Fighting
Dry Skin: Beat the Itch of Winter
Winter is a great time for feeling toasty and warm,
wrapped up in cozy sweaters or blankets, or settled in front of a fire. But
freezing temperatures, low humidity, and furnace-blasted dry air can leave your
skin dry, flaky, and itchy. Everyone needs to protect their skin from drying
out in the winter. But if you have a skin condition, you should step up your
routine to stay supple.
Winter
Skin Tips for Everyone
Even if you don’t have a skin condition, you should
take these steps to keep your skin from getting too dry in wintry weather.
Add humidity to your home. Portable humidifiers or
those that work with your heating system put moisture in the air that will be
absorbed by your skin and hair.
Use an oil-based moisturizer. Ointments or heavy creams
seal water in the skin and preserve moisture better when the humidity is low.
Slather on sunscreen. Before heading outdoors, apply a
moisturizing, broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to any exposed
areas. Sunscreen protects from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Clean up the right way. Frequent bathing or hot showers
or baths can strip your skin of natural oils. Avoid deodorant bars,
antibacterial soaps, perfumed soaps, and skin care products containing alcohol.
Instead, use warm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap or moisturizing body
wash. Limit your showers or baths to no more than 10 minutes, pat dry, and
moisturize while your skin is still damp.
Eczema
Low temperatures and low humidity levels raise your
risk of eczema flares. “Think of severe dishpan hands with dryness, itching,
blistering, and cracking,” says Robert Brodell, MD, chief of dermatology at the
University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. Moisturize your hands and
then slip on gloves before heading outdoors, but remove them quickly if you get
overheated. Sweat trapped inside gloves can make you itch.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis causes itchy, dry, and sometimes painful
scales to appear on your skin. The plaques build up on your elbows, knees,
scalp, and lower back. When you have psoriasis, your skin cells reproduce so
quickly that old ones don’t have time to slough off. “Soaking in warm water
with an over-the-counter, oilated oatmeal bath product can alleviate itching,”
says Brodell. When you’re finished, gently pat dry your skin -- don’t rub! --
and apply a moisturizer.
Dandruff
Dandruff flakes appear when skin cells on the scalp
rapidly reproduce and peel off. “The flakes are often accompanied by itching
caused from scalp inflammation,” says Charles Crutchfield III, MD, clinical
professor of dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in
Fairview. Flare-ups happen more often in the dry winter months, and not just on
your scalp -- you also may see them on your nose, eyebrows, ears, armpits, and
groin. Try switching between over-the-counter dandruff shampoos containing
different ingredients. Severe cases may need a prescription shampoo and a
corticosteroid or antifungal medication. Dandruff can be a lifelong condition.
“If you find yourself wearing special clothing or avoiding situations because
of dandruff, it’s time to see a dermatologist,” Crutchfield says.
Rosacea
Rosacea causes small blood vessels in your face, scalp,
neck, and ears to swell, making skin look flushed. “It looks a bit like adult
acne with red, pimply bumps mostly covering your nose and cheeks,” says Linda
Stein Gold, MD, division head of dermatology at Henry Ford Hospital in
Detroit. Rosacea never goes away, but
you can fight the inflammation with prescription antibiotic or retinoid creams
and light therapy. Before braving the cold, protect your face with a soft scarf
and use a soothing cream to create a barrier on your skin to help reduce
dryness, roughness, and discomfort
