:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/PU3WZTQD5FBGHLS2AESWKFFGVE.jpg "Dry and rough skin in winter? What experts say you can do to keep your skin healthy")
No, winter isn't too cold, but when it comes to the health of our skin, it really shouldn't be.
“The humidity drops especially during the winter months,” explains the doctor. Abigail Waldman, MD, dermatologist and clinical director of the Mohs Department of Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital.
The dry air means natural surface moisture evaporates faster from December through March, Waldman says. Add to that the wind and heat in the room, and the skin really cries.
"Itching, burning and discomfort," says Waldman.
Dry skin can also be painful. Think of the tiny cracks that form on your fingertips and sometimes on your feet. In the case of the toes, these injuries can often be the result of poor winter hygiene.
"Often we wash our hands daily with alcohol or soap and water, and some of the water that evaporates is wasted," Waldman says. "The problem with moisturizing the hands is that you have a very thick stratum corneum. In fact, it's a shield that prevents the penetration of moisturizer."
To increase penetration, Waldman recommends applying moisturizer and a pair of cotton gloves, especially at night. To fill this gap, Waldman recommends a cream containing at least 10% urea.
"Believe it or not, for large cracks, we recommend Gorilla Glue or Crazy Glue and fix it," says Waldman. This will reduce pain and also prevent infections.
This raises an important question about dry skin in winter. Although it is considered a minor medical problem, if left untreated, it can lead to more serious issues such as bacterial or viral infections. Most types of dry skin are easy and inexpensive to fix, Waldman says.
He said, "You want to close the skin."
Prevents moisture evaporation.
The best sealant, says Waldman, is petroleum jelly. But it is also one of the fattest. Luckily, there are more convenient winter moisturizers on drugstore shelves.
When choosing, Waldman suggests thinking of "thickness" as the consistency of the product. Here's a test: "If you open it up and turn it over, it won't fall out," he said. "He keeps his shape."
Although the sun is weak at this time of year, prolonged exposure can damage the skin. This is especially true for those who spend many hours, for example, on the ski slopes.
"If you're going to be outside all day without shade, sunscreen is recommended," says Waldman. "Every two hours. SPF 30 minimum."
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