Do you have any questions around itchy, dry skin and want to know how to relieve it? Ask dermatologist Paula Oliver - £300 voucher to be won

My 26 year old son has sensitive skin which he says itches almost all the time unless he moisturises. He has a lot of spots on his back and I wonder what is the best moisturiser for both the itchiness and the spots. I worry that he is making the spots worse with the treatments he uses. He has beautiful skin on his face with no history of acne.

I suffer from psoriasis whats my best option

Is there a good barrier cream to use when washing up, instead of using rubber gloves?

I have manageable dry skin that just needs a bit of moisturiser and I need to keep an eye on products I use in the shower... What I wondered is does the amount of water I drink have any effect on the dryness?

Are there any creams that relieve dry skin on the face without looking greasy? I end up looking shiny all the time!

My husband is having chemo at the moment and the skin on his forehead and scalp is getting very dry, what moisturiser would you recommend?

I often have itchy skin for no particular reason. Could this be diet related?

Although I moisturize my skin well at night why do I wake up with it feeling incredibly dry, especially my lips? This has just started to happen over the last year. I use Bio Oil, Balneum ( since trial) on a rotating basis, plus Nivea soft during the day. I find Balmain lotion makes an excellent primer for foundation. Advice regarding very dry skin early morning please.

I get very dry flaky skin around my ankles and the tops of my feet. I do use e45 cream which helps a bit. Wondered if there was a better moisturizer.

I do have sensitive skin with some flare up patches which may or may not be psoriasis. I do find lotions like balneum very calming. However, I do have an occasional thing where part of the palm of usually one hand becomes very itchy. This is below the little finger on the outside of the palm. The skin isn't broken but does go quite red and is always very itchy and gets worse when scratched. It seems too trivial to go to GP as there is nothing to show other than redness. Any ideas?

Can you develop eczema later in life? What do you suggest for areas which are very dry but with surrounding areas that need a different cream?

I had an op 4 weeks ago and was given Stellisept to use for 3 days beforehand. Since then I've had a very itchy scalp. I've tried using Neutrogena Tgel but it's made no difference. What else could I try?

This is perhaps a bit too personal, but here goes! One of my GPs, when I described my symptoms, decided it was lichen sclerosis, without even looking.

This was quite some while ago. The treatment prescribed had no effect, so he referred me to the dermatology department at the hospital. They decided it was vulval eczema.

Fast forward a few years, and this damn thing raises its head from time to time.

Recent GP appointment, still no examination, but decided to prescribe Dermovate, to be used twice daily.

1 week in, no improvement.

I appreciate that looking at a 61 year old vulva might not be top of any GP's wish list, but is it too much to ask that they steel themselves and take a bloody look rather than just prescribing stronger steroid creams!

How many times a day do I need to be moisturizing my body please. I do suffer from dry, itchy, flaky skin - especially the tops of my arms, which can become bumpy as well. Thanks in advance for your advice.

My son has eczema that flares up all over his body. Is Balneum recommended for this condition?

I do use Balneum cream on a regular basis after being chosen to take part in the trial with GN but even though I rub in any residue into my hands when using the backs of my hands are always itchy specially in between my fingers a sort of athletes foot in reverse do you have any suggestions please.

My husband has developed what looks like psoriasis on his face. It comes and goes, and it seems like stress triggers it. Is this a possible reason for it have started?

My feet are a problem that doesn't seem to be explainable by doctors. I do not get hard skin but my feet are cold. Every few months my feet peel like a snake in one piece. The complete skin from ankles to toes peel looking as if I am wearing red socks! It is so embarrassing. Prescribed creams keep my skin body moisturised but do not solve the problem of repeated feet peeling. Any suggestions greatly received.

I've only recently started to use moisturiser on my arms and legs after bathing, but it is still fairly dry. Would I be better using a body serum instead of standard body lotion?

My question is what is the reason for my dry itchy shins . This is only a problem in the winter , tights or any items of fitted clothing aggravates them more . Floppy trousers are all I can wear .

I have what I think of as underlying itchiness all the time - if I scratch then I itch and scratch a lot but as long as I'm very careful with fabrics next to the skin I'm keeping it just about under control. Is there anything I could take or use which would alleviate this?

Hi, I’m suffering with type 2 Diabetes that is insulin controlled and due to Arthritis in my hip and knee joints l spend a lot of time sitting down which results in pressure sores on the backs of my legs. My district nurse has tried using Conotrane crime, which healed it a bit but did not cure it. My GP had since prescribed oral antibiotics, steroid creme, and even Canesten creme, which did give some relief from the itching but still left the area dry with fine cracks in the skin and sore. What else could l try please? I have been suffering with this for over a year now, even tried using the Gel type dressings on the broken areas, and it’s starting to get my down, l find that anything but the softest of natural fibre fabrics make it much worse.

Yes, she is a Nurse Prescriber and an active member of the British Dermatology Nursing Group

At risk of sounding pedantic, the title thread is misleading.

Paula is not a dermatologist- she has no medical qualifications.
She is a very well qualified nurse as explained in the blurb.

My understanding is that only those with a medical degree and the relevant training and accreditation can use the term dermatologist

Which vitamins deficiency causes dry skin?