Anyone can get dry skin, but with these tips everyone can avoid it. We see it begin in the fall and by winter our skin is dull, flaky, and itchy. The low temperatures, absence of humidity, and harsh winds all play a role in causing this unwanted dry skin. Here are some tips to help your body keep moisture in.
- Take warm, but not hot showers. Yes, they feel great but they aren’t great for your skin. Hot water robs your skin of its moisture, so try taking a lukewarm shower only once a day. This rule also applies to washing your hands.
- The best time to moisturize is right after showering. Try to apply your cream within five minutes. It is better to use a cream rather than a lotion because lotions are oil in water, whereas creams are water in oil. Creams are thicker and are often in a tube or jar, not a pump.
- Invest in a humidifier. The winter air is in short supply of humidity, especially if your home has a fireplace. A room heated by a fireplace has less than 10% moisture in the air.
- Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate! I can’t say it enough. Moisturizers work much more effectively when applied to exfoliated skin. For facial exfoliation try Clarisonic’s Facial Cleansing Brush along with any glycolic acid face wash such as Glytone’s Self-Foaming Acne Cleanser, which can be purchased at your next visit. For hydrated, smooth skin try our Avéne Emollient Cleansing Bath.
- Skip the drying soaps such as anti-bacterial, bar soaps, and anything that lathers. Stick to creamy cleansers with moisturizing ingredients like glycerin or petrolatum. Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash is great for the body and for the face try Avéne’s Extremely Gentle Cleanser sold in our office. And don’t forget your lips! Eucerin’s Aquaphor Healing Ointment works wonders for dry, cracked lips.
