Flaky, scaly, itchy — these are the classic signs of dry skin. And who wants to look like a lizard, much less touch dry skin? Slapping on lotion when dry skin gets flaky isn’t enough to kick this skin health problem to the curb — you need to take some serious steps to soothe dry skin.

9 Dry Skin-Soothers

Try these beauty tips to add moisture and bring dry skin back to life:

Cool down your showers. Very hot water will only dry your skin out more. So when you enjoy a bath or shower, keep the water lukewarm instead of hot.

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. It seems like a no-brainer — if you’ve got dry skin, you need to moisturize. But how and when you apply moisturizer makes a big difference. If you’ve got dry skin, apply a moisturizer to your face and the skin all over your body at least once a day, or twice a day for extremely dry skin.

Exfoliate your skin. Avoiding exfoliation because you think it’s drying your skin? It’s not. Regular exfoliation is actually great for dry skin.

Be gentle to your skin. If you’ve got dry skin, it’s time to skip those harsh, drying bar soaps and upgrade to something a little more soothing for your skin.

Wear sunscreen. Sunscreen will not only help protect your skin from drying burns and sun damage, but also offer moisturizing qualities.

Cover skin in the cold. Extreme outdoor weather can suck the moisture right out of your skin, whether it’s the bitter cold of winter or the dry heat of summer.

Use a humidifier. When the climate outside is dry, you can escape inside your home, but what if the air in your home is drying, too? Use a humidifier Cut back on bathing. One good way to preserve moisture in your skin is to cut back a bit on bathing. Instead use a washcloth and gentle soap to wash your face and neck, under your arms, and any other areas where skin touches skin. It’s also a good idea to limit the amount of time you spend in the shower or bath — 10 to 15 minutes max.

See your dermatologist.

Dry skin is more than unattractive — it’s uncomfortable. To prevent it from turning into a more serious skin health issue and to soothe cracking, dry skin, follow these skin-soothing tips for a soft, luxurious complexion.