Try these easy strategies to maintain dry, cracking skin at bay during cold weather.
Cracked, dry, chapped, and flaky…winter may be tough in your skin. With cold air and an absence of humidity, your skin fights to retain moisture throughout the winter months, not to say keeping off cold-weather staples like scratchy fleeces and raging wood fires.
1. What is essentially the most common winter skin problem for ladies?
For most ladies, it's dry skin and itching, Dr. Gilchrist says. You can blame cold air and low humidity for stripping water out of your skin's surface. Instead of lying flat and smooth after which falling inconspicuously off the surface, dead skin cells from the numerous layers of skin that make up our protective skin barrier form small but visible partially connected clumps that you simply The skin feels dry and rough. “Older women have very dry and itchy legs. Sometimes it can even disrupt sleep, so it's more than just cosmetic,” says Dr. Gilchrist.
Eczema craquelé is one other problem to look at for within the winter months. It is essentially an extreme manifestation of dry skin, which often occurs on the lower legs. With this condition, dandruff actually causes cracks in the highest layer of the skin, called the stratum corneum. These cracks allow blood to pool up under the skin, appearing as red streaks, giving the skin a mottled appearance. Some women experience itching and stinging on this condition.
Also have in mind that your face and limbs aren't the one parts of your body that may experience dry skin. Your scalp may also grow to be dry throughout the winter months, which might result in dandruff, which luckily is straightforward to repair with a dandruff shampoo.
2. How are you able to prevent dry skin throughout the winter months?
Combating the issue starts with keeping your house environment moist. Use a humidifier if possible. But essentially the most effective strategy is to make use of skin moisturizers, which reduce dehydration and physically smooth the skin, making it feel less rough, says Dr. Gilhurst.
3. Do you've got any suggestions for selecting a moisturizer?
Choose the heaviest moisturizer that's comfortable to wear, and use more in your lower legs and hands, that are most liable to dryness. After showering or bathing, pat skin dry and apply moisturizer immediately. Reapply as needed throughout the day, says Dr. Gilchrist.
4. What about dry lips? Any suggestions for treating and stopping chipping?
Lip balms, which you'll buy at any drugstore or supermarket, work well to treat and forestall dry lips throughout the winter months.
5. Is it possible that your lips grow to be depending on balms and dry out more quickly whenever you don't wear them?
Although you might have heard it up to now, your skin doesn't rely upon these products. “I've never seen any data to support that,” says Dr. Gilchrist. However, in case you're used to feeling these products in your lips and suddenly go without, your lips may feel particularly dry consequently.
6. Do expensive, brand-name moisturizers work higher than lower-cost options?
“It's not expensive to do,” says Dr. Gilhurst. “To my knowledge, although there are some very expensive moisturizers, there are none that are magically better.” But in case you can, she says, search for moisturizers with alpha hydroxy acids, also often known as fruit acids, comparable to lactic acid or glycolic acid. Creams with alpha hydroxy acids retain moisture within the skin longer than other moisturizers. She says you may get plenty of them. Use small amounts until your skin gets used to them, so you may apply them and so they won't sting.
7. What concerning the fragrance within the moisturizer? Should you avoid them?
Fragrance-free shouldn't be all the time needed. “Unless you've had a reaction to a particular moisturizer with fragrance in the past, there's no real reason not to use a moisturizer with fragrance if you like it,” says Dr. Gilchrist. Allergic reactions are very unusual, she says, except in individuals with severe allergies.
Any other winter skin suggestions you may offer?
Keeping the skin's outer barrier well hydrated is critical. Also, keep skin covered in cold temperatures, and don't forget to wear gloves whenever you're outside, says Dr. Gilchrist. For individuals with Raynaud's syndrome, where the blood vessels within the fingers are more reactive to cold temperatures, gloves can assist prevent the fingers from becoming painful and turning white – which is more common in winter. Keeping hands warm may also ensure healthy nail growth throughout the colder months, she says.
Also, as comfortable because it is, it's best to avoid sitting near a hearth or radiator all day, as any such direct heat can damage your skin. Avoid highly regarded baths for that reason, says Dr. Gilchrist. Whenever possible, attempt to wear soft clothes. Wool is warm, but it will probably scratch and itch the skin. If you wear wool whenever you exit, ensure that to remove it as soon as you get in or put it on soft clothes.
With slightly extra care, you'll have the option to guard your skin from the consequences of the winter chill.
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