January 8th is National Winter Skin Relief Day.  In Colorado, we face very dry winter conditions that can be hard on our skin.  When the temperature drops, the air in our homes becomes even more dry as we run our furnace to stay warm. National Winter Skin Relief Day is a reminder for us to pay attention to what we can do to protect our skin so we can avoid dry skin problems.

At Summit Dermatology, we often see patients for rashes, itching, and other skin conditions that are caused by or made worse by the dry winter conditions in Colorado.  In this post, I will share some of our recommendations for how to take care of your dry skin this winter. These recommendations are summarized in our dry skin care instructions handout, which is available on our website and in our clinic.

When bathing or showering, we recommend using mild and moisturizing cleansers such as CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser or Dove For Sensitive Skin.  It is important to avoid harsh soaps or soaps with perfumes such as Irish Spring. Antibiotic soaps such as Dial can greatly worsen dry skin.  It is important to avoid the temptation to take a long, hot shower. The hot water strips the skin of natural oils (ceramides) that help lock moisture in the skin, and the heat also increases inflammation.  Avoid scrubbing or manually exfoliating. Pat dry with a towel rather than rubbing, then quickly apply a moisturizing ointment or cream to restore and retain moisture in the skin while the bathroom door is closed to keep humidity in the air.

When your skin is wet, an ointment will best trap the moisture in the skin.  This is often a recommendation we make for children with eczema to help keep dry skin moisturized after bathing.  If you have dry, cracked skin, an ointment or a thick cream with petrolatum will help to replenish moisture in the skin.  Hyaluronic acid can be very hydrating, and ceramides are an important ingredient in a highly effective moisturizer. Examples of moisturizers with ceramides include CeraVe and Cetaphil Restoraderm.

To help prevent dry skin in harsh winter conditions, it is recommended to wear layers of clothing to keep warm.  The innermost layer of clothing touching the skin should be a soft natural material like cotton or flannel. Synthetic fabrics can cause more irritation on the skin.

At night, a cool mist humidifier can help hydrate dry skin.  This can provide a lot of relief. Having a humidifier on your furnace can also greatly help if available.

Sometimes dry skin can become very inflamed and cause an itchy or painful rash.  This may be the time to come to our clinic for evaluation, as you may benefit from a topical anti-inflammatory prescription medication.  However, this type of treatment only works well when the skin is well taken care of and moisturized frequently. Let this National Winter Skin Relief Day be a reminder to take care of your skin this winter.  Print our dry skin care instructions handout and call us if you need our help to heal your skin this winter.

Andrew Johnson, MD

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