December 6, 2022
Dry skin, the curse of winter
UGH! It’s winter with its colder, dryer air and the heat running 24/7. What’s a person, with dry skin even on humid days, to do?
I promise I don’t have all the answers, but I’ve been playing this dry-skin game for many years and I have a few tips up my sleeve.
- Keep lotion on your nightstand beside your bed. We all have too much to do before we drop in bed, right? So, on those days when you finally get in bed and realize you forgot to put lotion on your dry feet and legs, just reach over and grab the one you put in your night stand drawer. Lately, I have used coconut oil. It seems to really soak in and make my skin super soft. From what I read, coconut oil is gentle enough even for your face, so if you slip in bed without your face cream, don’t get up, just lather up with coconut oil.
- Keep a small jar of Vaseline in your purse. Okay, this is a little gross but effective. Just like your lips dry out, so does your nose. (This is according to my ENT that I see often.) Many times what we perceive as the beginning of a sinus infection is really just a very dry inside of your nose. So, take the Vaseline and put a little on your pinky finger and rub it inside your nose. (I told you this was a little gross.) Trust me, this will really help keep your nose healthy through the winter months. If you go to Colorado, add a sinus spray like Simply Saline for more lubrication.
- Turn down the heat. The American Academy of Dermatology says that for some people just adjusting the water temperature can help with dry skin. So, this is hard for me, but I’m working on short showers with warm water, not hot. I admit, I love a hot shower, but in the winter, I try to dial it back and keep my skin healthier.
- Use some kind of body scrubber. I have been using one that has oil built in to the product, so as I’m exfoliating, I’m putting some good stuff back in my skin. You can make your own scrubs with things like brown sugar, honey, etc. but there are easy to find as well. Exfoliating should probably only be done two or three times a week, but it sure does feel good to get some dead skin off.
- Use a sunscreen. Yes, in the winter! Recently, we hosted a couple in our home from Zimbabwe. He was festinated that in Louisiana we could have cold weather and the sun be shining. He said, in his county, if the sun is shining, it is hot. We all know in America, the sun can shine and the temperature be very cold. So, wear your sunscreen every day. My mom, who was raised on the beaches of Southern California, drove sunscreen use home to us, so I’ve had a lifetime of this daily habit, which I feel like has helped me keep good skin.
Hope this helps you rock stars a little! Enjoy the winter. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Moisturize. And turn the heat down in those showers.