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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Winter months often bring in cold, harsh changes for skin and hair, but a few good habits can alleviate dryness as well as the discomfort of itchy skin, UT Southwestern Medical Center dermatologists say.
“The relative lack of humidity during the winter months coupled with indoor heating systems will significantly dry out skin,” says UT Southwestern dermatologist Dr. Stephanie Savory.
Below are a few tips to help keep skin and hair healthy:
· Take short, warm showers – Though they may feel good, long, hot showers can pull moisture from the skin and dry you out even more. Short (less than 10 minutes), lukewarm showers or baths with moisturizing soap are preferable in winter.
· Moisturize – Within 2-3 minutes of emerging from the shower, apply a coat of a fragrance-free, moisturizing cream or ointment – not lotion – all over the body to lock in the skin’s moisture. Sleeping with a humidifier in your bedroom will also help moisten the air.
· Use a leave-in conditioner to protect the scalp and hair – Just like skin on other areas of the body, the scalp dries more easily in winter. If you notice more dryness or itching of the scalp outside of scalp disease such as dandruff or psoriasis, try a leave-in, deep conditioner a couple of times per week. If the symptoms don’t improve, see a dermatologist.
· Always use sunscreen – There is still significant UV exposure on cloudy days and cold days. Sunscreen not only helps prevent skin cancer such as melanoma, but it maintains the thickness of the skin, which contributes to a youthful appearance and can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and sunspots. Choose one that has UVA and UVB coverage, and is SPF 30 or higher.
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