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All Dried Out? Health Article

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All Dried Out?

YOUR BODY COULD BE TELLING YOU SOMETHING. FIND OUT WHEN BEING PARCHED MEANS IT'S TIME TO SEE THE M.D.

Whether your skin looks like the floor of death Valley or your mouth feels as cottony as, well, a cotton ball, dryness is a symptom that's impossible to ignore. Usually, upping your water intake to 8 to 10 glasses a day, avoiding hot showers and slapping on a thick moisturizer such as Eucerin Original Creme or Aquaphor restores your natural dewiness within a few days. But sometimes these routine remedies aren't enough. If you're taking an antihistamine or decongestant, for instance, you may feel a bit dryer than usual until you stop using them. And occasionally dryness may signal a more serious condition, says Michael Finkelstein, M.D., medical director of the Center for Health and Healing of Northern Westchester in Mount Kisco, New York. Check this guide for more how-tos—and clues that should send you to a doctor for a thorough evaluation.

PARCHED PEEPERS, DESERT MOUTH

TRY Saline eyedrops and lozenges

CALL THE M.D. WHEN You have decreased tearing; your eyes feel gritty; it's difficult to swallow. Your doc will want to rule out Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that affects moisture-secreting glands. (For more information on this illness, visit www.sjogrens.org.)

FLAKY FEET, HANDS AND SKIN

TRY Drinking more water and moisturizing throughout the day. Avoid harsh soaps and bathe in warm—never hot—water; pat dry instead of rubbing to preserve some of your skin's protective oils.

CALL THE M.D. WHEN Your skin is red, inflamed or itchy for more than two or three days; you have a rash; your skin has cracks that bleed occasionally (yikes!). You could have eczema or psoriasis.

VAGINAL DRYNESS

TRY Using a vaginal moisturizer daily and a water-based lube for extra glide during sex. Opt for the smallest tampon, and whatever you do, don't douche.

CALL THE M.D. WHEN You have vaginal itching and burning longer than a few days; pain during sex. Your provider will likely check for infection and may test your estrogen levels. No matter the cause, there are many treatment options, and soon you'll be back to your old supple self.