| How To Care For Dry, Itchy Skin In All Seasons |
Do you have dry skin? Most people notice a drying tendency in their skin at certain times of the year, especially in the winter when they are cooped up indoors with dry heat. Others experience dry, itchy skin in the summer if they go outdoors too often without staying hydrated. Some people are more prone to dry skin for genetic reasons, while others live in an environment that causes their skin to dry out more quickly than it would elsewhere. No matter the cause, dry skin can be extremely irritating and painful. Some people’s dried tissues dry out so badly that their hands can develop open sores that become infected. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to avoid these drastic outcomes, as indicated in the tips that follow below.
1. Manage seasonal aggravations.
Human skin can be very sensitive to changes in the weather, atmosphere, and environment. Cold winter days that force people to stay indoors in homes that have central heat can cause chronic dry skin irritation that lingers for weeks or months. Some people’s skin dries more quickly than other people’s skin, and you can see the fine lines or flakes that form on their faces, arms and feet, or other exposed areas of the body. To deal with winter dryness, it may help to run a humidifier that puts moisture back in the air.
Turning the thermostat to a lower temperature in the 60’s rather than in the 70’s or 80’s can reduce the dry air in your home, although naturally, you have to be careful on extra cold days to keep the house warm enough for aging people or small children. When venturing outdoors in cold weather, you should cover the skin to prevent it from getting dried out by wind or cold.
In the summertime, sunscreen not only protects the skin from tanning rays that can damage cell tissues, but some types also may help to seal in moisture that offers additional skin protection. It is important to stay hydrated and practice dry skin care to prevent problems associated with warm temperatures and sun exposure.
2. Drink plenty of water.
Clean water that you drink on a regular basis irrigates both the inside and outside of your body. Dry skin can be alleviated when you make sure to get at least eight glasses of healthy water each day, which can help protect against dry, itchy skin. Clear liquids like soup, juice and herbal teas can be included in your eight-glass quota, but remember that beverages that contain caffeine might deplete your body’s fluids and leave you even more dehydrated. Getting enough water to drink on a daily basis is the perfect way to start your skin care regimen.
3. Lather up with lotion.
There are many good quality skin care products on the market today, including creams, lotions and body oils that will help to keep your skin moist and supple. Lotion for dry skin can be bought at most grocery stores, pharmacies, discount marts, and other quick-stop shops. You can choose from literally hundreds of moisturizing products, such as day creams, night lotions, long-lasting (or heavy) creams, scented or unscented moisturizers, and products that form part of a grooming set of body soap, shampoo and matching lotion. Many hotel and motel chains keep small containers of lotion in their rooms’ bathrooms for guests who may have forgotten to bring some or who may experience dry skin while away from home. Travel sizes or samples can be purchased at many discount stores.
4. Don’t take too many hot showers.
Although being clean is always a good idea, it is possible to overdo your showers, baths and saunas. Ideally, a hot shower should last no longer than three to five minutes, and you may want to adjust the water temperature to a reasonable setting that won’t steam and dry your body’s skin. Daily showers are fine, but if you are taking two or three a day for reasons other than exercise or dirt exposure, see if you can cut back to one daily. Long, luxurious bubble baths are great—to a point. As with a shower, try not to soak in the hot water more than necessary, as it can dry out your skin—especially when aided by certain kinds of soap. Avoid lathering the same areas multiple times if you are using strong or harsh soap.
5. Avoid diuretic beverages.
Drinking or eating products that are laced with caffeine, such as coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate, can contribute to your skin’s drying out as you lose body fluids and become dehydrated. Switch to low-caffeine or caffeine-free products to head off this problem. If you are taking water pills, ask your doctor if an adjustment needs to be made to keep your skin from becoming too dry.
Women tend to be more concerned over their skin than men, so they are more apt to buy skin care products, which make great gifts, especially for someone who spends a lot of time in the sun or who struggles with
dry skin.
It’s a good idea to keep a small tube of skin lotion on hand at all times, carrying it in your purse year-round. No one wants to shake hands with Velcro, so apply lotion or cream to your dry skin if you will be meeting people and getting introduced. Some folks keep extra lotion in their cars, in their pockets, and in several rooms of the house during the seasons when they dry out the most, and then their skin can stay supple and moist all day.
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