my eyes, it looked like dermatitis and now its almost gone. I dab on the dry area morning and night and so far it is working. My step dad used to have beautiful smooth skin during his 70s because he would use it every day. I hope it helps someone in the same situation. Some people have also indicated its helped them with acne.
Aloe, Coconut Oil
Posted by Lou (Tyler, TX) on 03/08/2022
★★★★★
My hands were cracked and had small cuts in them. The doctor called it psoraisis, but I think it was eczema. It has much improved in the last couple of days. I bought some S_____ coconut hand soap at the $ store. I think Family Dollar. Then I bought some aloe Vera cream in a flat jar at CVS, made in Mexico. I also bought bag balm. I apply the bag balm once a day and let it soak in wearing white gloves. Later, I apply the aloe Vera and wear white gloves. I wash my hands when needed with the coconut oil soap. In a couple of days, my hands are almost back to normal! Try it! Don't forget to wear rubber gloves while washing dishes. The white cotton gloves are available at Amazon.
Sesame Seed Oil
Posted by Sharon (Salt Lake City) on 01/07/2022
★★★★★
Hi,
I have very dry skin and I started using sesame oil. It works great but it gets on everything. And it doesn't absorb quite as good as I would like. But, it does work so I may need to keep working with it. I found that when I use it on my face it takes away dark spots and is very healing for the skin.
FYI thanks, Sharon.
Hibiscus Tea
Posted by Alone53 (California) on 12/04/2021
★★★★★
I've always had dry skin all my life, but now that I'm going through menopause in my 50's it's worse. I stumbled upon something that helped. I have yeast issues so I avoid fruit because the sugars in them make it worse. So when I got the flu about 2 years ago I searched the internet for info on foods that have alot of vitamin C. Hibiscus Tea popped up in that search as being high in vitamin C and my local store had it in stock! I only drank 1 cup of it a day, and after some time, I noticed that my skin both face and body wasn't as dry anymore. In fact, I could skip a day putting body and face lotion on after my daily shower and I could never do that before!
After my flu was gone I stopped drinking the Hibiscus tea and my skin went back to being dry again sometime after that. So I went back to drinking 1 cup a day and my skin became less dry again. No doubt about it now, it really does help my dry skin.
Word of CAUTION: Hibiscus in general can cause low blood pressure and diuretic effects. It can also cause an imbalance of hormonal levels in the body. This is because of the presence of phytoestrogen which is a plant based estrogen naturally present in Hibiscus.
Biotin
Posted by Jill (Berwyn, PA) on 12/03/2021
★★★★★
10 mcg biotin capsule was the miracle cure for the raw splits in the skin around my finger nails. When I upgraded from 5 to 10 mcg that winter I never had a split cracked finger again. I've continued this remedy with the same results each winter.
Rice Bran Oil
Posted by Kia (PA) on 12/01/2021
★★★★★
Rice Bran Oil. I've personally never come across any oil that my skin drinks up entirely without leaving a greasy after feel - no matter how dry my hands might be.
But it's my elbows that I had problems with - the skin on my elbows would become so dry, that it would crack and become painful, so I instinctively grabbed a jar of aloe vera gel, drop a blob of it in the palm of my hand, then dribbled a tiny bit of Rice Bran Oil in it and blended it together with my finger before massaging it over my elbows.
If one doesn't have any aloe vera gel, then sprinkle water on your elbow first, then apply Rice Bran Oil while the skin is wet and massage in.
I don't know that it's a 'cure', exactly, but it sure does feel lovely and the relief (for me) is instantaneous.
Papaya Ointment
Posted by Maria (Canberra, Australian Capital Territory) on 01/16/2021
★★★★★
Am now adding another use for Papaya Ointment. Itchy elbow one sided. Showed it to my doctor years ago and he said it looked like Psoriasis and advised me to put petroleum jelly on the surrounding skin to prevent it spreading. So long ago, do not remember what I used but instead of going to a Homoeopath, I pushed it back into the system with something topical and now years later it is attempting to return. It's very mild and I like to experiment but the only ointment which stops the itching ...straight away...is Papaya Ointment. I have two kinds, one pure one not and both work.
Papaya Ointment
Posted by Dani (San Diego) on 01/13/2021
Thank you for the information. My Mom has dry and flaky skin. No matter the oils and moisture I use following her bath and exfoliation the next day the skin has returned to a very dry and flaking status. hurts my heart to see it (legs, hips, arms). I'm researching if it may be a result of any of her medication. In the meantime we will search to try the Papaya treatment. what BRAND do you use/suggest?
Glycerin
Posted by Mama to Many (TN) on 12/23/2020
★★★★★
All of this extra hand-washing is important to help contain germs, but it can sure be hard on the hands! My hands were getting really dry. At home I switched over to glycerin soaps. I have a bar of glycerin soap in the shower and a pump soap at the sink with glycerin for handwashing.
I do also use a lotion bar, especially on my heels. It contains cocoa butter, beeswax and coconut oil.
