Dry Winter Skin? Take Our Doctor's Advice...

Simple solutions can soothe seasonal sensitive skin

From the LifeMinute Team

November 14, 2014

It's dry, it's itchy...it's winter skin. And for the millions who suffer from eczema, or just have severely sensitive skin, the wicked winter weather is even harsher. Sound familiar? Read on! Dermatologist Dr. Candace Spann gave us some surprisingly simple solutions for soothing and smoothing your sensitive skin, stat!

Okay, so, showering... Short or long? Hot or cold? What's best?

Dr. Spann: "Showers should be quick, five to ten minutes at the most. I prefer lukewarm water, not hot. Hot water can be very drying to skin that's already sensitized from the cold."

Soap? Cleanser? Body Wash? What should we look for?

Dr. Spann: "It's really important to choose a gentle cleanser, especially if you have dry skin. One of my favorites that I recommend to my patients is Cetaphil Restoraderm Eczema Calming Body Wash, and it really helps to soothe the symptoms of eczema or even just help with severely dry skin."

And post-shower... Are all moisturizers and lotions created equal?

Dr. Spann: "It's important to select a fragrance-free gentle moisturizer. I really like the moisturizers by Cetaphil which contain Filaggrin technology; that's important because Filaggrin is an anchoring filament that's deficient or absent in patients who have severely dry skin or eczema."

So we have the morning routine covered... What can we do during the day as skin gets drier?

Dr. Spann: "It's really important to remember not to scratch or rub. I know it itches, but when you scratch, you make things worse. Use an ice pack instead to help to calm itch [so that you're] not causing the damage that your fingernails cause."

What about household chores? Some cleaners can be harsh on hands...

Dr. Spann: "I always recommend to my patients that if they're doing the dishes or bathing the dog, or whatever where their hands are going to be submerged in water, to wear two pairs of gloves. The first pair should be cotton. The second pair should be rubber."

Okay, we've made it through the day... Anything we can do overnight?

Dr. Spann: "[Use] a cool mist humidifier while sleeping when skin is particularly dry to help restore some of the humidity in the environment."

And one last winter weather skincare tip from the doc? Bundle up! When it comes to what your coat and hat can't cover, protective leather or cotton gloves are your best bet.

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