As soon as you turn the
heat on indoors, the skin starts to dry out, It doesn't matter if you heat your
home using oil, wood, or electricity. The skin gets dry!
Inexpensive
products work just as well as high-end ones, says David Voron, MD, a
dermatologist in Arcadia, Calif. "In fact, the extra price you pay for the
expensive stuff is often just for packaging and marketing. What's most
important is how your skin responds to the product -- and how you like its
feel, not how much money you paid for it."
2. Moisturize
More
Find a moisturizer
that's oil-based, rather than water-based, as the oil will create a protective
layer on the skin that retains more moisture. Choose your oils with care because not all
oils are appropriate for the face. Instead, look for "nonclogging" oils,
like avocado oil, primrose oil, or almond oil. You can also look for lotions
containing "humectants," a class of substances (including glycerine,
sorbitol, and alpha-hydroxy acids) that attract moisture to your skin.
3. Give Your
Hands a Hand
The skin on your
hands is thinner than on most parts of the body and has fewer oil glands. That
means it's harder to keep your hands moist, especially in cold, dry weather.
This can lead to itchiness and cracking. Wear gloves when you go outside; if
you need to wear wool to keep your hands warm, slip on a thin cotton glove
first, to avoid any irritation the wool might cause.
4. Avoid Wet
Gloves and Socks
Wet socks and
gloves can irritate your skin and cause itching, cracking, sores, or even a
flare-up of eczema.
5. Hook Up the
Humidifier
Central heating
systems (as well as space heaters) blast hot dry air throughout our homes and
offices. Humidifiers get more moisture in the air, which helps prevent your
skin from drying out. Place several small humidifiers throughout your home;
they help disperse the moisture more evenly.
6. Hydrate for
Your Health, Not for Your Skin
Water is good for
your overall
health. Water helps your entire body
maintain proper hydration - which is the opposite of dehydration (dry skin). Hot herbal tea is an option to choose during
the cold winter months.
7. Grease Up
Your Feet
Yes, those minty
foot lotions are lovely in the hot summer months, but during the winter, your
feet need stronger stuff. Try finding lotions that contain natural oil or
glycerine, and use exfoliants to get the dead skin off periodically; that helps
any moisturizers you use to sink in faster and deeper.
8. Ban
Superhot Baths
Sure, soaking in
a burning-hot bath feels great after frolicking out in the cold. But the
intense heat of a hot shower or bath actually breaks down the lipid barriers in
the skin, which can lead to a loss of moisture. A lukewarm bath with oatmeal or
baking soda, can help relieve skin that is so dry it has become itchy.
Source: WebMD
