Dear Rose: This is a stupid question, but what do people do about dry skin? Lotions do not work for me. My fingers crack and ache, even wake me up in the middle of the night. What should I do? — Drying Up
Dear Drying. This is not a stupid question. I’m glad you asked it.
The secret is in the definition of the word “dry.” It’s the opposite of moist. Moist means water, not grease. Human pores aren’t even big enough to get greasy lotions into the skin, no matter what the ads say and no matter which movie star’s name is attached to them.
The ideal humidity for human beings with problems like dry skin, asthma, even bladder infections is 30% to 50%. If you live in an area where the humidity is very low, you will suffer from dryness, and you will have to supply the humidity yourself.
Buy a small humidifier for your bedroom and run it 24 hours a day. You will have to keep the door closed for optimum benefit. If you can afford it, you can buy a humidifier for the whole house. They vary between $300 and $700. A small desk unit for your bedroom costs $50 to $75.
You will notice the difference in two days. I kid you not.
