By Megan Wehring
BUDA — Cold air can cause dry skin in the winter.
When the humidity level drops during the winter months, the surrounding dry and cold air can cause the natural moisture in skin to evaporate quicker.
“We have to repair that,” said Dr. Erica Stevens, dermatologist at Baylor Scott & White Clinic in Buda. “We have to reinforce that moisture more frequently in the winter time compared to the summer time, when there is greater humidity.”
How to soothe dry skin
While hot showers may seem like the way to go, dermatologists recommend using lukewarm water and to apply moisturizer immediately after washing. The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) advises the following.
When the humidity drops or your skin feels dry, be sure to:
• Close the bathroom door.
• Use warm rather than hot water.
• Limit your time in the shower or bath to five or 10 minutes.
• Wash with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser.
• Apply enough cleanser to remove dirt and oil, avoid using so much that you see a thick lather.
• Blot your skin gently dry with a towel.
• Slather on the moisturizer immediately after drying your skin.
“Steamy, hot water can be a little irritating and further dry out your skin,” Dr. Stevens said.
People who experience dry skin in the winter, or those who deal with it year-round, should invest in the correct moisturizer for their skin.
“I prefer thicker creams,” Dr. Stevens told the Hays Free Press/News-Dispatch. “So, the easy way I explain it to patients is that you want to look for a moisturizer or cream that comes in a jar because that’s thicker than a lotion that comes in a pump.”
The thinner lotions don’t hydrate the skin as effectively as the thicker creams, Dr. Stevens explained.
