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Caring For Your Skin This Winter

Posted on December 14, 2017

You may have noticed that your skin becomes drier during winter months, which makes it more prone to itching.

If you have dry skin, your skin also tends to be sensitive and prone to eczema-type rashes. Therefore, it is important to remember a few things about caring for it:

• Use very little soap in the shower. Use a fragrance-free, moisturizing soap like Dove or Cetaphil. Liquid Cetaphil would be one of the least irritating and least drying skin cleansers. Use the soap on the underarms, private areas, feet, and on your face as needed (no more than twice a day). You do not need to use much soap on your arms, legs, or trunk unless you see visible dirt. Avoid hot water in the shower. Use only lukewarm water.

• Keep your skin moisturized. Apply your moisturizer while your skin is still damp from shower or bath, and you are still in the warm, steamy bathroom to lock in your skin’s moisture. In the winter, some excellent over-the-counter products to try include Vaniply, Aquaphor or Vaseline Ointment or Cetaphil, Eucerin. Or, if you do not like ointments, you may instead use creams, such as Cetaphil, CeraVe, or Aveeno fragrance-free creams. These creams will come in a tub or a tube, not a pump bottle. If it comes in a pump (i.e. lotion), it contains a lot of water and this water will just evaporate when you put it on your skin.

• To wash your clothes, use a detergent that is labeled “Free” or “Free and Clear”. These are fragrance and dye free. Products that are available include ALL Free or Tide Free. Avoid dryer sheet with fragrance or softener with fragrance. You may use dryer sheets that are labeled “Free” or “Free and Clear”.

For any skin concerns, your friendly dermatology providers at The Woodruff Institute are ready to help! We have same-day appointments available.