Winter Dryness
It can be challenging to take proper care of your skin, even under the best of circumstances. But in winter months when the weather turns cold and humidity levels drop, keeping your skin hydrated might become even more difficult.
By taking extra care to keep your skin moisturized, you can avoid chapping, itchiness, and cracking.
When your skin doesn’t have enough protective oils, moisture escapes from it. And when there isn’t enough water in the outermost layer of your skin, it becomes dry. This effect can intensify during the winter when environmental humidity is low.
Other common causes of dry skin include:
- overuse of soap and hot water
- exposure to harsh chemicals
- certain types of skin diseases
- aging
On its own, dry skin may not seem like a big deal. But it’s associated with several health problems that could interfere with your daily activities. Dry skin may lead to:
- itchiness
- areas of thickened, rough skin
- painful cracks in your skin
- dermatitis, which involves red, inflamed, and scaly skin
- eczema, which can appear as round, scaly, itchy, and red patches on your skin
- bacterial infection
The first step in treating dry skin is identifying the cause. Winter weather is a common cause of dry skin. But if your skin is extremely dry, you may want to talk to your doctor about other possible issues.
Your doctor may be able to help you discover why your skin is dry and how to avoid it. For example, they may advise you to avoid contact with certain products or chemicals.
The following strategies may also help you manage dry skin.
Use less hot water
When you’re trying to rehydrate your skin, it may seem like a good idea to soak in lots of water. But water can actually make dry skin worse, especially if you use hot, soapy water. Too much washing can strip the protective oils from your skin, leaving it vulnerable to drying.
Keep your baths and showers short — 10 minutes or less — and use warm water rather than hot.
Use minimal soap
Using too much soap or hand sanitizers too often can also cause your skin to dry out. Use soap and hand sanitizers sparingly.
Only apply soap when and where you need it, such as under your arms, in your groin area, and on your feet. Choose mild, fragrance-free options that are designed to be less drying.
Moisturize
Skin moisturizers are important weapons in your arsenal for fighting dry skin. The right moisturizers can help you treat and prevent dry skin. There are four basic types of moisturizers that are available without a prescription.
Ointment moisturizers tend to trap the most moisture in your skin, but sometimes they can feel greasy. Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) is an example of this type of moisturizer. Use our O2 Bubble Essence as a full skin treatment instead. It is non-greasy and is a leave on skin repair serum.
Oil moisturizers tend to be less greasy than ointments, but they’re still effective at fighting dry skin. Our Calm Oil and Perk Oil do the trick perfectly.
Peel off Face Masks are the most popular these days. Our patented double foil masks trap in moisture and infuse your skin with natural botanicals.
