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.
Lemon Juice
Posted by Briona (La, Ca, Usa) on 12/17/2011
★★★★★
The skin on my hands is very dry and I have a tendency to have lots of cuticles. I have tried everything, lotions, creams, ointments you name it - nothing works. To solve both these issues, I squeeze a few drops of fresh lemon juice in my hands and gently rub it once or twice a day, especially in winter. This is quite inexpensive and my hands are definitely happier.
Milk of Magnesia, Coconut Oil
Posted by Joy (Battleground, Wash) on 03/21/2013
★★★★★
Years ago I heard that putting milk of magnesia topically on dry skin would remove dead cells and leave healthy skin, from a model that used it to keep her skin beautiful. I did that a lot on dry skin and loved it. Lately I bathe in it, 1 /2 cup in hot bath and also soak my head in the tub. I have had dry skin, so this is nice. I have fall/ winter/ spring dandruff but not summer.
Lately I ran across coconut oil and trying to use it in different ways. Heated some in an old agave bottle with a tiny tip on it. Heated my rice pack in microwave and wrapped the rice pack around agave bottle to melt the oil and then put on the scalp. Let soak all day then took a bath with head in water, followed with a shampoo. No oily hair just soft and no dandruff.
Also daily brush with the oil and put on face, hands and feet. Use half pea size in ear if there is any ringing starting up.
Replied by Yx1
(Ny,ny)
03/19/2014
★★★★★
Omega 3 Fish Oil
Posted by Caitlin (Asheville, Nc) on 03/25/2013
★★★★★
Dry skin - the past week I have been experiencing dry skin on my palms, which feel very rough to the touch. I typically take 1 fish oil pill a day, but yesterday I took 2. Within 20 minutes, the rough, dry skin on my palms had disappeared. I also have dry flaky skin around my nose which gets triggered when I eat certain things like dairy or milk chocolate and that too healed at the same time and looked a thousand times better. I am going to up my daily dosage to 2 capsules, twice a day for a while. I highly suggest this! My capsules are EPA 400, DHA 200 if that helps anyone.
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.
Replied by Dani
(San Diego)
01/13/2021
Replied by Maria
(Canberra, Australian Capital Territory)
01/16/2021
★★★★★
Pineapple Juice
Posted by Cyma (Dubia, Uae) on 04/27/2013
★★★★★
Since moving here three years ago I have been plagued with severly dry, scaly skin. I have tried scrubbing with coffee, sugar, salt as well as commercial scrubs but, nothing works. I have not been able to find a lotion that can keep my skin moist for more than a few minutes. I'm in my 40's and have always had soft skin. About one month ago, whilst eating some fresh pineapple I got the idea to apply some of the juice to my skin (seeing that it contains fruit acids which act like exfoliant) before applying my normal moisturiser. I first tried it on my legs and arms - the driest parts. Within a few days I noticed the layer of dry scaly skin was gone! I have been using it since and dry skin is no longer a problem. On the face I dilute the fresh juice with a little water and leave it on for about 10 minutes. I then wipe my face with damp cotton pads before applying a moisturizer. If your skin is sensitive, it might tingle a bit on the face. But so far, I've had no adverse reaction. Give it a try. It's inexpensive and effective.
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.
Pure Lanolin
Posted by Teri (Tacoma, Wa, Usa) on 12/04/2011
★★★★★
I have always suffered with very dry skin, and natural lanolin is the best moisturizer I have ever found. I used to rub it into my children's hands at night while they slept when we lived in a very cold climate. It healed their very red, chapped hands overnight, and protected them for days because it sinks in and doesn't wash away easily. There are downsides. It is thick and messy to use, but great under a pair of white gloves overnight.
Pure Lanolin
Posted by Sp (Lavergne, Tn) on 11/06/2010
★★★★★
I tried liquid lanolin a few weeks ago for my dry hands and feet and it works very well. Since the liquid lanolin is too thick, I mix the liquid lanolin with EVCO and sometimes almond oil, just whatever I can grab first. I rub the mixture on my hands and feet at night. I rub the leftover on my checks and eye areas. The next day, my hands and feel and face feel very soft and moist. I Love it.
Pure Lanolin
Posted by Lisa (Little Rock, AR) on 03/19/2009
★★★★★
dry skin: This is for Chanson from the midwest and any others out there who experience severly dry skin. Go to your local pharmacy, retail store or baby supply and get a tube of pure lanolin. My Dr. told me to use it when I was breast feeding. My nipples cracked open and were, as you can imagine, extremely painful. The lanolin healed them completely and I was able to continue breast feeding. My father works with chemicals in his job and his fingers crack and bleed. I got a tube for him to use and it healed his fingers. I would suggest applying it after you have eaten as you don't want to get it in your mouth. It is an all natural product. It's very thick and has a slight odor, but nothing unbearable.
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!
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.
Sea Salt Baths, Flax Seed Oil
Posted by Pete (Brampton, On Canada) on 08/03/2009
★★★★★
I went to an "eye-dolligist" for extreme dry skin problem. (sever athlete's foot + Jock Itch) was told to start adding 2 cups of Organic Sea Salt to bath water (use only luke warm water, not steaming hot) must sit in bath for 1 hour. Did this twice a week for 4 weeks and both problems are gone. It has been 3 months now and no return. For my dry skin I am also taking 2 tablespoons of organic flax seed oil morning and night. My skin now is soft and smooth as silk.
hope this helps
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.
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.
Tea
Posted by G (San Diego) on 03/13/2013
Okay so I have to update my dry skin method.. I said in another post that butter helped my dry skin.. But now I think I want to say that rubbing tea on the skin helps great too! (as well as adding sea salt to your face wash and baking soda/for acne prone) I will try aloe vera next if my face is not recovering from the scars or stays dry.. This is day 1.. Some results better than butter and I used convenience store bought tea.. I will try this method with homemade tea next.. Youtube videos always talk about putting tea bags on the face to help speed up healing of dry skin, etc.. More is to come..
