How to keep dry skin soft, especially after 50

Key takeaways

• In a Dutch study of 5,547 adults aged 51 to 101, about 6 in 10 had dry skin, and colder weather was strongly linked to it¹.
• Dermatologists suggest warm showers of 5 to 10 minutes, a gentle fragrance-free cleanser, and moisturizer within 3 minutes of drying off²³.
• A bedroom humidifier, gloves on cold days and soft cotton clothing all help skin stay comfortable through winter²³.
• In a survey of 4,025 U.S. women, those who ate more linoleic acid and vitamin C were less likely to have age-related dry skin⁶.
• In small trials, adults taking borage, evening primrose or flaxseed oil, or oral hyaluronic acid, scored better on skin dryness and moisture⁷¹²¹³.

Run a hand down your shins on a cold January morning and you may feel it. There is a faint roughness, a little flaking, maybe an itch that keeps coming back. Dry skin is one of the most familiar skin complaints, and it grows more common with age. When doctors in the Netherlands examined 5,547 adults aged 51 to 101 for the long-running Rotterdam Study, they found dry skin in 60% of them¹.

Doctors call the condition xerosis. For most of those with dry skin, it showed up only on the outer surfaces of the arms and legs, such as the shins. About 1 in 5 of those with dry skin had it over much wider areas of the body¹.

The encouraging news is that dry skin usually responds well to everyday habits. How you bathe, what you put on your skin, and what you eat and drink can all add up to softer, more comfortable skin. This guide explains why skin dries out, then walks through the routine, foods and supplements researchers have studied. The library’s separate articles on the skin barrier, skin hydration, plant oils and moisturizers go deeper on those topics.

Why dry skin becomes more common with age

The skin’s outer layer (stratum corneum) works like a thin, flexible seal. Waxy fats called ceramides help fill the spaces between its flattened cells and keep water from escaping⁷. When that seal runs low on fats or moisture, skin starts to feel tight, look dull and flake.

Age is one of the biggest drivers. Over the years, the skin’s oil glands make less oil and the skin itself gets thinner, so it loses water more easily³⁴. Cleveland Clinic lists being 65 or older as a risk factor for dry skin⁴. In the Rotterdam Study, the odds of widespread dryness crept up with each added year of age¹.

Women were affected more often than men, with about 50% higher odds of widespread dry skin¹. The study authors note that men’s skin makes more oil (sebum), and that men’s oil output stays steadier through life¹.

Dry skin matters for comfort and for health. The Rotterdam researchers point out that itch usually comes with it, and that dry, damaged skin can give germs an easier way in¹. Keeping skin supple is a simple, worthwhile part of healthy aging.

Winter air, hot water and harsh soaps pull moisture away

Weather plays a big part. In the Rotterdam Study, a colder average outdoor temperature in the week before the skin exam was strongly linked with more dry skin¹. Cold, windy or desert-like air can dry skin, and winter often makes it worse⁴.

That is why dermatologists recommend adding moisture to indoor air with a humidifier, especially in the bedroom overnight². The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) suggests keeping indoor humidity between 45% and 60%, which you can check with a simple humidity gauge³.

Hot water is the next culprit. A long, steamy shower feels wonderful on a cold day, yet dermatologists advise warm water and a limit of about 5 to 10 minutes²⁴. Harsh cleansers add to the problem. The AAD notes that deodorant soaps can be too harsh for dry, sensitive skin. It also describes dry skin as “damaged skin” that needs gentle care².

Daily routines and jobs matter too. Frequent hand washing, outdoor work and contact with chemicals all raise the odds of dry skin⁴. That puts health care workers, hairstylists and farmers at higher risk⁴. Smoking was also linked with widespread dry skin in the Rotterdam Study¹.

When health conditions or medicines play a part

Sometimes dry skin reflects something happening inside the body. Researchers have observed that some chronic conditions, including diabetes, an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and kidney problems, can come with dry skin¹. Cleveland Clinic adds that, in rare cases, dry, itchy skin can point to a health issue such as diabetes or kidney disease⁴.

