When skin becomes extremely dry , it’s more than just uncomfortable, it can feel tight, itchy, flaky, and even painful. In these moments, the goal isn’t treatment with strong actives, but repairing the skin barrier and preventing further water loss . Here’s how to calm and restore very dry skin fast. Focus on Barrier Repair, Not Actives When skin is severely dry, pause active ingredients such as retinoids, exfoliating acids, vitamin C, or strong treatments. These can worsen