How to Prevent Dry Skin during the Winter

Heated air indoors, especially natural gas heat, and cold air outdoors make the winter season hard on your skin, drying it out and causing itching, cracking and discomfort.  There are many ways to treat dry skin when it happens, but knowing how to prevent your skin from becoming dry and scaly in the first place is the best method.

Don't Use Burning Hot Water

Very hot water in your bath or shower will cause the oils on your skin to melt away, leaving your skin unprotected from the elements.  Using warm water instead of hot will help your skin maintain a natural balance and protective layer.

Avoid Heavy Perfumes

Using heavy perfumes and scented soaps will cause your skin to dry out quickly.  When bathing or showering, use moisturizing body wash or bar soap.

All about the Oil

The oil of the skin helps to form a protective layer against the weathering effects of cold air, and doing things which increase those oils will prevent dry skin. Using moisturizing lotions will work, as will coating your skin in natural oils like olive, avocado or almond.  Though using an olive oil can feel greasy, the healthy benefits to the skin have been well documented for hundreds of years.

Vitamin E cream or lotion is very effective at preventing dry skin, as well as healing it once it occurs. Glycerin based hand creams are also highly recommended. Lotions and creams with an alcohol base will dry out your skin quickly; avoid using these when possible.  Many anti-bacterial hand lotions and gels are alcohol based.

Many dermatologists also recommend taking supplements, such as fish oil or flax-seed oil, to increase the production of natural oils on the skin.

Stay Hydrated

Drinking plenty of fluids can help keep the skin moisturized.  You should avoid drinking heavily-sweetened juices and sodas; the sugars will tend to decrease beneficial oils being created on the skin and can cause clogged pores.

Wear Plenty of Clothing

Using scarves to cover your face, gloves or mitts for your hands and layers of clothing on the rest of your body will help to protect your skin from the cold air, especially in windy conditions.  The less you expose your skin, the longer the protective oils will remain.

Applying lotions before going outside will also be beneficial.

Use a Humidifier

Extremely dry air is common in rooms heated with natural gas furnaces and heat pumps, as well as in older homes that don’t have a moisture barrier.  Having a humidifier in the main areas of your home or office will help keep moisture in the air.  If a humidifier is unavailable, boiling water on a stove or using a vaporizer will also be effective at keeping the air from being too dry.

Use Sunscreen

The bright winter sun glaring off of the snow can damage your skin.  Using at least a light sunscreen will help avoid this problem and will add a layer of protection to your skin in general.

If your skin becomes dried out and flaky, there are many things that can be done to help, but using these methods will help you keep your skin healthy and avoid damage to begin with  in the dry winter months.