Winter Itch and Dry Skin

Are you itchy?  Do you have dry skin from the cold weather and all of the recent snow and ice?  Dry skin can occur at any age for many reasons.  The signs of dry skin are rough and scaly or flaky skin sometimes with cracking. Chapped or cracked lips sometimes occur.  Often this is associated with itching.  This occurs with cold weather which we have had recently.  Here are some tips for treating dry skin or preventing it from happening.

** Reduce the temperature of shower or bath water since hot water removes natural skin oils more quickly **

** Limit the time in the bathtub or shower to 5 or 10 minutes since spending more time leaves the skin less hydrated **

** Use gentle cleansers that are fragrance free (cetaphil, aveeno, olay, neutrogena, cerave) avoiding harsh antibacterial cleansers and perfumed soaps **

** Moisturize immediately after a bath or shower with a cream or ointment instead of lotions which may not be moisturizing enough.  Use a product without fragrance (cetaphil, aveeno, eucerin, cerave, vanicream). **

** Soothe chapped lips with an ointment (aquaphor, vaseline (non-medicated), aveeno ointment **

** Use a humidifier **

** Cover-up outdoors in the winter by wearing a scarf and gloves to prevent chapped lips/face and hands **

** If you have developed a rash/eczema/dermatitis from severely dry skin and the above changes do not help you may need to see your dermatologist for a prescription medication **