Why do I have spots of dry skin that become red and sometimes crack?

Dry skin is a very common problem that is often worst in the winter. Commonly affected locations in adults include the face, elbows, knees, and other skin folds. Skin often becomes cracked and dry, and may show hypersensitivity to some cleaners, detergents, and cosmetic products. Damaged skin loses most of its moisture when wet, so the most important thing for treating dry skin is keeping water from being too hot and limit time spent in showers and baths. Water should be as cool as you can tolerate it, since warm water opens your pores and allows for more moisture loss. After every shower or bath, pat your skin dry (do not rub) and moisturize with a thick cream within three minutes. The moisturizer should be a thick hypoallergenic cream that comes in a tub, not a squirt bottle. Limit bathing to every other day or less. If your symptoms do not improve despite careful moisturization and bathing techniques, make an appointment to see your doctor and discuss other treatments that might help you. He or she may recommend a steroid cream or refer to you a dermatologist for further evaluation and treatment.