Dry skin is a problem in Oklahoma, particularly in the winter time, because of the air getting dryer. Most houses have gas heat, and that dries the moisture out of the air. When you get low humidity, then your skin loses moisture to the atmosphere, so you need to do something to try and keep the humidity up in the house. If you walk across the carpet and you get a static electricity shock at the light switch, your humidity is probably about that of Death Valley, so you need to consider a cold ultrasonic humidifier.
I would recommend using it [the humidifier] in the bedroom, where you’re going to be spending a great deal of the day – typically about 8 hours. Additionally, I wouldn’t recommend using heated blankets or heated water beds, because they tend to dry out the air around you, and I’d keep the temperature in the bedroom on the cooler side.
The other thing you need to consider is taking a shower without super hot water. The hotter the water, the more you dry the oil off the skin. Try to tone the temperature down a little bit. In addition, use a moisturizer as soon as you get out of the shower. Studies show that you lose moisture within three minutes of getting out and drying off. You need to do it [apply moisturizer] immediately while the skin is damp. I would recommend a cream instead of a lotion.
As far as soaps, I would use a soap that is very mild and gentle, such as liquid Dove for sensitive skin. Or even Cetaphil liquid cleanser, which is a soap-free liquid cleanser. One soap that you should never use is Ivory, which is extremely harsh and very drying, and that will make your dry skin much, much worse.
