Lately, I have been seeing many clients experiencing rough, scaly - textured dry skin on their arms and legs. Lot's of people have it year-round, but all the sun exposure, chlorinated pools, and dehydration from the heat and air-conditioning are causing  extreme cases of it this summer. Honestly, most of you are not drinking enough water. Soda, tea, coffee, smoothies, and juice don't count. Sorry. Start your day with a tall glass of water with a squeeze of lemon or lime in it. If you sense thirst, you are beyond the point of mild dehydration. Also, as we age, we lose our sense of thirst. Start getting yourself into this healthy habit today. My regular clients know the 'sponge analogy'. If your skin is dehydrated, you can slather on the thickest layer of moisturizer, but it will not hydrate your skin or put water into it. Sorry again! Skin lacking water inside and out, becomes stratified or calloused. The skin cannot perform its housekeeping duties effectively. Waste, water, oxygen, and nutrient exchanges do not function as nature intended. If you're NOT experiencing alligator skin, congratulations. Immediately after bathing, use chemical-free moisturizer. When in the sun, use your mineral sunscreen (and remember to re-apply after swimming. Don't use chemical sunscreens either, unless you like to bake chemicals further into your skin and live tissue). There are professional in-office treatments that will help KP aka keratosis pilaris; those hard little 'chicken-skin' bumps on your upper arms, and occasionally on the thighs and buttocks as well. Sometimes it is caused by diet, and much of it is heredity. Usually, one professional treatment combined with a professional strength homecare product produces wonderful results. KP is different from generalized/all-over dry skin.  For this, I have an awesome 2-step homecare kit that is easy and affordable. By using this combination once a day (especially after bathing), you can increase the 'water' in your skin, and keep it there. Your skin becomes happier, more flexible, and less prone to irritation & tight itchiness. You needn't suffer with extreme dry alligator skin. If this describes you, come in for your free consultation and exam. Take home this simple kit, and start feeling softer and smoother skin again. And, of course... drink lots and lots of water.