Medicines can contribute as well. In the Rotterdam Study, people taking statins (for cholesterol) or diuretics (water pills) were more likely to have widespread dry skin¹. Past chemotherapy was also linked with dryness¹. If you suspect a medicine is drying your skin, keep taking it as prescribed and mention it at your next visit. Your prescriber can look at the whole picture and suggest extra skin care that fits your plan.

Good daily care helps most dry skin feel better. If dryness stays despite good care, or comes with other changes, check in with your doctor or a board-certified dermatologist²⁴. Cleveland Clinic suggests a visit when itching is constant or keeps you up at night, or when skin looks red, warm or swollen⁴. Skin that hurts to touch, a new rash, or dryness that keeps coming back are also worth a mention⁴.

Other new changes count, too. Unusual tiredness, weight gain or always feeling cold can be signs of an underactive thyroid¹⁶. A checkup can sort out whether something else is adding to the dryness. Good skin care then works right alongside any care you need.

A simple daily routine dermatologists recommend

Start in the shower. Keep it to 5 to 10 minutes in warm water, close the bathroom door, and pat your skin dry with a clean towel instead of rubbing². Use a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser only where you need it, such as the underarms and groin, and skip the thick lather².

Next comes a key habit: moisturize within 3 minutes of bathing, while your skin is still slightly damp³. Dermatologists prefer creams and ointments over thin lotions for dry skin, and an ointment holds moisture best on very dry areas²³. Helpful moisturizer ingredients include glycerin, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, lanolin and petrolatum².

Choose products labeled fragrance-free. The AAD points out that “unscented” products can still contain masking chemicals that bother dry skin²³. Then keep going through the day. Apply hand cream after each hand washing, smooth on moisturizer whenever skin feels dry, and keep lip balm handy².

That steady habit pays off. In the Rotterdam Study, people who used a skin cream every day were less likely to have patchy dry skin¹. The library’s moisturizer guide explains how to choose among creams, ointments and lotions.

Colloidal oatmeal, made from very finely ground oats, is a gentle addition to a soothing bath. For an oatmeal soak, the National Eczema Association suggests about 1 cup in a standard-size tub, followed by moisturizer while skin is still damp⁵. Older adults may want to skip bath oils, though, since they make the tub slippery and raise the risk of a fall³.

Clothing and gloves finish the routine. Choose loose cotton clothes, and if you love wool, wear a cotton or silk layer underneath². Wear gloves for dishwashing, gardening and cold, dry days, and protect your skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher².

Your winter skin checklist

• Shower in warm, not hot, water for 5 to 10 minutes

• Pat dry and moisturize within 3 minutes

• Use a cream or ointment on dry spots instead of a thin lotion

• Choose fragrance-free cleansers and moisturizers

• Run a humidifier in the bedroom and aim for 45% to 60% humidity

• Clean the humidifier often to keep it free of mold

• Wear gloves outdoors and when washing dishes

• Layer cotton or silk under wool sweaters

• Keep hand cream next to every sink

• Carry lip balm in your coat pocket

• Sip water through the day and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables

Sources:²³¹¹

Foods and drinks that support soft skin

Your skin builds its protective fats partly from the fats you eat. A key one is linoleic acid, an omega-6 fat the body cannot make on its own. The skin works it into its ceramides⁷. Experts at Oregon State University’s Linus Pauling Institute note that this linoleic acid tracks closely with how well the barrier holds water⁷. When people run short of essential fats, skin turns dry and scaly and loses more water⁷.

A large U.S. survey points the same way. Researchers studied diet information and dermatologist skin exams for 4,025 women aged 40 to 74 in the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I)⁶. Women who ate more linoleic acid were less likely to have age-related skin dryness, and so were women with higher vitamin C intakes⁶. A survey shows a link rather than cause and effect, and this one fits well with what is known about how skin uses these nutrients⁷⁸.

Linoleic acid is found in canola (rapeseed) and soybean oils, nuts and green leafy vegetables⁶. Sunflower and safflower oils are especially rich sources⁷.

