# Skin Lotion **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 21, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-lotion/170130 "2003-04-21T20:53:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EhhMon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@EhhMon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EhhMon)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-lotion/170130/1 "2003-04-21T20:53:39Z")
I slather this stuff almost every 30 minutes, where does it disappear. In the air, because its probably water base or in the skin. And is every 30 minutes too much…my skin is very very dry and I’m buying bottles of this stuff. Seems to be a waste to buy lotion when it doesn’t last on the skin too long. Am I using it right? ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-lotion/170130/2 "2003-04-21T21:53:56Z")
Use Cetaphil. ---
**Author:** ![InTransit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47774/32.png) [@InTransit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InTransit)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-lotion/170130/3 "2003-04-21T22:33:31Z")
I second the Cetaphil suggestion. In general, a lot of moisturizers and lotions are alcohol-based, which is good for evaporation, but not great for keeping in moisture. Check the ingredients of the lotions you’re using. I, too, have very very dry skin. My dermatologist recommended either Cetaphil or Eucerin cream. Your skin absorbes it quickly and doesn’t feel dry. Also, choose creams rather than lotions. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-lotion/170130/4 "2003-04-21T22:49:48Z")
In addition, don’t forget to drink enough water to moisten your skin from the inside. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-lotion/170130/5 "2003-04-21T22:58:23Z")
InTransit: Cite? I don’t know of any skin lotion (other than topical medications for treating skin diseases) that contain ethyl alcohol. If you’re thinking of cetyl and stearyl alcohols, these are waxy materials that serve as emulsifiers, and they’re not drying at all. If skin lotion is doing its job, it should be disappearing into the skin. That doesn’t mean it’s gone, it just means it’s soaked in. The skin should remain more supple and less flaky than it was before putting lotion on, and it should do so for quite a while. Ehhmon, what brand of lotion are you using? If it’s not too much trouble, can you list the ingredients? ---
**Author:** ![EhhMon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@EhhMon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EhhMon)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-lotion/170130/6 "2003-04-22T05:43:26Z")
Oh hell. Ehhmon posted the question on my behalf, so I’ll answer. Water, glycerin, stearic acid, mineral oil, glycol stearate, oiomis (sp? hey, I’m getting near sighted!) sativis, cucumber extract, melon extract, tocopheryl acetate, glyceryl stearate, cetyl alcohol, petrolatum, dimethicone, stearamide AMP, magnesium aluminum siucate, propylene glycol, triethanolamine, carbomer, butyene glycol, methylparaben, tetrasodium EDTA, DMDM hydatoin, blue1, titanium dioxide, yellow 5. Yee gods, I’m wondering if I should even be using this stuff after typing that out. ---
**Author:** ![Aankh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@Aankh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aankh)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-lotion/170130/7 "2003-04-22T06:48:43Z")
use cocoa butter. it is a superb moisturizer. AND cheap. there’s a whole bunch of brands available in drug stores. ---
**Author:** ![SouthernSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@SouthernSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SouthernSky)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-lotion/170130/8 "2003-04-22T11:40:24Z")
I used to spend tons of $$ on lotions for my dry skin until someone turned me on to ‘Fruit of the Earth’ cream with vitamin E - their pharmacist recommended it for her scar after carpel-tunnel surgery. It’s CHEAP so you have to look for it on the higher or lower shelves of stores, and you sometimes have to look for it. When I find it, I buy out the store’s stock in case I can’t find it again. The cream works better than the lotion. At only $2-$3 per jar, it’s worth a shot. It doesn’t feel greasy or sticky, and seems to provide longer relief. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-lotion/170130/9 "2003-04-22T12:53:49Z")
Describe the symptons of “my skin is very dry”, becuase it might be a ‘feeling’ you have or a visible flaking issue (such as alligator skin, fish scales or redness) which can indicate something else entirely. Do you smoke? Do you drink alcohol? ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-lotion/170130/10 "2003-04-22T18:49:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Philster \* > \*\*Describe the symptons of “my skin is very dry”, becuase it might be a ‘feeling’ you have or a visible flaking issue (such as alligator skin, fish scales or redness) which can indicate something else entirely. > > Do you smoke? > Do you drink alcohol? \*\* Not sure to whom your question was directed, but I’m slowwwwly recovering from a nasty bout with eczema on my hands. It’s not just a feeling. I get dry skin that cracks open & bleeds, besides the tight, dry flaking part. Hence the major slathering action. Does smoking & drinking alcohol dehydrate the skin more than usual? I do try to drink lots of water. I’m still curious, do lotions get absorbed or are they evaporating? Am I just using really cheap stuff? (see ingredients above) I always assume most “care” products are basically the same with different packaging & smells. ---
**Author:** ![EhhMon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@EhhMon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EhhMon)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-lotion/170130/11 "2003-04-23T12:28:39Z")
Ah-hah!!! So (heavy) smoking + (heavy) drinking = flakey dry eczema skin. Case solved. No more Camel and Smirnoff for you…lev. Its all about the Cetaphil. Until you’re all smooth again. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2003, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-lotion/170130/12 "2003-04-23T12:32:09Z")
I use Neutrogena body lotion for my whole self and the hand cream for my hands. It’s the only thing that has worked for me, and I have a mild case of ichleosis (sp). It’s very allegatory looking at it’s worst, but this seems to keep it in check.