"Jack Frost nipping at your nose" may be a great line in a song, but the reality does little for your complexion. Add to the frost, blasts of dry, wintry wind, sun exposure and overheated office air and your skin may feel dry and even scaly.
Indeed, millions of people each winter experience redness and uncomfortably dry and itchy skin, says Dr. Rebecca A. Kazin, assistant professor of dermatology and director of the Johns Hopkins Cosmetic Center. And those who already suffer from more serious conditions such as eczema or psoriasis may find that the cold season exacerbates their symptoms.
What do you tell people who come to you complaining of itchy, dry skin?
We definitely see more people who say they have itchy, dry and flaky skin, and they don't know why. The first thing I ask is, `What soap are you using?'
Often the soaps that are needed in the summer when we are active and sweaty -- the antibacterial soaps -- are not necessary in the winter. I ask them to switch to a more gentle soap and body wash. I tell them that soap should be fragrance-free.
What kinds of soaps should they be choosing?
Dove soap typically has a moisturizing base to it. Or Cetaphil makes a gentle cleanser. Purpose also makes a cleanser that is gentle. I also ask what moisturizer they are using. A lot of people use lotion-based moisturizers; a lot of lotions have high alcohol content. Instead, they should look for these ingredients in their moisturizers: petrolatum or ceramides, mineral oil or dimethicone.
Those listed ingredients are very moisturizing and usually come in a cream. Again, try to stay clear of lotions with fragrance.
What are other steps people can take to protect their skin in the winter?
Instead of taking those long, hot showers that feel so good in the winter, people should try to take shorter, lukewarm showers. Long, hot showers evaporate the moisture in your skin. When you get out of the shower, pat dry and, within a few minutes, apply a thick layer of moisturizer to trap the moisture in your skin.
I also tell people to apply moisturizer one more time before they go to bed. A lot of people have very dry, cracked skin on their hands and feet, and I tell them that after they apply the moisturizer, they should wear light cotton gloves to bed.
Anything else?
