FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM JANUARY 18, 2018 • WELLNESS • THE QUEENS COURIER 41
wellness
The truth about what makes your skin dry and itchy in the winter
We wait all year for activities that come
along with winter, like sipping hot cocoa
by the fi re or staying in to snuggle up
under cozy blankets while re-watching
our favorite movies.
Th e winter season also brings some
less-than-desirable side eff ects, though.
An all-too-common winter woe is dry,
fl aky skin that can feel itchy, tight or
painful.
In fact, a recent survey conducted online
by Harris Poll on behalf of CeraVe among
when the seasons change, that just means
more than 2,000 U.S. adults revealed that
it’s time to switch up your skincare routine,
55 percent of Americans feel having dry
just like you change the way you
skin in the winter and having chapped
lips are among the things they dislike
most. Moreover, 57 percent of Americans
said having healthy skin is more important
dress and how you spend time outdoors.”
Henry shares some of the common
causes of dry winter skin, along with her
expert tips for cold-weather skincare so
you can start feeling better all over.
1. Dry air is everywhere
You may think that the outside air is to
blame for your dry skin. While this may
hold some truth, heated indoor air also
has very little humidity. When you spend
your life basking in this dry environment,
your skin eventually pays the price.
“During the winter months, the skin
contains more moisture than the air,”
Henry says. “What happens is the dry
environment leeches the moisture from
the skin, leaving it looking and feeling
dry and dull.”
Moisture loss, dryness and cracking
comes as a result of damage to the skin
barrier. To replenish your taxed skin,
slather on a rich emollient that contains
ceramides daily. Ceramides are like the
mortar that holds the bricks of your skin
together and are essential to healthy skin.
For on-the-go relief, tote along small containers
of moisturizer wherever you go.
2. Too much (or not
enough) exfoliation
Make no mistake, exfoliation is important
to year-round skincare, but adding
it in the winter is essential. Th is process
clears away dead skin cells and product
residue, letting your winter moisturizers
penetrate the skin and work more eff ectively,
Henry says. Steer clear of products
with beads and grains that strip and
irritate the skin, especially in the winter.
Instead, choose formulas designed to be
gentle on sensitive complexions.
3. Too many long, hot showers
On a cold winter morning, a long shower
that really steams up the mirror is
relaxing and feels great. However, Dr.
Henry says these long sessions are drying
for the skin (and don’t get you any
cleaner).
“I recommend that my patients keep
showers under 10 minutes in lukewarm
water,” Henry says.
Aft erwards, she says, pat yourself with a
towel so some moisture is left behind on
the skin, and then seal it in by applying
lotion all over.
4. Excessive hand washing
Hands can take a beating during the
winter months. With germs running rampant
all season, hand -washing is important
to stay healthy, but those who wash
their hands frequently tend to suff er more
from dry skin, she says. Give hands some
extra TLC this time of year. Aft er washing,
always apply a thick lotion to protect
against and heal dry, cracked hands.
Henry recommends CeraVe Healing
Ointment, a gentle formula that contains
three essential ceramides to provide
intense, long-lasting moisturization,
while soothing dry, chapped skin.
5. Your products are too harsh
Your winter skin care regimen should
be diff erent from your summer routine.
Many summertime products are designed
to remove dirt, oil and sweat, but when it
gets colder and dryer, these products may
become drying and irritating. Henry recommends
the faster you
treat it, the
longer it beats.
than staying up-to-date on social
media, 23 percent would move to another
climate if it promised healthier skin and
18 percent would give up their favorite
food for the duration of winter if it meant
not having dry skin for the season.
Th e good news is that none of those
trade-off s are necessary, because treating
and preventing this wintertime discomfort
can be helped with a simple change,
says Dr. Michelle Henry, a board-certifi
ed dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon
based in New York City.
“In the winter, the conditions are much
harsher on the skin, which means your
skin has diff erent needs,” Henry says. “So
Experts at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens bring the care you need, closer to home.
Find a cardiologist at nyp.org/queens-heart or call 800-282-6684, press 1.
switching your facial cleanser
or body wash from a foam or gel to a
cream-based moisturizing formula.
For more ideas on how to get soothing
relief and protection for your sensitive
winter skin, visit cerave.com.
Courtesy BPT