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Tips for Dry Skin Care

During the cold months of the year is when many people experience "winter itch," caused by dry, flaky skin.

Dr. Diane Berson, a dermatologist at the Iris Cantor Women's Health Center of New York-Presbyterian Hospital, said in a prepared statement. "Remember, dry skin is due to lack of water, not oil. Apply moisturizers immediately after bathing or showering to trap water in the skin,"

How To Avoid Winter Itch:

• Moisturize daily. Cream moisturizers are best for normal to dry skin. A moisturizer without perfume or lanolin is best for sensitive skin.
• Don't overdo skin cleansing. Once a day is sufficient to wash your face, hands, feet and between the folds of your skin. You can rinse your trunk, arms and legs daily, but don't use cleanser or soap on these areas every day. Too much cleansing removes the skin's natural moisturizers.
• If you have winter itch, take short, lukewarm showers or baths and use non-irritating, non-detergent-based cleansers. Immediately after your shower or bath, apply a water-in-oil-type moisturizer and gently pat your skin dry.
• Household humidifiers can help prevent dry skin.
• Protect yourself from the wind by covering your face and using a natural oil based lip balm.
• Try to avoid extreme cold, which can cause frostbite or skin disorders in some people.
• Protect your skin from the sun. Winter sun can be as dangerous as summer sun. Use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or greater.
• Twenty to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week can give your skin a healthy glow.
• If you have persistent dry skin, itching or scaling, see your dermatologist.

  (SOURCE: New York-Presbyterian Hospital, news release, December 2004)

Dry Skin Overview

By the U.S. National Library of Medicine

• Dry Skin Illustrations
• Alternative names For Dry Skin
• Dry skin definitions
• Common Causes of dry skin
• Home Care for dry skin
• Call your health care provider if
• What to expect at your health care provider's office

Dry Skin Illustrations

Lichen simplex chronicus on the ankle

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Alternative names for dry skin  

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Dry skin definitions

Dry skin is most common in your lower legs, arms, flanks (sides of the abdomen), and thighs. The symptoms most often associated with dry skin include:

• Scaling
• Itching
• Cracks in the skin

Common dry skin causes   

Dry skin is common. It happens more often in the winter when cold air outside and heated air inside cause low humidity. Forced-air furnaces make skin even drier.

The skin loses moisture and may crack and peel, or become irritated and inflamed. Bathing too frequently, especially with harsh soaps, may contribute to dry skin. Eczema may cause dry skin.

Home Care for dry skin 

It may help to change your bathing habits:

• Keep baths or showers short.
• Use warm (not hot) water.
• Use as little soap as possible. Limit its use to face, armpits, and genitals if you can. Try mild cleansers & mild soaps.
• Dry your skin thoroughly but gently -- pat, DON'T rub.
• Take baths or showers less often.

Also, increase skin and body moisture:

• Use bath oils and moisturizers at least daily. Thick, greasy moisturizers work best. Avoid products with alcohol. Apply just after a bath or shower, when your skin is still damp.
• Use a humidifier if the air is dry.
• Drink plenty of Water throughout the day.

Apply cool compresses to itchy areas, and try over-the-counter cortisone creams or lotions if your skin is inflamed. If this is not enough, talk to your doctor about possible prescription lotions.

Call your health care provider if   

Call your doctor if:

• You feel itchy without a visible rash.
• Dryness and itching are preventing you from sleeping.
• You have any open cuts or sores from scratching.
• Home care measures do not relieve your dryness and itching.

What to expect at your health care provider's office   

Your doctor will perform a physical examination with careful attention to all parts of your skin.

To better understand the cause of the dry skin, your doctor may ask:

• When did your dry skin develop or has it always been dry?
• Are all parts of your body affected? If not, what are the specific locations involved?
• What seems to make the dryness worse?
• Does anything make it feel better?
• What are your bathing habits?
• Do you have any other symptoms?

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2002 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Chlorine in bath water can strip the natural protective oils from skin and hair, causing excess drying and aging.

Compared to drinking water we absorb more chlorine through skin absorption and inhalation of steam while showering.

A recent report in the American Journal of Public Health linked chlorine to significant increases in certain types of cancer, asthma and skin irritations... and stated that "up to 2/3s of the harmful exposure was due to skin absorption and inhalation of chlorine in shower water."

The U.S. EPA recently stated that "Due to chlorine and showering, virtually every home in America has a detectable level of chloroform gas in the air." When chlorine vaporizes in steam, and combines with other organic compounds in the air, it converts to chloroform. Chloroform is a strong respiratory irritant and causes fatigue.

Most people don't realize that tap water typically contains at or above the level of chlorine recommended for swimming pools, 1 to 1.5 ppm. A warm shower opens up the pores of the skin and allows a high rate of absorption of chlorine and other chemicals. The steam we inhale while showering can contain up to 20 times the concentration of chlorine and other synthetic chemicals as tap water, due to the fact that these chemicals vaporize at a much lower temperature and at a much faster rate than water. While over 98% of the water coming from the showerhead goes down the drain, 70% to 90% of the chemicals in the water vaporize before the water hits the ground.

Inhalation of chlorine and chemical vapors is a suspected cause of asthma and bronchitis. When chemicals are inhaled into our lungs they enter directly into our bloodstream and can have magnified effects versus ingested chemicals that are partially filtered by digestion. A recent study showed that over 1/4 of swim team members suffer from some degree of asthma due to chlorine inhalation.

Chlorine also strips the natural protective oils from skin & hair, causing excess drying and aging. In addition to the obvious health benefits of showering in chemical free water, the cosmetic benefits are even more noticeable. Anyone who has ever gone swimming in a chlorinated pool can relate to the harsh drying effect that chlorine has on your skin and hair. Without the negative effects of chlorine and other chemicals found in tap water, your skin and hair retain moisture more effectively for a younger healthier look and feel.

Removing chlorine and other volatile chemicals with a quality shower filter may offer great health benefits.

Natural Dry Skin Care Products

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