Tackling Winter Skin

For most of us, winter time means snowball fights and sledding. Your skin, on the other hand may not find this season to be so festive.

When the weather gets cold, humidity goes down. Also, our heaters give dry heat and make our air at home even dryer. So what does that mean for our skin? Dry air makes our skin more sensitive than it is during the rest of the year. While our bodies produce natural oils that moisturize the skin, this may not be enough during the winter.

Dry skin leads to breaks in the skin barrier, which puts the skin at risk for allergies or irritation from the environment.

So here are some tips to help your skin avoid the winter chill...

1) Take short, lukewarm showers, less than 10 minutes long.

2) Moisturize daily. The best time is right after your shower to lock in moisture. But you certainly can moisturize as much as you like per day!

3) Plain old petroleum jelly is the best product out there to prevent water loss from the skin. It is greasy and not for everyone, so you choose a moisturizing cream that rubs in all the way. (These often still do contain petrolatum.)

4) Use fragrance free soaps for your skin and detergents for your clothes. If you are overly dry, consider using soap only on your face, under your arms, and in the groin. Other areas can be washed with water alone.

5) Think about investing in a humidifier. It will help replace the moisture in the air. I recommend a cool mist machine rather than one that gives off hot steam, so you do not have to worry about burning yourself if you touch it!