If all the time cold hands and feet don't clear up now that we're within the grip of winter, dry, flaky skin can have made it home.
Rough, itchy patches are almost universal this time of 12 months. But it's possible you'll not have prepared yourself for the opposite skin problems that may arise — or worsen — when the temperature drops.
On that unwanted list is eczema, which is marked by dry, red patches and painful cracks. Psoriasis, which often involves patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales. rosacea, often characterised by facial flushing and redness and red patches on the nose and cheeks; and seborrheic dermatitis, which is often known as dandruff when it occurs on the scalp but can grow to be a rough rash on other areas of the skin, especially across the eyebrows and the corners of the nose and chin.
“As we age, our skin becomes drier,” says Dr. Reynolds. “So unless someone is already dealing with a skin condition, they may not experience weather-related changes until they get older.”
Difficult behavior
Why do all these problems come together in winter? Simply put, winter wreaks havoc with our skin barrier — the highest layer of skin, which accommodates substances like cholesterol and fatty acids that help seal in moisture and protect against irritation.
Cold temperatures and dry air are features of the winter season which might be especially harsh on the skin. “Even heating systems cause more dryness,” notes Dr. Reynolds. “They draw more moisture from the environment, which draws moisture from the skin.”
Certain behaviors could make the situation worse, including:
- Take long, hot showers or wash your hands often
- Using harsh soaps, laundry detergents, fabric softener sheets, or heavily scented products
- Spending a number of time outside
- Wearing wool, which may irritate sensitive skin.
Dr. Reynolds says that surprisingly, using alcohol-based hand sanitizer — which became a staple in the course of the pandemic — isn't as drying as hand washing could be. “Ironically, for someone who has to wash their hands frequently, exposure to soap and water is more harsh on the skin,” she says.
Skin care suggestions
Applying a moisturizer is one method to relieve dry skin in addition to treat conditions like eczema, psoriasis, rosacea and seborrheic dermatitis. But Dr. Reynolds recommends a deeper dive into products and methods it's possible you'll not have considered:
- Opt for creams and ointments, as thinner lotions don't provide much moisture.
- Cover the broken skin areas with petroleum jelly and canopy with cotton gloves, plastic wrap, or one other barrier to seal in moisture overnight.
- Use a humidifier to pump moisture into dry indoor air.
- Only take lukewarm baths, and not more than once a day – every other day if possible.
- Use moisturizing soaps and liquid body cleansers, which contain more skin-softening emollients than bar soaps. “And try to avoid soap on places you don't need it, like your arms and legs,” she says.
- Pat yourself dry after showering and apply moisturizer while skin continues to be damp, which traps moisture.
However you reply to dry skin, don't ignore it—especially if you happen to're in midlife or beyond, warns Dr. Reynolds. Untreated dry skin can result in a style of eczema called nummular dermatitis, one other version of dry skin eczema often seen on the legs of older people. This itchy condition can predispose people to cellulitis, a potentially serious skin infection that may spread to the bloodstream.
“Everyone's skin gets drier as they age, and the extent to which you get it varies from person to person,” she says. “Anyone 60 or older can develop this eczema, just based on age-related dry skin.”
If you develop an itchy, red rash, see your primary care doctor. “If it becomes more severe, your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist,” says Dr. Reynolds.
One final caveat: Drinking water isn't a cure-all for stopping or treating dry skin. “It's a good idea to maintain normal fluid intake, but the skin hydration benefits of drinking water are sometimes overemphasized,” says Dr. Reynolds. “A much more effective way is to hydrate your skin from the outside through diligent skin care and regular moisturizing.”
Photo: © John M. Lund Photography Inc/Getty Images