Key takeaways
- Low humidity from AC, winter air and fans, plus hot water and soap, are the common causes of dry skin.
- A cream or ointment works better than a thin lotion for dry skin. Apply it within a few minutes of bathing, on damp skin.
- Useful ingredients include glycerin, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, urea, lactic acid, petrolatum, shea butter and dimethicone.
- Keep baths to about five to ten minutes with warm, not hot, water. Use soap only where you need it.
- Persistent dryness can be a sign of eczema, thyroid problems, kidney disease or a medicine side effect, and is worth checking.
Why does AC dry out my skin so much?
See, what happens is, the top layer of your skin is a wall of dead cells held together by oils, a bit like bricks and mortar. It keeps water in. When the air around you is dry, water leaves the skin faster. Office AC runs cool and dry for eight to ten hours. Then there is the car or the AC train, then the bedroom AC at night. In Mumbai, people are surprised to have dry skin when the city outside is humid, but many spend most of the day indoors in dry air.
DermNet lists low humidity, excessive air conditioning and direct heat from heaters among the main causes, along with too much bathing, hot water, soaps and detergents, and alcohol-based products. In north India and hill stations, winter adds cold, dry air to the mix. Dryness also becomes more common with age, and DermNet notes it is common in postmenopausal women.
What should I change in my bath?
Most Indian homes love a hot bath, and a bucket of very hot water feels lovely in December. Your skin does not agree. Hot water dissolves the oils in the skin barrier faster.
The American Academy of Dermatology suggests: - Keep baths and showers to about five to ten minutes, with warm water. - Close the bathroom door so the steam keeps the room humid. - Use a gentle cleanser only where you need it, such as the underarms and groin, and skip the heavy lather. - Pat the skin dry gently instead of rubbing. - Apply moisturiser right away, while the skin is still damp.
Basically, the bath sets up the whole day. Get those five minutes right and the rest is easy.
Which moisturiser works for dry skin?
For dry skin, the AAD recommends an ointment or cream over a lotion. Lotions have more water and evaporate faster. Ointments, such as petroleum jelly, sit on the skin and seal it. Creams are in between and are easier to use on the face during the day.
| Ingredient type | Examples | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Humectants (pull water in) | Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, urea, lactic acid | Draw water into the top layer of skin |
| Emollients (smooth and soften) | Shea butter, ceramides, jojoba oil, dimethicone | Fill gaps between skin cells |
| Occlusives (seal water in) | Petrolatum, mineral oil, lanolin | Form a film that slows water loss |
A good moisturiser for dry skin normally has a bit of each. You do not need an expensive brand. Plain petroleum jelly on lips and cracked heels, and a fragrance-free cream on the body, work for most people. On the face, if you are acne-prone, choose a cream labelled non-comedogenic.
The AAD also suggests avoiding alcohol-based products, fragrance and retinoids while the skin is very dry. If you are on a retinoid for acne or ageing, keep it but use it less often and moisturise more, until your skin settles.
What else helps at home and at work?
- Keep a small tube of cream at your desk and reapply on the hands and face in the afternoon. The AAD recommends a hand cream after every hand wash.
- Use a humidifier in the bedroom if you sleep with AC on or live in a dry winter city. Clean it regularly so mould does not grow.
- Wear gloves for washing dishes and handling detergents. Many Indian women get dry, cracked hands from daily kitchen work.
- Wear loose cotton, and avoid wool directly on the skin.
- Drink enough water, but understand that drinking more water does not fix dry skin on its own. Dryness is mostly about water leaving the skin, not water going in.
- Do not skip sunscreen in winter. The sun is still strong in most of India, and the AAD advises sun protection even for dry skin.
Is it dry skin or eczema?
Normally, simple dry skin feels tight and looks a little rough or flaky, and it improves within a week or two of better habits. I would get it checked if: - It itches enough to disturb sleep, or you scratch until it bleeds. - You see red, rough patches in the elbow creases, behind the knees, on the hands or on the face. - The skin cracks, weeps or gets infected. - Dryness started in childhood and runs in the family. - It appeared alongside tiredness, weight gain and feeling cold, which can suggest an underactive thyroid.
DermNet lists eczema, inherited dry skin conditions, hypothyroidism, chronic kidney disease, malnutrition and some medicines among the causes of persistent dry skin. Eczema may need a short course of a prescribed anti-inflammatory cream along with moisturisers. Please do not reach for a steroid combination cream from the chemist. I explain why in the hidden steroid problem in mixed creams.
What about dry skin on the face specifically?
The face has thinner skin and more products on it. If your face is dry and stings with everything, you may have a damaged barrier from too many actives. Strip the routine back to a gentle cleanser, a plain cream and sunscreen for two to four weeks. I have written a full plan in sensitive skin: a routine that doesn't sting and the basics in the only skincare routine most people need.
How we approach this at Dr Tvacha
Most dry skin settles with small changes at home. If it does not, a Rs 499 skin consultation lets me check for eczema, contact reactions, thyroid or medicine causes, and order blood tests only if they would change the plan, at actual cost. You leave with a written routine, and any treatment, such as a hydrating medical facial, is quoted in writing first. The approach is set out on the Second Layer Skin Plan page, and our centres are in Thane, Andheri, Bandra and Dahisar.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my skin dry in Mumbai when the weather is humid?
Because most of your day may be spent in air conditioning. Office AC, AC cars and bedroom AC keep the air around you dry for many hours, and water leaves your skin faster in dry air. Hot showers and soap then strip the oils that hold water in. A cream applied to damp skin after bathing, plus a top-up at your desk, usually helps.
Is coconut oil good for dry skin?
On the body, many people find coconut oil helpful as an emollient, especially applied after a bath on damp skin. On the face, it can block pores in people prone to acne, so I usually suggest a non-comedogenic cream instead. If coconut oil suits your body skin and you like it, there is no harm in continuing.
How often should I apply moisturiser for dry skin?
At least twice a day, and always within a few minutes of bathing while the skin is damp. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests applying it several times a day for dry skin, including after washing your hands. In an AC office, a top-up at lunch on the face and hands makes a visible difference.
Should I drink more water for dry skin?
Drinking enough water is good for your general health, but drinking extra water does not cure dry skin on its own. Dry skin is mostly about water escaping from the surface because the barrier is weak or the air is dry. Moisturisers, gentler bathing and humid air work on that directly. Unless you are actually dehydrated, more glasses of water will not change it much.
Can dry skin be a sign of thyroid problems?
It can. An underactive thyroid can cause dry skin, often with tiredness, weight gain, feeling cold, constipation and hair changes. If your dryness came on with those symptoms, or does not improve with good skin care, a simple thyroid blood test is worth doing. I only ask for tests that would change what we do.
Written by
Dr Amit KarkhanisAesthetic Physician · MBBS, Dip. Dermatology (UK) · Reg. No. 2001/02/1124Founder of Dr Tvacha, practising in Thane since 2005. Leads the weight loss and hair programmes.
Sources
- Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin, American Academy of Dermatology
- Dry skin, DermNet
- Sensitive skin, DermNet
- Contact dermatitis, NHS
This article is for general education and does not replace a consultation. Medicines and treatments are prescribed only after a doctor's assessment. Last reviewed 25 October 2026.