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A number of factors deplete the natural moisture level in the skin, including the environment, sun exposure and a person’s lifestyle. Available in the form of creams, ointments and lotions, moisturizers help people retain skin moisture. Ointments retain the most amount of moisture and lotions retain the least. Petroleum jelly can also be used.

Moisturizers lock in moisture by creating a seal over the skin, ultimately preventing water from escaping, or by slowly releasing water into the skin.

Tips for using moisturizers include:

• Apply moisturizer immediately after bathing. Moisturizing the skin immediately after taking a bath or shower helps by trapping water in the upper layers of the skin. People with extremely dry skin (skin lacking water) may also benefit from applying baby oil or another form of oil to their skin. Oils, which last longer than moisturizers, prevent water from evaporating from the surface of the skin.
  
  
• Use a moisturizer that is appropriate for skin type. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends the following moisturizer/skin condition combinations:
  
  

  Skin Condition	Moisturizer
  Normal or hairy	Lotions
  Greasy/oily/ acne-prone	Non-comedogenic, very light lotions
  Dry/sensitive	Thicker lotions, creams
  Eczema-prone/ ichthyosis	Creams, greasier ointments, petroleum jelly

People with sensitive skin (skin that is easily irritated) may also benefit from choosing moisturizing products that are free of additives such as dyes or perfumes. People with oily skin (skin containing excess amounts of oil) may benefit from not moisturizing at all.

• Use a moisturizer that offers sun protection. Using a moisturizer with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15 can help protect the skin from the damaging effects of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Sunscreen-containing moisturizers should be applied to the face, neck, top of the hands and arms daily, regardless of the season.