Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Hydrating Winter Skin
Skin care companies love winter. That's because as the temperature drops and the central heating is turned up, dry, chapped and dehydrated customers hit their local supermarkets, pharmacies and malls, spending heavily on various creams and lotions in search of relief. In fact, according to Packaged Facts, a publishing division of Cleveland-based Market Research.com, in 2004, Americans spent more than $1 billion on facial moisturizers and body lotions. That same year, the entire skin care market in the U.S. rang up more than $4.56 billion in sales.
Although many of the biggest names in the fight against cracked skin are made by some of the U.S.'s largest companies--such as Oil of Olay from Procter & Gamble,
Neutrogena from Johnson & Johnson, and Lubriderm from Pfizer there is still plenty of room for smaller companies to establish a niche for themselves, especially at the high end.
Dr. Andrew S. Alexis, a director at the Department of Dermatology at St. Luke's Hospital in New York City, says consumers shouldn't feel inclined to purchase a lotion or cream just because of price. His favorite brands include Nivea, Eucerin and, in severe cases, Aquaphor--all products from German company Beiersdorf and easily purchased at a local drugstore.
Even more important, he adds, "The first step is to reduce some of the factors that aggravate dry skin symptoms, like avoiding extremely hot showers and baths and reducing the amount of time in them." There are plenty of other common sense--and inexpensive--ways to keep skin soft when it snows. Dry, dull, even chapped skin can also be attributed to the environment, harsh cleansers and even nutrition.
Cari Kamm, creator of Kammplexion skin line, says it's best to eat raw fruits and vegetables high in beta-carotene, along with food high in essential fatty acids like fish, grains, nuts and seeds. "I firmly believe we are what we eat. These simple nutritional suggestions, along with products rich in antioxidants and moisture magnets like Hyaluronic acid, will improve skin noticeably."
Of course, if you have severely dry skin called "winter eczema" or "winter itch," in which the skin is cracked or extremely itchy, a consultation with a dermatologist is recommended where you will be prescribed a steroid ointment or cream to treat the problem.
Although many of the biggest names in the fight against cracked skin are made by some of the U.S.'s largest companies--such as Oil of Olay from Procter & Gamble,
Neutrogena from Johnson & Johnson, and Lubriderm from Pfizer there is still plenty of room for smaller companies to establish a niche for themselves, especially at the high end.
Dr. Andrew S. Alexis, a director at the Department of Dermatology at St. Luke's Hospital in New York City, says consumers shouldn't feel inclined to purchase a lotion or cream just because of price. His favorite brands include Nivea, Eucerin and, in severe cases, Aquaphor--all products from German company Beiersdorf and easily purchased at a local drugstore.
Even more important, he adds, "The first step is to reduce some of the factors that aggravate dry skin symptoms, like avoiding extremely hot showers and baths and reducing the amount of time in them." There are plenty of other common sense--and inexpensive--ways to keep skin soft when it snows. Dry, dull, even chapped skin can also be attributed to the environment, harsh cleansers and even nutrition.
Cari Kamm, creator of Kammplexion skin line, says it's best to eat raw fruits and vegetables high in beta-carotene, along with food high in essential fatty acids like fish, grains, nuts and seeds. "I firmly believe we are what we eat. These simple nutritional suggestions, along with products rich in antioxidants and moisture magnets like Hyaluronic acid, will improve skin noticeably."
Of course, if you have severely dry skin called "winter eczema" or "winter itch," in which the skin is cracked or extremely itchy, a consultation with a dermatologist is recommended where you will be prescribed a steroid ointment or cream to treat the problem.
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