Whenever I have a shower my skin is very dry afterwards. I don't have the water too hot and I use Simple showergel, and moisturise afterwards, but it doesn't seem to make much difference - has anyone any suggestions as to what use?
A dermatologist friend has said that, if your skin is dry, you shouldn't wash with anything that lathers.....lather comes from soap or detergent which both remove what little natural oil you have.
It could be your regular diet is lacking in the things that people who don't have dry skin eat and your skin is so lacking in natural oils that the soap is stripping it all away, like Scrivens says.
Ask yourself why men never need to bother with moisturiser products, for instance.
I know it wasn't dry skin as such(psoriasis) but in answer to your last question in the OP if you're a male I'd suggest Joanne Whalley in The Singing Detective.....
do you exfoliate? The skin on my arms and legs is much less dry if I exfoliate regularly. I then use nivea in shower moisturiser which is brilliant. If your skin is dry and sore then try showering using aqueous cream instead of a shower cream. Its cheap as chips and doing this every other shower really helps. I don't find simple stuff very helpful. Elemis moisturising shower creams or L'Occitane 5% shea butter shower cream are very good but not cheap.