Going outside for a run in freezing cold weather or just putting trash outside in 30 degrees weather is brutal for us during winter time!! Take a moment to think….. What does this do to your skin?? Both freezing temperatures and cold dry air outdoors and low humidity and hot dry air indoors, are detrimental to your skin. Adjusting to these temperatures, when you go back and forth, is another added assault to the skin. Cold dry air in winter can leave your skin dry, scaly and itchy causing dull unhealthy skin. Everyone needs to protect their skin from drying out in the winter. If you have an underlying skin condition, it becomes more important to protect your skin.
Following tips can help keep skin moist vibrant and healthy!
- Stay hydrated at all times: Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day. Staying hydrated benefits not only your body but skin, as well!! Alcohol and caffeine are mild diuretics and can dehydrate you. Drink water along with coffee and alcoholic beverages – its all about keeping skin and body hydrated at all times!
- Add humidity to your home. Air humidifiers put moisture in the air that will be absorbed by your skin. This will help counter the dry heat indoors and make skin moist.
- Use an oil-based cream based moisturizer. After shower, pat skin dry and while it’s damp, use heavy creams (the thickest you can tolerate) to seal water in the skin and preserve moisture better.
- Choose moisturizers with SPF 30 or more: The sun still shines in the winter. Protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Apply a moisturizing, broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to any exposed areas before heading outdoors.
- Don’t use water that’s too hot or too cold.Use warm water and a mild moisturizing body soap or wash. Pat dry, and moisturize while your skin is still damp. Don’t use water that’s too hot or too cold because either extreme could damage the skin. Use oil based thick creams (the thickest that you can tolerate). The idea is to trap and seal the moisture to keep skin hydrated!
- Moisturize three or four times a day: It will be a good idea to moisturize at least three to four times a day. In summer, twice a day works but in winter, beating the cold dry air with moisturizing three to four times a day could lead to healthy vibrant skin.
If your skin still continues to be itchy, seek medical attention for an underlying dermatological condition like eczema or dermatitis. Call 208-377-4000 today or use our online form to schedule an appointment.