Vivien Williams: Drink plenty of water. Don't smoke and wash your face and body each day with a gentle hypoallergenic soap for healthy-looking skin says Mayo Clinic dermatologist, Dr. Dawn Davis. And, after bathing,

Dawn Davis, M.D., Dermatology, Mayo Clinic: Moisturize with a hypoallergenic, fragrance-free moisturizer when you're done to help the skin hydrate.

Vivien Williams: With so many products from which to choose, how do you pick the right moisturizer? Dr. Davis says hypoallergenic is the key.

Dr. Davis: So you want it to be fragrance-free. Unscented doesn't necessarily mean that it doesn't have fragrance. Oftentimes unscented just means more chemicals.

Vivien Williams: What ingredient should you look for?

Dr. Davis: The most inert natural hypoallergenic product that you can find in a moisturizer is petrolatum.

Vivien Williams: As in petroleum jelly. Dr. Davis has another important tip for healthy skin care that could potentially save your life.

Dr. Davis: Please remember to wear your sunscreen.

Vivien Williams: For the Mayo Clinic News Network, I'm Vivien Williams.

Excerpt from:
Dry skin - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic