As the air outside gets colder and the air inside gets warmer, your skin gets drier. When summer humidity disappears, so does the moisture in your skin. Dry skin is common during the winter, and besides the annoying itch, it can lead to cracking, peeling, inflammation and irritation.
The solution? Follow a few simple tips for keeping your skin moisturized and healthy this winter:
Limit yourself to one shower a day
Try to keep it under 10 minutes. Also, avoid using water that is too hot. Lukewarm water won’t wash away your body’s natural oil.
Choose alternative soaps
Special soaps that moisturize are available, as well as soap-free cleansers. These will clean your skin without removing all the natural oil.
Don’t scrub
When you apply soap to your skin, avoid bath sponges, scrub brushes and washcloths. These will irritate and damage dry skin.
Apply moisturizer
Lotion or other moisturizers work best immediately after you shower or wash your hands. Try to apply a moisturizer while your skin is still damp to seal in the moisture.
Use a humidifier
Keep it set at 60 percent to get rid of the dry air in your home and replenish the top layer of skin.
Don’t scratch
Although dry skin can be itchy and irritating, the worst solution is giving in to the urge to scratch. If a moisturizer doesn’t do the trick, use a cold pack or compress on the itchy spots.
Apply sunscreen
Summer is not the only time you should wear sunscreen. Just because it’s cold out doesn’t mean those harmful UV rays are gone. Protect your skin and prevent photoaging with sunscreen.
Wait to shave
After you apply shaving cream or gel, wait a few minutes before starting to shave.
Has it been a while since your last primary care appointment, or do you need a new physician? Call us at 317.565.0565 to request an appointment.
Sources: Health.Harvard.edu, NLM.NIH.gov
