It might be good to use a humidifier in your bedroom or in any room you spend a lot of time in, like the living room. I also tell people that if they are already using skin-care products [for conditions such as acne] with glycolic acid or salicylic acid or tretinoin [used in retin-A], they might consider limiting their use of those products because they are particularly drying. And use sunscreen. Even in winter, we do still recommend a moisturizer with sunscreen with a protection factor of 15 or higher. In the summer, wear 30 or higher. The same goes for if you are going skiing: Wear 30 or higher.
Does the wintry weather affect or exacerbate other skin conditions?
Yes, conditions such as eczema and psoriasis are typically associated with dry, rough skin so we often see these flaring up in the winter. Eczema and psoriasis are both noncontagious skin conditions associated with large patches of red, dry, itchy skin on the face and body. The hands and feet also can become cracked and painful.
I suggest to people that they step up their treatments and make sure they are using the correct soaps. Rosacea -- a facial condition especially of the nose or cheeks, characterized by a rosy coloration and sometimes acne-like pimples -- is a little different. People with rosacea have very sensitive skin. Spicy foods or caffeine or alcohol may have an effect on their skin. But in winter, when exposure to high winds can cause chapped skin, I tell rosacea patients to take steps to protect their skin as well.
You often hear the admonition to drink more water. Can a person counteract the wintry conditions by drinking more water?
Water in general hydrates the body, which would then hydrate the skin. But there is not a direct correlation between the amount of water you drink and a decrease in the dryness or redness of your skin.
Another piece of advice given frequently during the winter months (and flu and cold season) is to wash your hands often. Is there anything that can help the dryness that may go with hand washing?
Certainly we all need to wash our hands. I have a 2- and a 4-year-old, and I wash my hands all the time and that perpetuates the dryness. I just tell people to try to keep a small tube of moisturizer for your hands in their pocket.
Online
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