If you are inclined to make such a thing it is simply the following:
- 4 ounces beeswax
- 4 ounces coconut oil
- 6 ounces cocoa butter
You can add a teaspoon of peppermint essential oil and it will smell like a peppermint patty. :)
I melt the beeswax and coconut oil in a double boiler. Then gently melt in the cocoa butter. Add the peppermint oil once you remove it from the heat. You can pour it into soap molds.
You hold lotion bar in your hand and it melts a little off. It can also be placed in lip balm tubes to make a lip balm instead.
Enjoy!
~Mama to Many~
Egg Facial
Posted by Sandy (Naperville, Il) on 10/12/2020
How to you make rice water?
Papaya Ointment
Posted by Maria (Canberra, Australia) on 06/19/2020
★★★★★
Wonderful to have this website! Am reporting cure from Ichthyotis ( spelling?) that scaly looking crocodile skin. Am 77 yrs. For several years, any dark coloured slacks I wore had white powder inside the legs from the skin rubbing and flaking. I was ashamed of how my lower legs looked and kept them covered. I often rubbed good quality lotions and also oils on them but no cure, just looked better for a day. I finally remembered how Papaya Ointment helped my mothers hands after she damaged them with bleach. She tried many things but only the papaya helped ( straight away.)
Well, it worked for my legs too. After the first application! Because it is sticky, I patted talcum powder over it. I applied it again two days later just in case, but that one application did it. My mother used the one mixed with petroleum jelly, I used a very natural one. I waited two weeks before reporting. Both types of ointment worked straight away. It's the Papaya.
Egg Facial
Posted by My2cents (Sc) on 10/10/2018
★★★★★
I have had problems with skin that is either very oily in the day, or very dry at night after washing my face. I seem to be sensitive to many face creams so I went searching for natural ways to help this problem. I saw an egg white or egg yolk facial online and just went for it. I have had very good results using this daily.
Here is my method:
Beat one whole egg and place in a small covered bowl or jar. Apply to clean face. I usually apply 2-3 layers of the egg. I leave it for around 10-15 minutes then wash it off when I take my shower. I do this daily.
While my goal was to moisturize, I have noticed other benefits. I see a reduction in fine lines, as well as less blackheads and my pores seem to be tightening up. I had very large pores to start. I am very surprised by these results after using tis mask daily for a week. I am going to continue using this as it has been the best thing I have ever used. Also at night I pat my face down with rice water and leave it to dry. I do not rinse this off. It makes my skin feel very smooth and I do not need to moisturize when I use this. Maybe this will help someone else who is also at their wits end.
Wheat Germ Oil
Posted by Millicent (France) on 12/04/2017
★★★★★
I was using coconut oil on my skin. I loved the smell but my skin just does not absorb this oil. It would sit on the surface of my skin and be rubbed onto my clothes. Didn't help chaffed skin much at all. I recently bought a bottle of wheatgerm oil and boy that is another thing altogether. I can apply it directly to my face and it is absorbed rapidly, rubbed it on my chaffed elbows and next day they were better. It's full of vitamin E.
Eat the coconut oil or put it on your hair but wheatgerm oil is more readily absorbed in my experience.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Art (California ) on 08/13/2017 2325 posts
In reply to Michelle (New Zealand),
Food Grade Vegetable Glycerin / Glycerine / Glycerol may be helpful for the dry skin issues of your infant. It is mild and commonly found in many creams and lotions. Glycerine is a humectant and can draw moisture to the dry skin areas. You can apply it full strength or dilute it down with filtered water to any percentage that feels comfortable on the skin. If you dilute it enough, you can also make a spray. You can add it to many different moisturizers, lotions and creams to improve the moisturizing effects of these. Be sure it is food grade in case your infant manages to lick the affected area.
When I have used it, the moisturizing effect seems to last all day. I have mixed it with different things like witch hazel and it seems to blend well with many others.
I just tried mixing it with castor oil and it does mix, which might be another possibility, but for adult use, adding a little lavender essential oil might add a soothing quality to the mix since I'm not a fan of the smell of castor oil. The glycerine does not seem to have a scent that I can detect.
Good luck!
Art
Castor Oil + Lanolin
Posted by Mama To Many (Tn) on 08/12/2017
★★★★★
Dear Michelle,
One of my toddlers (many years ago) had very dry cheeks, and none of his siblings did. He is an adult and still has a bit of trouble with that. Anyway, back then the pediatrician told me to use Eucerin. I did but don't it helped a ton.
My current favorite dry skin solution is 1/2 castor oil and 1/2 lanolin. I melt the lanolin and stir in castor oil. The resulting oil is very nourishing to the skin and usually makes skin very soft overnight. Castor oil alone works quite well but I find the addition of lanolin to be amazing.
