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SKIN CONCERNS

How to Prevent and Treat Dry Skin

A board-certified dermatologist breaks down effective strategies to soothe dry skin and restore your glow.

Dry, tight or flaky skin is more than just uncomfortable—it’s a sign your skin barrier needs support. From environmental stressors like cold weather and hot showers to natural changes in oil production as we age, dry skin is a concern that affects nearly everyone at some point. The good news? With the right skincare routine and professional treatments, you can restore hydration, strengthen your barrier and keep your complexion smooth, healthy and glowing year-round.

Read on to learn more about the causes of dry skin and the best skincare routine and treatments to prevent and treat dryness.

What Causes Dry Skin

Dry skin is one of the most common skin concerns—and it’s often the result of both external and internal factors. Environmental triggers like cold, dry air, hot showers, over-cleansing and harsh soaps can strip the skin of its natural oils. Intrinsic factors such as aging and genetics also play a role. As we get older, our skin produces less oil and retains less moisture, which naturally makes it more prone to dryness, fine lines and a rougher texture.

A key culprit is a weakened skin barrier—the protective layer that keeps hydration in and irritants out. When this barrier becomes compromised, it allows water to escape, leaving skin tight, flaky and sensitive. Dr. Roberta Del Campo, Skin Laundry’s Chief Medical Officer, explains: “When your skin barrier is weakened, it loses its ability to hold hydration—leaving skin feeling tight and irritated.”

Understanding these causes is the first step in choosing the right treatments and products to restore moisture, strengthen your barrier and bring your skin back to a healthy, hydrated balance.

Signs You Have Dry Skin

Dry skin can look and feel different for everyone, but there are a few common signs that indicate your skin barrier needs extra support:

• Tightness after cleansing – Skin feels stretched or uncomfortable right after washing.

• Flakiness or peeling – Visible flakes appear on the surface, especially around the nose, cheeks or chin.

• Dullness – Skin lacks its natural glow and appears rough, gray or ashy.

• Itchiness or sensitivity – Skin may feel itchy, stinging or more reactive to products.

• Fine lines and cracks – Dryness can make fine lines more noticeable and, in severe cases, cause tiny cracks.

• Redness or irritation – Patches of skin can look red or inflamed when the barrier is compromised.

• Rough texture – Skin may feel bumpy, sandpapery or uneven to the touch.

• Tight feeling throughout the day – Even after applying moisturizer, skin may still feel tight as the day goes on.

The Best Skincare Routine for Dry Skin

Use a gentle cleanser. Avoid harsh surfactants. Instead, opt for a formulation that hydrates while cleansing—like Skin Laundry’s Hydrating Gentle Cleanser, which maintains natural hydration without stripping your skin.
Infuse with hydration. Hydrate first using a humectant-rich serum, such as Skin Laundry’s Hyaluronic Acid Serum, to draw water into the deeper layers of the skin.
Lock it in. Seal in that hydration with a barrier-supporting moisturizer—Skin Laundry’s Vitamin B5 Antioxidant Moisturizer blends humectants, emollients and antioxidants to hydrate, moisturize and soften skin and strengthen the skin barrier.
Protect daily. UV exposure can worsen dryness. A mineral SPF—like Skin Laundry’s Sun Mineral Defense SPF 30 formulated with moisturizing Hemisqualane, soothing Bisabolol and Vitamin E—provides lightweight hydration and powerful protection all day.

woman receiving a signature laser facial

The Best Skin Laundry Treatments for Dry Skin

While topical skincare products can target dryness on the surface of the skin, Skin Laundry treatments can improve the skin's ability to retain moisture. By revitalizing the skin from the inside out and promoting a healthier skin barrier, the skin becomes better equipped to hold onto hydration, reducing flakiness and dryness

The Signature Laser Facial

Lasers, especially non-ablative lasers, stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, which can improve hydration over time. The Skin Laundry Signature Laser Facial delivers high energy, infrared light beneath the skin’s surface to stimulate collagen production without harming the skin barrier. Safe for all skin tones including melanin-rich skin, this award-winning treatment is painless and requires no downtime. The result? Visibly healthier, brighter, firmer skin.

The Resurfacing Facial

The Skin Laundry Resurfacing Facial utilizes nanofractional RF to stimulate deeper repair of the skin barrier. The gentle heat from RF waves stimulates fibroblasts to produce more collagen and elastin, diminishes textural irregularities and other signs of skin damage. Safe for all skin tones including melanin-rich skin, this award-winning treatment also creates microchannels in the skin that enable greater absorption of products to improve hydration.

woman receiving a revitalizer facial peel

Chemical Peels for Dry Skin

The outermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, is composed of dead skin cells that can accumulate and lead to dullness and dryness.

Peels help with dry skin by using chemical solutions to break down and slough off the outer layer of dead skin cells, revealing smoother, fresher and more hydrated skin underneath. This process, known as exfoliation, improves the skin's texture, tone and ability to retain moisture, allowing moisturizers to penetrate more effectively and restore the skin's natural barrier.

“Combining peels with laser or RF treatments enhances results ad your skin absorbs hydration and nutrients faster post-treatment,” explains Dr. Del Campo.

The Skin Laundry Rejuvenator Peel is formulated with liposomal growth factors and a blend of chloroacetic, mandelic and kojic acids, this non-invasive, topical treatment stimulates natural regeneration processes, boosts hydration and provides antioxidant benefits to improve the appearance of hyperpigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles.

FAQs About Dry Skin

How do I know if I have oily or dry skin?

Oily skin usually looks shiny and may feel greasy, especially in the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin). Dry skin feels tight, rough or flaky and can look dull. Some people also have combination skin, where certain areas are oily and others are dry.

Why do I have dry patches on my skin?

Dry patches form when the skin barrier is compromised and cannot hold onto moisture. They may also be triggered by environmental changes, harsh products, over-exfoliation or conditions like eczema.

Why do I have dry skin?

Dry skin can be caused by both internal and external factors. Cold weather, low humidity, hot showers, harsh soaps and over-cleansing can strip natural oils. Age, genetics and certain medical conditions can also make skin more prone to dryness.

What is the best skincare routine for dry skin?

A gentle cleanser, hydrating serum, nourishing moisturizer and daily SPF form the foundation. Professional treatments like lasers and peels can amplify results.

Do chemical peels help dry skin?

Yes. Peels remove the buildup of dead skin cells that can worsen dryness, allowing moisturizers to penetrate better and restoring smoother texture.

Why is my skin so dry even after moisturizing?

Your moisturizer may not be sealing hydration effectively. Pairing humectants like hyaluronic acid with barrier-supporting emollients is key, and professional treatments can strengthen your skin barrier for longer-lasting results.