How To Take Care of Dry Skin During The Winter Season

Dry skin makes the skin look and feel rough, itchy, flaky or scaly. These symptoms also contribute to our skin aging prematurely. Dry skin will also present itself with dry patches on the skin and the location will vary from person to person. This is a common condition that affects people of all ages, ethnicities and gender.

The medical term for dry skin is Xeroderma and is caused by not having enough moisture to keep the skin feeling soft. Xerosis (Xerosis Cutis) is the medical term for severely dry skin which is flaky, itchy and scaly especially on the arms and legs. Other symptoms of Xerosis are the cracking of the skin, white flaky skin and pink and red irritated skin. During the colder months when the air is dry and there is less humidity Xerosis gets worse and medical attention is sometimes necessary.

To avoid Xerosis you can do a lot on your own to improve dry skin, including moisturizing and practicing sun protection year-round. We suggest that you use various products and skin care routines to find an approach that works for you. You may have to change your skincare routine according to seasons.

The following can help keep your skin moist and healthy:

• Gently wash your face at least twice a day. Use a gentle, alcohol-free, non-foaming cleanser on your face twice a day and after sweating. Products with stearic acid (found in shea butter) or linoleic acid (found in argan oil and others) can help repair your skin. If you have sensitive skin, wash with a cleanser in the evening and just rinse with water other times.
While your skin is still damp, apply any topical medication you're using, wait a few minutes (see medication packaging for specifics), then apply your moisturizer. If you use cosmetics, consider selecting products with a cream or oil base. Use a moisturizer that contains sunblock or a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, even on cloudy days. Apply sunscreen generously and reapply every two hours — or more often if you're swimming or sweating.
• Moisturize your skin. Apply moisturizer several times a day, especially when your skin feels dry and after hand washing or bathing, while your skin is still moist. Ask your doctor about the pros and cons of various products for your skin and condition if you are suffering from Xerosis, Eczema or Psoriasis . You may need to try several products before you find those you like, that help you and that you'll use regularly. The KEY here is to moisturize daily and often.
Look for healing ingredients such as urea, ceramides, fatty acids and glycerol (also known as glycerin), shea butter, and cocoa butter. As you should know, Pure Rhodes products have ingredient lists that contain all of these ingredients. If you suffer from Xerosis you may want to look for fragrance-free products that don't cause acne (non-comedogenic) and don't contain allergy-causing substances (hypoallergenic). Avoid products that contain sodium lauryl sulfate, which is drying. If your non-facial skin is very dry, you might want to use a thicker moisturizer (Pure Rhodes Natural Body Cream) or an oil, such as our Signature Oil. Oil has more of a staying power than lotions and prevents the evaporation of water from the skin's surface. The Pure Rhodes Signature Oil is a dry oil that absorbs quickly into the skin leaving you feeling less greasy. For the face and neck areas of the body, you may want to use a cream moisturizer. Choose something that is applied easily to the skin and leaves no visible residue. If you are acne-prone, avoid products on your face that contain petroleum jelly, cocoa butter or coconut oil. If your skin is very oily, try using a cream sunscreen instead of a moisturizer. If you have mature skin, you might prevent scaly, flaky skin by using products that contain antioxidants or alpha hydroxy acid.
• Use warm water and limit bath time. Long showers or baths in hot water will remove your skin's natural oils. Therefore, during the cold winter months you should limit bathing to no more than once a day and no longer than 5-10 minutes in warm (not hot) water.
• Use allergen-free moisturizing soap. For handwashing, use our Pure Rhodes moisturizing soap bars. Then apply our moisturizing cream lotion while your hands are still damp.
In the shower or bath, try our moisturizing shower gels, and use soap only in areas where needed, such as the armpits and groin. Then apply our Moisturizing Cream Lotion or Signature Body Oil. Avoid loofahs and pumice stones. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry.
• Use a humidifier. Hot, dry, indoor air can parch sensitive skin and worsen itching and flaking. A portable home humidifier or one attached to your furnace adds moisture to the air inside your home.
• Choose fabrics that are kind to your skin. Natural fibers, such as cotton, allow your skin to breathe. Wool, although natural, sometimes irritates even healthy skin.
For laundry, use detergents without dyes or perfumes, both of which can irritate your skin. These types of products usually have the word "free" in their names.
• Relieve itchiness. If dry skin causes itchiness, apply a clean, cool, damp cloth to the affected area. You might also apply an anti-itch cream or ointment, containing at least 1% hydrocortisone.