~Mama to Many~
Coconut Oil
Posted by Michelle (New Zealand) on 08/12/2017
Did you ever find the name of the product you could not find that worked? My 20-month old has very dry skin - legs, scalp. The Extra Virgin Coconut Oil on his head does little help and work. I read about castor oil working. I will try that. My toddler needs help!! My 3-yr. old is okay so I don't know why the 20-month old is so different and has severely dry skin. Both kids eat the same, etc.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Donna (Colorado) on 03/30/2017 3 posts
★★★★★
Coconut oil tastes delicious in oatmeal, that's how I finally managed to get it into my regular diet. Start small though, it will detox your digestive system and you might not like how it feels if you start off with too much. It's also good for constipation...it will really get you going!
Coconut Oil
Posted by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 09/15/2016
Sue, the only way you'll know how it affects YOU is by trying it. As far as I know, it can do no long term harm. Make sure you aren't allergic to it. A little goes a long way, no need to slather it on.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Sue (Northern Va) on 09/14/2016
Hi. I've read here on EC that applying extra-virgin organic coconut oil topically can moisturize, but also that it can dry the skin. Does it depend on how much you use? Or skin type? And what about taking it internally -- could that also cause dry skin? I am interested in its health benefits but my skin is already very dry (I am in my sixties.) Thank you for any help, EC is the greatest!
Black Seed Oil
Posted by C. (Charlotte, NC) on 03/15/2015
★★★★★
Every winter I get really dry skin. Normally coconut oil helps but for the past couple of years, my hands have been very dry. Especially my right hand. Which is weird because I do the same things with both hands pretty much. The skin on the back of my right hand was so dry until it began to look scaly and like it had tiny scabs like it had been scratched all over.
A friend and I heard about black seed oil last summer (also know as black cumin seed oil or being billed as "curing everything except death". We decided to try it. Now I can't remember why except that what ever it was for, after I'd used or taken it several times, I felt like it wasn't doing anything for me. So I stuck it in the fridge.
When coconut oil stopped working for my skin, it popped into my head a couple of weeks ago that the black seed oil might help. I began rubbing a little on my hands every day, twice a day. Just enough to rub in without leaving any excess to look or feel greasy. Since then, my right hand looks remarkably better. There are still a few tiny spots where the skin still looks dry but I have to strain to see it and I think that's because I haven't used the oil in about a week.
I also began using it on my face because I noticed the coconut oil wasn't doing anything for my face other than softening my skin. It actually seemed to be leading to breakouts more and more. The black seed oil seems to be helping minimize breakouts and moisturizes well without leaving a greasy feeling.
For my face, I use it like a moisturizing cleanser. Meaning as soon as I come in for the evening, I put some on a cotton ball (not cotton pad) and use the oil to clean the day's dirt off. (Being careful to avoid the areas around and near my eyes.) I take a second cotton ball and go lightly over the same areas, to remove a little oil and any residual dirt. (Usually not much of either.) By the time I go to bed, any oil left has soaked into my skin. It looks nice and calm, feels like silk when I wake up.
If you try it, be careful NOT to get it near your eyes. The smell is slight but it causes my eyes to tear up if rubbed anywhere near them.
Pycnogenol
Posted by Nivchek (Rochester, Ny) on 01/23/2015
★★★★★
My husband, 36, has had chronic dry (but never itchy), scaly skin his whole life. He started taking pycnogenol as an antioxidant for other concerns, and after a few weeks, began to itch all over. As he scratched, the flaky skin became supple skin and he began to actually produce skin oil for the first time. It's been quite a revelation and relief!
Milk of Magnesia, Coconut Oil
Posted by Yx1 (Ny,ny) on 03/19/2014
★★★★★
The milk of magnesia worked! For months I had tried everything to moisturize my flaking legs.... After trying milk of magnesia for just two minutes, I rubbed in some olive oil while still in the hot shower and my skin is finally back to normal! Thanks!!
Sesame Seed Oil
Posted by Shweta (India) on 02/08/2014
★★★★★
Hi, during winters my skin gets very dry. Hands are severely effected as I get deep lesions and skin starts peeling off. I have seen my grand mother and elders applying sesame oil on hair and body during bath. I also gave it a shot. After taking bath, I pour 5-10 drops in some amount of bath water and splashed all over the body. After that I massaged gently and then poured some water again and then pat dried my body.
Everynight before going to bed, I apply sesame seed oil again on my feet and hands. Trust me, you won't complain about dry skin ever.
One more trick is to apply few drops of oil on your navel before going to bed.
Lemon Juice
Posted by Rick (Sao Paulo, Brazil) on 06/29/2013
If you do this, do it at night and wash in the morning. Please do not go out in the sun with lemon juice on your skin, it will burn and stain you!
Lemon Juice
Posted by Alicia (New York, Ny) on 06/27/2013
★★★★★
The lemon juice remedy for dry hands is fantastic! I now buy lemons and cut a piece off during the day and rub on my hands and face. Within 30 seconds, they are baby soft. Best remedy ever. Great when you are out at a restaurant and they serve lemon with your water. I use the lemon slice to cleanse and soften my hands.
