Dry skin appears due to low level of sebum. Dry skin is very sensitive. Dry skin cannot retain the moisture therefore it appears parched It usually feels "tight" and uncomfortable after washing unless some type of moisturizer or skin cream is applied. Chapping and cracking are signs of extremely dry, dehydrated skin.

The main signs and consequences of dry skin are scaling, flaking, itching, chapping and cracking. Dryness is aggravated in winter weather and also roughens cuticles and nails break. The common sites are upper arms, thighs and lower legs.

There are lots of reasons why skin loses moisture. Sometimes you inherit the tendency to have parched skin--your skin may not be able to hold onto water very well or your sweat glands may not produce as much moisture as other people's. And as you get older, your skin produces less oil, which means you can't retain water on your skin as you once could.

Many cough drops in the form of hard "candies," some with herbal ingredients, can suppress a cough for up to an hour. These can work in different ways, including simply increasing the production of saliva, which helps keep the throat moist and reduce irritation. If you are diabetic or have high blood sugar, be sure to use a sugar-free version.

Drinking more fluid minimizes dryness and irritation, and helps prevent or treat some headaches.

If in spite of water intake your lips seem dehydrated, apply cool wet cloth to hydrate lips. Also try to seal in the moisture with a lip balm. Apply lip balm every hour or two to treat dry lips and to keep them healthy. Use balm with spf of at least 15 to save your lips from sun damage.

Vitamin A is also important for repair of skin. Ensure that your diet includes vitamin A rich ingredients like carrots, tomatoes, green leafy vegetables, whole grains and legumes. You can also have a vitamin rich juice made up of 1 tbsp. of water cress, carrot and spinach juice, 2 tbsp. wheat germ oil, one glass of tomato juice, and 1 tbsp. of nutritional yeast.

You should be exfoliating twice a week to keep your skin glowing. This will help to get rid of dead skin cells and allow your skin to retain more moisture. Use a body polish or exfoliating cleanser. On your body, try using a loofah to keep your skin exfoliated and healthy (never loofah your face!).

Dry skin typically appears in most people during the winter months. Dryness typically occurs because your skin lacks moisture. This means that there is a lack of water in your skin. In the past some magazines have suggested that drinking at least eight glasses of water a day will cure this ailment. However, medical professionals have proven this home remedy false, this will simply keep your body hydrated, not your skin. Instead, medical professionals suggest that the best way to re-hydrate the skin is to soak it in water, rather than take water in by mouth. Soaking for a short period of something like fifteen minutes in lukewarm water should put water back into the skin and help to ease the dryness. Doctors also remind patients with dry skin that bathing everyday can be negative for their condition. In fact, patients with excessively dry skin should only bathe every other day in cooler water than normal.