Dry Itchy Winter Skin Relief

Winter is almost here. Along with it comes the fun holidays that let you enjoy good food with family and friends and ski season with all sorts of fun outside in the snow.  We get to pull out the super cozy winter sweaters and for a lucky few it's also time to curl up by the fireplace after a long day to unwind and relax. All around it seems like the world turns into a more cheerful place this time of year.

Along with all the good that comes with the winter season there is still a downside. During winter our skin struggles to stay hydrated and healthy, making this a painful time of year for our skin. The reason why winter makes our skin dry is because there is less moisture in the air. It causes the moisture in our skin to evaporate more quickly which makes it challenging to retain its own natural moisture and oils. 

If finding dry itchy winter skin relief seems almost impossible, there are a few things you can do to assist your skin during these chilly months.

• Be Gentle When You Wash: When showering use lukewarm water instead of extreme hot or cold. The lukewarm temperature can actually help your skin retain its natural oils and moisture better.

• Avoid Fragrances: Cleansers and moisturizers that have added fragrances tend to further irritate the skin. Using products that avoid these could assist with your dry skin. 

• Watch Your Time In The Sun: Just because summer is over it doesn’t mean the sun is going away. The UV rays created by the sun can actually be higher and more damaging during the winter months so using a moisturizing sunscreen could help with dry skin. 

• Get Your Diet Right: Make sure you are drinking enough water to keep your body hydrated. A diet filled with healthy fats can help you fight dry skin as well.

• Moisturize The Smart Way: Using a moisturizer daily could be a critical tool in fighting dry skin. Adding a shielding lotion like Skin MD could help with dry skin. Shielding lotions bond with your outer layer of skin to help protect your skin barrier and assist with locking moisture into the skin.

The winter season doesn’t need to ruin your skin and hopefully these tips can help improve it during this time of year. As always you can partner up with your dermatologist to find out what works best for you.