Friday, November 12, 2004
Avoiding Winter Dry Skin
The cold air outside and the dry heat inside combine to rob skin of its natural moisture, causing skin to become dry, scaly and itchy. Dry skin is most common among older people, whose skin is thinner and has fewer productive oil glands. Dry skin also can exacerbate skin problems such as eczema.
Here are a few tips to help you stop the winter itch:
Wash with warm water. Hot water is one of the worst offenders because it dissolves the skin’s natural oils. Use lukewarm water for bathing and hand washing.
Avoid soap. Soap is even worse than hot water, because it removes all of the natural oils on the skin’s surface. You can clean the skin effectively with plain water, according to Jacob Dijkstra, M.D., a Cleveland Clinic dermatologist. "The only thing soap does that water doesn’t is remove oil—and that’s exactly what you want to keep," Dr. Dijkstra says. "It’s fine to use soap in the groin area and under the arms, but people with dry skin should avoid using it on the rest of the body."
Moisturize. Apply a generous amount of moisturizer within three minutes after a shower or bath, to seal in the moisture your skin absorbed while bathing. It’s best to buy moisturizers without fragrances or lanolin, because some people can develop sensitivities to these ingredients. However, the brand name doesn’t matter, according to Dr. Dijkstra.
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Here are a few tips to help you stop the winter itch:
Wash with warm water. Hot water is one of the worst offenders because it dissolves the skin’s natural oils. Use lukewarm water for bathing and hand washing.
Avoid soap. Soap is even worse than hot water, because it removes all of the natural oils on the skin’s surface. You can clean the skin effectively with plain water, according to Jacob Dijkstra, M.D., a Cleveland Clinic dermatologist. "The only thing soap does that water doesn’t is remove oil—and that’s exactly what you want to keep," Dr. Dijkstra says. "It’s fine to use soap in the groin area and under the arms, but people with dry skin should avoid using it on the rest of the body."
Moisturize. Apply a generous amount of moisturizer within three minutes after a shower or bath, to seal in the moisture your skin absorbed while bathing. It’s best to buy moisturizers without fragrances or lanolin, because some people can develop sensitivities to these ingredients. However, the brand name doesn’t matter, according to Dr. Dijkstra.