You can’t always believe what you see on a TV commercial.

If you want effective dry skin therapy, there are several things that you should do.

First, check your diet. Diets deficient in B-complex, E and other vitamins lead to excessive dryness of the epidermis, the outermost of the skin’s layers.

Do you like fish? If not, you may want to consider a fish oil supplement. Omega-3 fatty acids are effective dry skin remedies, either when applied directly or taken in supplement form.

Second, check that you are getting enough water. The recommended daily intake is about 3.5 liters. You get some of that from the foods you eat and other beverages, but fresh, pure water is the best source to replenish fluids.

Third, check your shower. Dermatologist and beauty expert recommended dry skin therapy includes a showerhead filter for people with chlorinated water. The chemical is very drying to both the skin and hair.

Does your shower gel contain alcohol? Most of them do. Alcohols cause excessive dryness. They literally strip sebum from the skin. Oddly enough, many dry skin remedies contain alcohol. So, always check the ingredients.

Lastly are your lotions and creams. What ingredients do they contain? If they contain petrolatum, petroleum jelly or mineral oils, they are not effective dry skin therapy. Those petroleum byproducts are not compatible with human sebum.

Obviously, they should not contain alcohol, but many of them do. The most effective dry skin remedies are oils that are derived from plants and highly compatible with the skin’s own sebum.

Typically, the heels, knees and elbows are problematic areas. Dry skin therapy for these areas should include jojoba, olive and grape seed oil.

For the face, one of the effective dry skin remedies is a passion fruit extract called Maracuja. It comes from Brazil and it contains the fatty acids that are components of sebum.

Sebum, by the way, is actually fat, so if you are on an extremely low fat diet, that could be a problem. About 20-30% of your daily caloric intake should be from healthy fats. That’s not a lot. Probably no more than a tablespoon of olive oil. But, it is important.

Dry skin therapy for the face should also include a weekly hydrating mask. Not the thick cleansing masks that dry to a hard shell and have to be scrubbed off, but a lotion that contains numerous luxurious oils that are too rich for daily use.

The ingredients to look for include avocado, macadamia oil and honey. Honey has been around for ages and it is one of the most effective dry skin remedies. It speeds healing of chapped and cracked areas, particularly those you see on the feet and elbows.

It is not that common to have excessive dryness on the face, but if you do, a nighttime lotion containing Shea butter, avocado and honey can be very beneficial.

In conclusion, dry skin therapy should be safe and the ingredients should be natural. It’s the best way to avoid complications.

Gordon Hall is fervent about enabling you and everyone to live a healthy lifestyle, and is an ardent reviewer of Anti aging Skin Care and Cosmetic products. Visit his website now at : http://www.healthy-natural-skin-site.com to discover which Anti aging skin care products Gordon recommends after far ranging and extensive research.