Care Of Winter Skin

By K.L. Perrins, RPh

Ever wonder why your skin becomes scaly, dry, raw or itchy in winter? The skin is made up of several layers of cells and thousands of oil glands. Oil keeps skin from losing moisture and makes it soft. Washing the skin, however, strips away the oil, which has a drying effect. When it's humid, the skin retains moisture better. But when humidity drops, as it often does during winter months, your skin loses the ability to moisturize itself.

"Almost any skin condition , including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and eczema, gets worse in the winter because there's not as much humidity in the outer layer of the skin," explains Jon Hanifin, M. D., professor of dermatology at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland. "When the cells in the outer layer get dry, their edges curl up and the skin feels rough," he said.

Low humidity, coupled with heavier clothing and longer, hotter showers and baths, can leave skin feeling dry, irritated and itchy. The best way to prevent and treat skin problems in the winter is to moisturize.

"Winter sun exposure is another factor that affects skin," says Kevin Pinski, M.D., associate clinical professor of dermatology at Northwestern University in Chicago. "If you're skiing, for example, you're not only getting sun from the sky, you're getting it from the reflection off the snow. It's just like being on the lake or near a pool and getting the reflection off the water."

When bathing or showering, use lukewarm water, rather than hot. Limit showers to 10 minutes. Close the bathroom door to lock in the humidity. Because it takes approximately three minutes for the water to evaporate from the skin's outer layer, put on moisturizer within three minutes of getting out of the shower or bath. In general, avoid soaps with extra chemicals, including antibacterial, deodorant and perfumed soaps, all of which tend to be harsh to skin because they strip way natural oils. Soap-free cleansers are becoming a popular alternative to using soap.
Other tips for better winter skin include:
Switch to a liquid fabric softener. Perfumes and chemicals from fabric sheets used in the dryer don't get rinsed out of clothing and may lead to skin irritation.

Use a humidifier to keep humidity in the home higher during the winter.

Use sunscreen year round.