Friday, February 24, 2006
Living With Eczema In Winter
It’s been so dry this winter that Robyn Wellcome’s hands have been bleeding. While she’s using industrial strength lotion to combat the dryness, it hasn’t helped despite repeated applications during the day.
“My hands are constantly in water,” says Wellcome, who works as a hairstylist . Even so, many who don’t share her occupation are experiencing cracked, itchy and flaky skin, brittle hair and dry cuticles.
In Hunter Wellcome’s case, the more is bloody noses. “He’s been getting these gusher nosebleeds,” says the Chandler mom. The 6-year-old is applying Vaseline inside his nostrils at night, something that Dr. Andrew Carroll recommends. “Put a little Vaseline on a Q-Tip and apply it inside the nose,” says Carroll. Vaseline counters dry skin and moisturizes the nostril passages.
While some people may be regaling in the sunny, cloudless days and the clear, cool nights, others are cruising drugstore aisles for moisturizing remedies to avoid mummy-itis. “Oh, my gosh, I’m seeing a lot of dehydrated skin and dry, cracked cuticles — more so than usual,” says nail professional Michelle LeBlanc. Carroll has also been seeing the effects of the lack of moisture in his patients. “The dry air is not only hard on people with respiratory problems,” he says, “but people who have skin problems” such as eczema. This skin irritation is characterized by red, flaky skin, cracks or blisters, and is generally treated with prescription ointments.
“Drinking water does help,” says Carroll. So will turning on a humidifier at night. For dry skin, LeBlanc recommends a high-quality body cream and some cuticle oil. “Don’t use anything with a mineral oil base because that actually repels moisture,” she says. For dry hair, look for a moisturizing, not protein, conditioner, says Wellcome. For dry scalp, she recommends shampoos containing the essential oil of the tea tree.
“My hands are constantly in water,” says Wellcome, who works as a hairstylist . Even so, many who don’t share her occupation are experiencing cracked, itchy and flaky skin, brittle hair and dry cuticles.
In Hunter Wellcome’s case, the more is bloody noses. “He’s been getting these gusher nosebleeds,” says the Chandler mom. The 6-year-old is applying Vaseline inside his nostrils at night, something that Dr. Andrew Carroll recommends. “Put a little Vaseline on a Q-Tip and apply it inside the nose,” says Carroll. Vaseline counters dry skin and moisturizes the nostril passages.
While some people may be regaling in the sunny, cloudless days and the clear, cool nights, others are cruising drugstore aisles for moisturizing remedies to avoid mummy-itis. “Oh, my gosh, I’m seeing a lot of dehydrated skin and dry, cracked cuticles — more so than usual,” says nail professional Michelle LeBlanc. Carroll has also been seeing the effects of the lack of moisture in his patients. “The dry air is not only hard on people with respiratory problems,” he says, “but people who have skin problems” such as eczema. This skin irritation is characterized by red, flaky skin, cracks or blisters, and is generally treated with prescription ointments.
“Drinking water does help,” says Carroll. So will turning on a humidifier at night. For dry skin, LeBlanc recommends a high-quality body cream and some cuticle oil. “Don’t use anything with a mineral oil base because that actually repels moisture,” she says. For dry hair, look for a moisturizing, not protein, conditioner, says Wellcome. For dry scalp, she recommends shampoos containing the essential oil of the tea tree.
Review My Site