Although dry skin can result from factors other than cold weather temperatures, MayoClinic.com places weather first on its list. Left untreated, weather-related dry skin can be painful and lead to serious problems that require medical intervention to resolve. Changing skin care practices during winter months, taking precautions to protect your skin when you go outside and, when necessary, seeking medical treatment are all requirements for effective winter dry skin treatment.
Identification
Normally, oil glands in the skin secrete a combination of oils and fats that work together to keep the moisture content of your skin at about 30 percent. Oils and fats accomplish this task by creating a barrier on your skin that prevents water in underlying skin cell layers from rising to the surface and then evaporating into the atmosphere. Skin begins to show effects of dryness when skin oil levels fall below 30 percent. During winter months, low humidity from cold temperatures, as well as heated inside air, especially from forced air furnaces, cause oil glands to slow down and stop secreting oil, causing your skin to lose moisture.
Symptoms
As moisture levels in your skin begin to fall, symptoms of dry skin that include peeling, flaking, itching and cracking begin to appear. Although these are the most common symptoms, tight-feeling skin, redness and inflammation can also appear.
Prevention/Solution
A first step you can take to prevent or treat winter dry skin problems involves placing two or three humidifiers around your home to increase indoor air moisture. Next, switch to a moisturizer that comes in an ointment form rather than a cream or lotion. Ointment type moisturizers contain a greater percentage of oil ingredients and are better able to protect your skin from moisture loss. Although hot water showers are warming, they contribute to dry skin, especially if you combine them with harsh or drying soaps. Limit showers to 15 minutes or less and use gentle, oil-rich cleansers rather than deodorant or antibacterial soap. Protect exposed skin from winter cold and sun damage by using a moisturizing sunscreen with a sun protection factor, also called an SPF, of 30 or higher.
Considerations
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, part of winter dry skin treatment considerations involve clothing. Tight-fitting clothing will cause you to overheat and start sweating, resulting in skin irritation or eczema flare-ups. Stay warm with woolen clothing and gloves, but make sure you add an under layer of a loose-fitting cotton wrap or glove to prevent wool from coming into direct contact with your skin.
Warning
Failing to take precautions to prevent or adequately treat dry winter skin can lead to serious skin conditions such as eczema, folliculitis or cellulitis. Although each of these conditions requires medical attention, cellulitis is the most serious. If bacteria invade dry, cracked skin, the resulting infection can travel through your bloodstream and affect your entire body.
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