It never fails. The heat comes on in the house, the snow starts to fall outside, and those cuticles start to crack on the hands. Cold, dry, windy weather has arrived, and with it the challenge of keeping skin and lips moisturized.
But that dry, cracked skin can be prevented with these seven simple tips.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, keeping exposed skin on our hands and face covered when outdoors in the cold is one of the most important ways to prevent skin dehydration or reduce damage that has already developed. Soft fleece neck warmers or scarves that can be brought up over the chin and mouth work well for the face and neck. Hats or ear warmers can help protect ears and gloves will cover up the hands.
Covering up also includes protecting lips from chapping by wearing a lip balm. Ideally the lip balm should have moisture-sealing ingredients. Petrolatum, silicone, lanolin, shea butter and waxes, like bees wax, work well. Avoid menthol, camphor, fragrances, alcohol and salicylic acid in lip balms, as these ingredients can actually cause dry lips.
Consider purchasing a humidifier to use when sleeping. Sleep is important to give skin time to heal from the harsh elements it was exposed to during the day, but adding a humidifier while sleeping can add moisture back into the air to help hydrate skin while it is recuperating.
As important as it is to frequently wash hands, in winter time it is equally important to use warm water instead of hot, as the heat can dry out skin. Be gentle on the skin when washing hands and face so not to scrub away the protective outer layer of skin.
Immediately after washing hands, rub on lotion to help trap the moisture. The best lotions are thick creams that need to be worked into the skin and contain linoleic, linolenic or lauric acids to help relieve dry skin. Lanolin, silicone and mineral oil can also help to create a barrier on the skin to keep it sealed and protected.
The benefits of sunscreen are well known for summer use. But those high SPF lotions can also be beneficial in the winter from protecting skin not just from the sun's harmful rays but from the reflective rays bouncing off bright snow that reach areas under the chin, nose and eyes that are not frequently exposed to bright UV rays at other times of the year.
And finally, drink plenty of water. Water consumption should be a part of any health routine, with the goal of drinking between 11 and 15 cups of water a day, according to the Mayo Clinic. This amount can be higher, however, depending on activity level, outdoor exposure and how much water may be consumed in other liquid drinks. Time spent at higher elevation also requires increased water intake.
The secret to keeping skin healthy during the cold, dry winter months is to prevent skin and lips from drying out to begin with. Repairing itchy, dry skin and cracked lips takes a lot of work so staying ahead of the challenge goes a long way to keeping your skin comfortable and healthy throughout the winter season.