Vitamin C deserves a spot on your plate as well. Linus Pauling Institute experts note that higher dietary vitamin C intakes have been linked with less dry skin⁸. In lab studies of skin cells, vitamin C helps the cells make barrier fats⁸. Your body also uses vitamin C, along with zinc and copper, to make its own collagen¹⁴. Oranges, grapefruit, red and green peppers, kiwifruit, broccoli, strawberries and tomatoes are all good sources⁹. Adult women need 75 mg a day, and men need 90 mg⁹.

Omega-3 fats round out the picture. Fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring and sardines supply them, as do flaxseed, chia seeds, walnuts and canola oil¹⁰. A true omega-3 shortfall is very rare in the United States, but when it happens it can leave skin rough and scaly¹⁰.

Water counts, too. A 30-day study followed 49 healthy women aged 22 to 34 who added about 2 liters of water a day¹¹. Their hydration readings rose in both the surface and deeper layers of the skin¹¹. Women who drank the least water at the start saw the biggest changes¹¹. Soups, fruits and vegetables add to your daily fluids as well. Cleveland Clinic also suggests going easy on alcohol, caffeine, sugar and salt, which can pull water from the body⁴.

Supplements studied for dry, rough skin

Supplements offer a steady daily amount of skin-friendly nutrients. Several have encouraging human results for dryness and roughness. Most studies are small and last 8 to 12 weeks, and researchers are building on these results. Here are the standouts.

Borage oil and evening primrose oil are rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fat that skin cannot make on its own⁷. In a 2-month study of 29 healthy older adults with an average age near 69, participants took borage oil capsules supplying 360 or 720 mg of GLA a day¹². Before the study, 42% said their skin felt dry. Afterward, 14% did, and reports of itch went from 34% to zero¹². Water loss through the skin fell by about 11% on average, a sign of a sturdier barrier, while measured skin moisture held steady¹².

A 12-week placebo-controlled trial tested borage oil and flaxseed oil, a plant source of omega-3 fat, in 45 women aged 18 to 65 with dry, sensitive skin⁷. Women taking 2.2 g a day of either oil had less roughness, less scaling and less water loss through the skin than the placebo group⁷. In another 12-week trial, 40 healthy adults aged 32 to 56 took 1.5 g of evening primrose oil a day⁷. They scored better on skin moisture, elasticity and water loss than those on placebo⁷. These oils carry a natural mix of fats, and researchers are still working out which parts matter most and the best doses⁷.

Hyaluronic acid is a moisture-holding molecule the body makes naturally, and it is also studied as an oral supplement. In a 12-week placebo-controlled trial in Taiwan, 40 adults aged 35 to 64 took 120 mg of hyaluronic acid a day¹³. By the end, they had more water in the outer layer of their facial skin, and less water loss through it, than the placebo group¹³.

Collagen peptides, small protein pieces made from collagen, are another popular choice. Cleveland Clinic describes them as possibly effective for improving skin hydration and elasticity¹⁴. A 2021 meta-analysis pooled 19 randomized, placebo-controlled trials with 1,125 participants, most of them women¹⁷. People taking hydrolyzed collagen scored better than the placebo groups on skin hydration and elasticity, and the authors pointed to about 90 days of use¹⁷. The vitamin C foods listed above also support the body’s own collagen production¹⁴.

Food or supplement	What research observed	Amount studied	Length
Linoleic acid (oils, nuts, greens)	Women eating more were less likely to have age-related dryness	Usual diet	One-time survey
Vitamin C (fruits, vegetables)	Higher intake linked with less age-related dryness	Usual diet	One-time survey
Extra water	Better surface and deep skin hydration readings	About 2 liters a day added	30 days
Borage oil	Fewer people reported dry skin (42% to 14%) or itch	360 or 720 mg GLA a day	2 months
Borage or flaxseed oil	Less roughness, scaling and water loss than placebo	2.2 g oil a day	12 weeks
Evening primrose oil	Better moisture and elasticity, less water loss than placebo	1.5 g a day	12 weeks
Hyaluronic acid	More facial skin moisture, less water loss than placebo	120 mg a day	12 weeks
Collagen peptides	19 trials: better hydration and elasticity than placebo	Varies by study	About 90 days

Sources:^671112131417

Smart ways to use skin supplements

A few simple habits help you get the most from any skin supplement. Start with the amounts used in studies, such as those in the table above, and follow the directions on your product label. Then give it time. Most of these trials ran 8 to 12 weeks before measuring results, so plan on a similar window.

