Wellness & Prevention

Eight tips for giving your skin a winter break

Look for a moisturizer that is thick and creamy and apply from head to toe within 3 minutes of leaving shower.

The weather outside is frightful and inside isn’t so great either — at least where your skin is concerned. Dry air in heated buildings adds insult to injury for winter skin. If you’re not chapped from the cold wind, you are likely itchy and flaking from the air in heated homes and offices.

So what can you do about it?

Swedish Covenant Hospital dermatologists recommend following these eight simple, practical tips for keeping skin supple and smooth throughout the winter months.

Think cool and moist
Keep your thermostat set at 68 degrees and use a humidifier to improve the quality of the air in your home.

Skip the bath, shorten the shower
Cut back on the frequency of your bathing and make sure water is warm, not hot. Prolonged exposure to hot water can literally suck the moisture out of your skin.

Pat, don’t rub
When drying off, pat the skin dry with a soft towel. Within 3 minutes of leaving the shower, apply a moisturizer from head to toe.

If it pours, it won’t cut it
Moisturizers should be thick and creamy. Select those packaged in jars — bottled lotions are typically too thin to be effective on winter skin.

Avoid alcohol
Skin products containing alcohol are the most drying. Keep them off your skin.

Lighten up on laundry
Because of the harsh chemicals that can irritate skin, avoid using bleach during the winter months, particularly on undergarments. Use detergents free of perfumes or dyes and minimize the use of laundry softener and dryer sheets.

Don’t skip the sunscreen
The sun’s ultraviolet rays are just as damaging in winter months. Apply a moisturizer containing SPF 30 or higher to exposed areas like the face, neck and hands every day — even if it is cold outside. This will not only help keep your skin moist but will also prevent skin cancer and signs of aging.

Think “hypoallergenic,” not “all natural”
When itchy winter skin develops, the first instinct for many people is to rush to the healthcare aisle of their favorite organic grocer and load up on products made from “all natural” ingredients. However, such items often contain plant extracts that can irritate sensitive skin. Instead of “all natural,” reach for products that are labeled “fragrance free” or “hypoallergenic” to prevent further aggravation to sensitive skin.

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