Your Health: What, and how, to deal with dry skin

With winter fast approaching, most of us are more cautious when driving, and we should have this same approach when dealing with skin care. In the winter, you may notice that your skin tends to be drier. This is completely normal. In fact, millions of U.S citizens experience this problem.

There are many risk factors for developing dry skin. As we age, our bodies do not produce enough oils and as a result, our skin dries out. Another risk factor is our bathing habits. Using harsh soups or cleansers along with hot water can lead to damaging the outermost layer of skin. Lastly, the air outside can have a big impact on the amount of moisture our skin has. As the air becomes colder, it loses its ability to hold onto water, and leads to dry conditions. It does not get much better when you walk inside to the warm air either. Inside air humidity may be 10% less in the winter months, which also contributes to dry skin. There are multiple things that you can do to help manage dry skin.

Before going to the pharmacy aisle to buy a moisturizer product, you could try some nonmedical interventions first. These interventions can be used to treat or to prevent dry skin. The first thing to avoid is being outside for long periods of time to avoid harsh dry air and cold wind. With relatively no moisture in the air, the longer you are out in these conditions, the greater risk you have of developing dry skin.

Home thermostats should be set to a temperature that is as low as comfortably possible. Even inside where it is warm, there is relatively no moisture in the air in the winter months.

Another good tip is to limit bath or shower times to 10 minutes and to use warm water instead of hot. It is best to avoid using anything that contains oil while bathing/showering as surfaces may become slippery. Clothing can cause more damage to already dry skin. Using fabric softeners while washing clothes helps reduce contact with dry skin and may prevent further damage to the skin.

What if you follow these measures and still have dry skin? There are multiple products available to help with dryness. It is important to look at labels as some components can cause your skin to become drier.

Most dry skin products contain emollients or humectants. Emollients are oily formulas that coat the skin which help retain moisture. Humectants help hydrate (bring moisture to) the skin and are sometimes included in dry skin products. Some ingredients that are good for dry skin include lanolin, petrolatum, ceramides, cod liver oil, glycerin, and mineral oil. Some ingredients that may cause more harm to the skin include alcohol, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, fragrant scents, and retinol or retinoids.

Some names to look for the next time you go to your local pharmacy include Vaseline original, Aquaphor, Cetaphil, velvachol, and products that contain urea. Each one of these products contains different combinations of emollients and humectants that help with dry skin. Urea in concentrations of 2-40% increases the hydration of the skin and is incorporated in a product called Aqua Care.

For something that will stay on your skin for long periods of time, look for the products listed above in ointments. They will be thicker with a greasy consistency. Some people do not like this in the daytime as it can cause their hands to become greasy all day. Lotions and creams are a substitute for daytime use as they are more water-based, making them less greasy. Lotions and creams tend to come off more easily when washing compared to ointments.

With the weather becoming colder, dry skin is more common due to the lack of moisture in the air. Thankfully this typically isn’t a serious situation and is easily treated with one of the many different creams, ointments, or lotions available over the counter. Avoiding long periods of time outside and taking shorter baths/showers will help prevent and treat dry skin issues that are common in winter.