44 THE QUEENS COURIER • WELLNESS • JANUARY 18, 2018 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
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 more than 2,000 U.S. adults
revealed that 55 percent of Americans
feel having dry 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 than staying up-todate
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
when the seasons change, that just means
it’s time to switch up your skincare routine,
just like you change the way you
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 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