Cold weather is upon us and for many of us that means one thing: itchy dry winter skin.
It’s the kind of dry skin that when scratched feels like unbridled happiness. We know we shouldn’t, but it’s hard not to, because it feels so good.
If that sounds familiar, let’s talk about a solution. As good as it feels to scratch dry itchy skin, it’s absolutely terrible and only makes the problem worse.
Why We Get Dry Itchy Skin
As the air gets colder it also gets drier. Moisture evaporates faster. Exposing raw skin to the elements only accelerates this process of evaporation.
Dry skin is itchy skin. All the strategies we want to implement need to address the problem of skin dryness.
How to Deal with Dry Skin
The two main strategies are:
1. What we can do to our skin to address the issue
2. What we can do to our environment to address the issue
Strategies for Our Skin
To address dry skin, invest in a gentle skin cleanser and a quality moisturizer. Avoid harsh cleansers as they can further irritate the skin. Use the cleanser to get rid of dead skin cells and to prepare your skin for the moisturizer.
When it comes to choosing a moisturizer, an oil-based cream tends to moisturize better in colder locations. Normal skin can tolerate it without becoming oily. The oil allows for better absorption through the skin layers to hydrate the tissue. Lotions, ointments and gels all have issues that make creams preferable.
Look for creams that contain vitamin C to manage antioxidant damage and one that has a SPF of 30 or higher. Look for this SPF even if you don’t spend much time outside. You need UVA and UVB protection since the rays can penetrate windows. I recommend La Roche Posay active C for your face with a sun screen on top. The vitamin C gently exfoliates and gives you an added layer of protection from the sun. Glytone lotion applied on your body every other day is life changing. This miraculous lotion contains a glycolic exfoliator so that your not just moisturizing a layer of dead skin. We also carry the glytone body wash for an added smoothing effect.
If you have excessively oily skin, a water-based moisturizer may be adequate. Moisturizers with zinc oxide have a thin, matte feel while providing protection from the sun. We recommend Tizo3 or many varieties of Elta.
Winter is a great time to use a retinoid to repair summertime damage. We recommend using a retinoid at night so that it doesn’t interfere with your makeup or sunscreen during the day. Also remember that retinoids or retin-A is broken down and becomes less effect when exposed to sunlight.
Use a cleanser and moisturizer on any areas that are drying out and are itchy as well as any areas of your body that are regularly exposed to the elements including your hands, neck, and face.
If you find your hands getting excessively dry and cracked, consider wearing gloves when going outside. Hats and scarves will protect your head and neck from sun exposure, reduce the amount of heat you lose, and keep the humidity next to your skin higher.
Strategies for Our Environment
When we’re inside and can manage our environment, we want it as much “room temperature” as possible. That goes for both temperature and humidity.
The enemy is cold air. Cold air is dry air. Dry air increases evaporation from the skin which in turn dries it out.
The number one thing you can do is to change the humidity in the room. This requires two things: a humidifier and a way to check how humid it is in room. Humidity gauges are very common and can be found for a few dollars at Wal-Mart, Amazon, or the hardware store. They’re also available in more expensive electronics that include other features such as a thermometer and/or clock.
The ideal range for humidity is 40-50%. This should be easily achievable with a humidifier in any reasonably warm room.
Follow these strategies and you’ll be on your way to happy, healthy, skin in no time. Stay warm and happy winter!
Cold weather is upon us and for many of us that means one thing: itchy dry winter skin.
It’s the kind of dry skin that when scratched feels like unbridled happiness. We know we shouldn’t, but it’s hard not to, because it feels so good.
If that sounds familiar, let’s talk about a solution. As good as it feels to scratch dry itchy skin, it’s absolutely terrible and only makes the problem worse.
Why We Get Dry Itchy Skin
As the air gets colder it also gets drier. Moisture evaporates faster. Exposing raw skin to the elements only accelerates this process of evaporation.
Dry skin is itchy skin. All the strategies we want to implement need to address the problem of skin dryness.
How to Deal with Dry Skin
The two main strategies are:
1. What we can do to our skin to address the issue
2. What we can do to our environment to address the issue
Strategies for Our Skin
To address dry skin, invest in a gentle skin cleanser and a quality moisturizer. Avoid harsh cleansers as they can further irritate the skin. Use the cleanser to get rid of dead skin cells and to prepare your skin for the moisturizer.
When it comes to choosing a moisturizer, an oil-based cream tends to moisturize better in colder locations. Normal skin can tolerate it without becoming oily. The oil allows for better absorption through the skin layers to hydrate the tissue. Lotions, ointments and gels all have issues that make creams preferable.
Look for creams that contain vitamin C to manage antioxidant damage and one that has a SPF of 30 or higher. Look for this SPF even if you don’t spend much time outside. You need UVA and UVB protection since the rays can penetrate windows. I recommend La Roche Posay active C for your face with a sun screen on top. The vitamin C gently exfoliates and gives you an added layer of protection from the sun. Glytone lotion applied on your body every other day is life changing. This miraculous lotion contains a glycolic exfoliator so that your not just moisturizing a layer of dead skin. We also carry the glytone body wash for an added smoothing effect.
If you have excessively oily skin, a water-based moisturizer may be adequate. Moisturizers with zinc oxide have a thin, matte feel while providing protection from the sun. We recommend Tizo3 or many varieties of Elta.
Winter is a great time to use a retinoid to repair summertime damage. We recommend using a retinoid at night so that it doesn’t interfere with your makeup or sunscreen during the day. Also remember that retinoids or retin-A is broken down and becomes less effect when exposed to sunlight.
Use a cleanser and moisturizer on any areas that are drying out and are itchy as well as any areas of your body that are regularly exposed to the elements including your hands, neck, and face.
If you find your hands getting excessively dry and cracked, consider wearing gloves when going outside. Hats and scarves will protect your head and neck from sun exposure, reduce the amount of heat you lose, and keep the humidity next to your skin higher.
Strategies for Our Environment
When we’re inside and can manage our environment, we want it as much “room temperature” as possible. That goes for both temperature and humidity.
The enemy is cold air. Cold air is dry air. Dry air increases evaporation from the skin which in turn dries it out.
The number one thing you can do is to change the humidity in the room. This requires two things: a humidifier and a way to check how humid it is in room. Humidity gauges are very common and can be found for a few dollars at Wal-Mart, Amazon, or the hardware store. They’re also available in more expensive electronics that include other features such as a thermometer and/or clock.
The ideal range for humidity is 40-50%. This should be easily achievable with a humidifier in any reasonably warm room.
Follow these strategies and you’ll be on your way to happy, healthy, skin in no time. Stay warm and happy winter!
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