6 Steps to Winterize Your Skin (by Sheree Beddingfield)

1. Use a non-drying soap in the shower or bath. Many commercial soaps like Ivory, Irish Spring, and Zest are drying and strip the natural oils that protect our skin. Choose something like Dove (in a bar) or an olive oil based Castille soap. Moisturizing body wash is also a good option.

2. Avoid too hot water in showers, baths and hot tubs. Take warm showers instead of hot, and limit your time in the shower to less than 10 minutes. When the water is too hot, the cells in the skin become damaged and they lose more water to the outside air. There is no need for most people to shower every day. Every other day is usually adequate. If you do take a hot shower, or hot tub, be sure to moisturize afterwards.

3. Pat dry after shower or bath. Avoid scrubbing with a washcloth or drying vigorously with a towel, as these can damage the skin’s delicate surface.

4. You have a 3 minutes window of time after a shower or a bath to apply a moisturizer and lock in some moisture from bathing into your skin cells. Moisturize promptly, thoroughly and often!

5. Moisturizers that are formulated for eczema often have an ingredient in them called ceramides. Ceramides help the skin’s barrier repair itself. If you have a tendency towards dry skin or sometimes itch, these moisturizers can be extremely helpful. Eucerin Advanced Repair, Cetaphil Restoraderm, and Cerave are brands that have ceramides.

6. Humidify the air in your home. You can use humidifiers, or even easier – boil a pot of water on the stove for an hour or two a day. This is an easy and inexpensive way to create a more humid environment for your skin, as well as your nasal passageways and eyes.

Following these tips can give you soft hydrated skin even in the coldest days of winter.

For more information check out our Salida Dermatology website: www.salidadermatology.com. Care for the skin you’re in!