In an article published in HealthDay, dermatologist Vicky Zhen Ren, MD, Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the Baylor College of Medicine, revealed how winter can adversely impact the skin and how to combat the effects of the season’s weather. Individuals with eczema may be particularly susceptible to the winter climate as a result of dryness caused by the lack of humidity. Dr. Ren suggested that when outdoors, individuals should shield their skin from the wind and cold; when indoors, a humidifier can increase the moisture in the air and may reduce dry skin irritation. Dr. Ren advised that keeping the skin moisturized with an ointment or cream may also reduce irritation and advocated for limiting bathing to 5 to 10 minutes in lukewarm water. She recommended applying moisturizing agents immediately after bathing and to avoid lotions that tend to have higher concentrations of water. When managing thick or scaly skin, Dr. Ren noted that creams containing urea, lactic acid, ammonium lactate, or alpha hydroxy acids may help, but should be avoided if the skin is fissured or cracking. She concluded that if skin isn’t responding to at-home treatments, individuals should visit a dermatologist to ensure that the state of their skin’s health isn’t a sign of a more serious condition.
May 25, 2023