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Do you find yourself scratching that scaly or red skin so many of us deal with this time of year? Dry skin is a very common problem in the wintertime – especially here in the Northland, where frigid temperatures also mean less moisture in the air. Here are a few tips to combat dry winter skin.
Avoid soap in the shower
Combatting dry skin starts in the shower. I recommend that my patients only use soap on those areas of the body that really need it – like the underarms and groin. Avoid soaping up your back, chest, arms and legs. Shins and ankles seem especially prone to dryness in winter, so be sure to lay off the soap there. Water alone does a good job at keeping these areas clean. Soap – whether it’s a bar or body wash – dissolves the layer of normal skin oils that act as a barrier to the dry air and low humidity.
If it persists, you can get fine cracks in the skin and a condition called dry skin eczema. I see that a lot on the lower legs, especially in older patients. Unfortunately, as we age, the skin doesn’t produce the same amount of oils, making it even more important to reduce our soap usage.
Use a moisturizer right after showering
Moisturize within three minutes of getting out of the shower to lock in moisture and replace some of the oils lost while washing. In the winter, I recommend not using lotions. They’re simply not an effective moisturizer. Instead, opt for creams or ointments. Ointments can be sticky, but they’re really the best option for extremely dry skin. Sometimes patients will apply the ointments only before bed and use a cream during the day because of that sticky consistency.
When it comes to ointments, I like Aquaphor, petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline), or a new product called Vaniply. For creams, I recommend Aveeno Eczema Care Cream, CeraVe Cream, Eucerin Cream, Cetaphil’s cream moisturizer or Vanicream. To be most effective, it’s a good idea to use your cream both after your morning shower and again at night.
Avoid hand soap
Some people are especially plagued with dry hands this time of year. I recommend avoiding all soaps on your hands. Instead, carry a small bottle of Cetaphil (or its generic equivalent) with you. It’s a very gentle cleanser that’s available at most drug stores.
If you hand wash your dishes, be sure to use rubber gloves. But you don’t want to let your hands get sweaty inside the gloves, which can cause more problems. Put on thin, white cotton gloves first to avoid that issue.
If you don’t take good care of your skin and find yourself scratching too much, you could create small cuts that allow bacteria to get in your skin. It’s much better to take some simple steps to be proactive and keep your skin soft and comfortable year-round.
Dr. Susan Ash is a dermatologist at Essentia Health.
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