For many people, the
cold clear days of winter bring more than just a rosy glow to the cheeks. They
also bring uncomfortable dryness to the skin of
the face, hands, and feet. For some people, the problem is worse than just a
general tight, dry feeling: They get skin so dry it results in flaking,
cracking, even eczema (in
which the skin becomes inflamed).
"As soon as you
turn the heat on indoors, the skin starts to dry out," Bonnie LaPlante, an
esthetician with the Canyon Ranch resort in Lenox, Mass., tells WebMD. "It
doesn't matter if you heat your home using oil, wood, or electricity. The skin
gets dry."
Sound familiar? Read on
to get WebMD's top 10 tips for boosting your winter skin care regimen, so that
your skin stays moist and healthy through the winter months.
1. Seek a Specialist
If you go to your local
drugstore, you'll be hard put to find a salesperson who can give you good
advice. That's why going to an esthetician or dermatologist even once is a good
investment. Such a specialist can analyze your skin type, troubleshoot your
current skin care regimen, and give you advice on the skin care products
you should be using.
But that doesn't mean
you'll be stuck buying high-end products. "Inexpensive products work just
as well as high-end ones," says David Voron, MD, a dermatologist in
Arcadia, Calif. "In fact, the extra price you pay for the expensive stuff
is often just for packaging and marketing. What's most important is how your
skin responds to the product -- and how you like its feel, not how much money
you paid for it."
2. Moisturize More continued
You may have found a
moisturizer that works just fine in spring and summer. But as weather
conditions change, so, too, should your skin care routine. Find an
"ointment" moisturizer that's oil-based, rather than water-based, as
the oil will create a protective layer on the skin that retains more moisture
than a cream or lotion. (Hint: Many lotions labeled as "night creams"
are oil-based.)
3. Slather on the
Sunscreen
No, sunscreen isn't
just for summertime. Winter sun combined with snow glare can still damage your
skin. Try applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen to
your face and your hands (if they're exposed) about 30 minutes before going
outside. Reapply frequently if you stay outside a long time.
4. Give Your Hands a
Hand
The skin on your hands
is thinner than on most parts of the body and has fewer oil glands. That means
it's harder to keep your hands moist, especially in cold, dry weather. This can
lead to itchiness and cracking. Wear gloves when you go outside; if you need to
wear wool to keep your hands warm, slip on a thin cotton glove first, to avoid
any irritation the wool might cause.
5. Avoid Wet Gloves and
Socks
Wet socks and gloves can
irritate your skin and cause itching,
cracking, sores, or even a flare-up of eczema.
6. Hook Up the
Humidifier
Central heating systems
(as well as space heaters) blast hot dry air throughout our homes and offices.
Humidifiers get more moisture in the air, which helps prevent your skin from
drying out. Place several small humidifiers throughout your home; they help
disperse the moisture more evenly.
7. Hydrate for Your
Health, Not for Your Skin
If you've heard it once,
you've heard it a thousand times: Drinking water helps your skin stay young
looking. In fact, it's a myth. Water is good for your overall health and
"the skin of someone who is severely dehydrated will benefit from fluids.
But the average person's skin does not reflect the amount of water being
drunk," Kenneth Bielinski, MD, a dermatologist in Oak Lawn, Ill., tells
WebMD "It's a very common misconception."
LaPlante agrees. "I
see clients at the spa who drink their 10 to 12 glasses of water a day and
still have superdry skin. It just doesn't do that much."
8. Grease Up Your Feet
Yes, those minty foot
lotions are lovely in the hot summer months, but during the winter, your feet
need stronger stuff. Try finding lotions that contain petroleum jelly or
glycerine instead. And use exfoliants to get the dead skin off periodically;
that helps any moisturizers you use to sink in faster and deeper.
9. Pace the Peels
If your facial skin is
uncomfortably dry, avoid using harsh peels, masks, and alcohol-based toners or
astringents, all of which can strip vital oil from your skin. Instead, find a
cleansing milk or mild foaming cleanser, a toner with no alcohol, and masks
that are "deeply hydrating," rather than clay-based, which tends to
draw moisture out of the face. And use them a little less often.
10. Ban Superhot Baths
Sure, soaking in a
burning-hot bath feels great after frolicking out in the cold. But the intense
heat of a hot shower or bath actually breaks down the lipid barriers in the
skin, which can lead to a loss of moisture. "You're better off with just
warm water," LaPlante advises, "and staying in the water a shorter
amount of time."
A lukewarm bath with
oatmeal or baking soda, can help relieve skin that is so dry it has become
itchy, Bielinski notes. So, too, can periodically reapplying your moisturizer.
If those techniques don't work, go see a dermatologist. "You may need a
prescription lotion to combat the dry skin,"
Bielinski says. "Or you may have a condition that isn't simply dry
skin and that requires different treatment."
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