Quality matters, so look for a third-party seal. Independent groups such as U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), NSF International and ConsumerLab.com test products, and those that pass can display a seal¹⁵.

Keep your care team in the loop. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements suggests keeping a complete record of every supplement and medicine you take¹⁵. Share that list with your doctor and pharmacist¹⁵. If you take a blood thinner such as warfarin, check with your care team before adding omega-3s¹⁰. High amounts may affect bleeding when combined with that medicine¹⁰. The library’s guide to supplement and medication interactions has more detail.

Finally, pair supplements with the daily routine above. They work best alongside gentle bathing, regular moisturizer and a skin-friendly diet.

The bottom line

Dry skin is common, especially after 50 and during winter, and it has clear, everyday causes. Cold air, hot water, harsh soaps, some health conditions and certain medicines can all draw moisture out of the skin¹⁴. A few steady habits make a real difference.

Keep showers short and warm, moisturize within minutes of drying off, run a humidifier and choose gentle, fragrance-free products²³. Fill your plate with foods rich in linoleic acid, vitamin C and omega-3s, and keep a water glass nearby⁶¹⁰¹¹. For extra support, borage, evening primrose and flaxseed oils, oral hyaluronic acid and collagen peptides all have encouraging research behind them^7121317.

Give any new supplement 8 to 12 weeks, as the studies did, and keep your care team in the loop. If dryness stays despite good care, a quick checkup can help you and your clinician find the right next step.

Sources

1. Mekić S, Jacobs LC, Gunn DA, Mayes AE, Ikram MA, Pardo LM, Nijsten T. Prevalence and determinants for xerosis cutis in the middle-aged and elderly population: a cross-sectional study. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2019. doi.org

2. American Academy of Dermatology. Dermatologists’ top tips for relieving dry skin. AAD.org. 2026. aad.org

3. American Academy of Dermatology. How to care for your skin in your 60s and 70s. AAD.org. 2021. aad.org

4. Cleveland Clinic. Dry Skin (Xeroderma): Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention. Cleveland Clinic. 2022. my.clevelandclinic.org

5. National Eczema Association. Bathing and Eczema. National Eczema Association. 2025. nationaleczema.org

6. Cosgrove MC, Franco OH, Granger SP, Murray PG, Mayes AE. Dietary nutrient intakes and skin-aging appearance among middle-aged American women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2007. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

7. Angelo G. Essential Fatty Acids and Skin Health. Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Oregon State University. 2012. lpi.oregonstate.edu

8. Michels AJ. Vitamin C and Skin Health. Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Oregon State University. 2011. lpi.oregonstate.edu

9. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin C: Fact Sheet for Consumers. NIH ODS. 2021. ods.od.nih.gov

10. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Fact Sheet for Consumers. NIH ODS. 2022. ods.od.nih.gov

11. Palma L, Marques LT, Bujan J, Rodrigues LM. Dietary water affects human skin hydration and biomechanics. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. 2015. dovepress.com

12. Brosche T, Platt D. Effect of borage oil consumption on fatty acid metabolism, transepidermal water loss and skin parameters in elderly people. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics. 2000. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

13. Hsu TF, Su ZR, Hsieh YH, Wang MF, Oe M, Matsuoka R, Masuda Y. Oral hyaluronan relieves wrinkles and improves dry skin: a 12-week double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Nutrients. 2021. mdpi.com

14. Cleveland Clinic. Collagen: What It Is, Types, Function & Benefits. Cleveland Clinic. 2022. my.clevelandclinic.org

15. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know. NIH ODS. 2023. ods.od.nih.gov

16. Drake VJ. Iodine. Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, Oregon State University. 2024. lpi.oregonstate.edu

17. de Miranda RB, Weimer P, Rossi RC. Effects of hydrolyzed collagen supplementation on skin aging: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Dermatology. 2021. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. Talk with your healthcare professional about your own health, especially before starting a new supplement if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medicine, or managing a health condition. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Reviewed October 2026.