What's your best tip for dealing with dry patches?

My daughter had exzema on the back of her knee since she was a baby. I never bothered to do anything about it because it didn't spread and it didn't bother her. Eventually I did do something. I put Aveeno lotion on it. It worked like a dream. Anytime the kids come to me with rashes, and myself as well, I put Aveeno on. It really works.

I keep lotion next to my hand soap in every room in the house. After the shower and at night, I lather up with lotion. My guy has really gross dry feet, so we have a weekly,if not more often, routine of me giving mine a little saw and pumice action on his toosies and then covering them with baby lotin, it abrorbs fastest. I'd say, the more lotion you see, the more you use, so head them off!

When it comes to skin disorders, dry skin patches are by no means the most serious of problems. However, they can be very annoying, especially since they somehow tend to ruin moments when you want to look your best. This is why patches of dry skin on your elbows or knees may make you think twice about wearing your bikini at a pool party; or why dry, flaky skin on your hands might make you anxious about the impression you'll make on a first-time date.

Assuming your dry skin isn't a symptom of a more serious health condition such as psoriasis or eczema, then an excellent moisturizer or body lotion will go a long way toward improving how your skin looks and feels. The problem is that many people go about applying their moisturizer the wrong way.

Here are a few tips to help you use your skin moisturizer properly:

- Make sure you apply your lotion within a few minutes after you bathe or shower, while your skin is still damp. Doing so will help lock in moisture better.

- Rub your skin gently for a few minutes until the lotion is absorbed by your pores. Don't just smooth it on and then wipe away the excess.

- Don't forget your hands! The skin on our hands is especially prone to dryness because of greater exposure to chemicals in products we use every day, such as soaps.

- Use a moisturizer on your face before you apply makeup, and again at the end of the day after you clean your face.

Dry skin is a very common condition that can be caused or worsened by a variety of factors. Diet, sleep, lifestyle habits, aging -- all these and more play a significant role in your skin's health and appearance.

Finding and using an effective body lotion is an important part of treating dry skin patches. Use it consistently and properly in conjunction with a nutritious diet and other healthy lifestyle behaviours, and you'll soon regain that smooth, beautiful complexion.

Did you know that an effective yet hypoallergenic natural body lotion should do more than just moisturize your skin? If you want to learn about what your skin does and doesn't need to become beautiful and healthy,