Search
Close this search box.
Skin knowledge Guide Dry skin on the legs – helpful skincare tips
Frau cremt sich den Arm ein

Dry skin on the legs - Helpful care tips

Dryness on the legs, rough knees or scaly shins are not only unpleasant, but also indicate that the skin in these areas lacks moisture and care. But what exactly is the cause of rough and dry skin on the legs and what can you do to restore enough moisture to the dried-out skin? Learn tips and tricks on how to avoid dry skin on your legs.

Identify dry skin on the legs

Dryness on the legs can manifest itself in different ways. Mostly you notice that the skin is rough or scaly, but also fine lines or even cracks can become visible. If you tend to have extremely dry skin, you may notice itching or an uncomfortable feeling of tightness. The most common places to notice dryness on the legs are the knees, shins and ankles.

Causes of dry skin on the legs

But why is your skin prone to dryness on the legs? Dryness is generally a sign that the moisture balance is no longer in balance and the skin lacks moisture. Reasons for this can be genetic predisposition, age or even taking medication. With age, the skin often becomes drier and thinner – this is also referred to as parchment skin. Because the skin in the affected areas is very fine and thin, it can also quickly become sore. In the case of dry skin on the legs, the shin is more frequently affected.  In addition, external factors or mechanical stimuli can also cause dry skin on the legs and have an influence on the moisture balance of your skin. A pair of jeans that is too tight can rub against your top layer of skin, causing increased skin flaking. The friction weakens the skin’s natural barrier, causing it to lose moisture and dry out. Wearing compression stockings for therapy of venous and lymphatic disorders, can also aggravate skin dryness. Small lines and cracks caused by dryness result, making the skin look rough and unhealthy. When skin is dry, the skin’s protective barrier deteriorates, which in turn leads to moisture loss. This increases the dehydration of the skin on the legs.

dry skin on the legs

Dry skin due to change of season

Dry skin on the legs can also be weather-dependent. Depending on the season, the skin has to adapt to different climatic conditions – in summer, for example, to increased sunlight and in winter to dry heating air. These changes can put additional stress on the skin and eventually lead to dryness of the skin on the legs.

Helpful care tips against dry skin on the legs

Find your skin care routine

Dry skin requires special attention. Bathing and showering create a sense of well-being and relaxation in us. For dry skin, however, frequent contact with water means stress. When drying off and immediately afterwards, dry skin loses more moisture due to the impaired skin barrier, which in turn increases the dryness. It is therefore important to restore the skin’s protective barrier as quickly as possible after drying off. Moisturizing care products should be used for this purpose.

Lukewarm shower and soft shave

If you have dry skin on your legs, avoid hot baths and make sure you prefer lukewarm water and do not shower for too long. Too hot water rinses the natural oil film from the skin and the skin can tend to become increasingly dry. When it comes to your shower gel, you should ideally opt for a pH-neutral and mild product. It is also advisable to use a mild nourishing shaving foam, because shaving can mean stress for dry legs. Especially after shaving, you should pay special attention to your shins and care for them with a suitable body lotion.

Suitable care products

Remember to moisturize your dry legs every day by using creams and body lotions that are not too greasy, but moisturizing. Ideally, your skincare should contain natural moisture-retaining factors such as urea. For dry skin on the legs, apply the cream as soon as possible after showering, preferably even twice a day with circular movements – this improves the absorption of moisture and active ingredients.

Product tips for dry skin on the legs

Previous
Next

These topics might also interest you:

teaser-reibeisenhaut

Keratosis Pilares – Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Keratosis Pilaris, Lichen Pilaris or Follicular Keratosis, colloquially known as chicken skin, has many names. But what exactly is the cause of this skin condition and We reveal what symptoms are and how to care for and treat rubbing iron skin.

Frau cremt sich die Haut ein, um Mikrobiom zu schützen

The skin microbiome – the living protective shield of your skin

The skin protects the body from external influences. But the skin itself also needs protection: the skin's microbiome is responsible for this.

Frau die sich Wasser ins Gesicht spritzt

Lime water and the skin

Limy water can lead to dry skin and skin diseases. Learn more about the influence of water hardness on our skin here.

Dry skin in winter vs. desert soil

Top 3 tips against dry skin in winter

You have also noticed that your facial skin is drier than usual in winter? Or do your hands tend to be chapped during the winter months? Fortunately, there is not only a very simple explanation for this, but also three simple tips that you can use to combat dry skin in winter.

right_facial_care_from_30_teaser

The right facial care for 30+

Learn how your skin changes from 30 and how you can delay the natural aging process by means of optimal facial care.

Frau cremt sich ihren trockenen Ellenbogen ein

Dry ellbows – what helps

In the following article you will learn more about the causes of dry elbows and how you can best prevent them. Causes can include hormones, lifestyle, dry air and clothing material.

Previous
Next