Winterizing Your Skin
The winter and colder weather months may challenge your skin in different ways than summer or warm weather. In winter, typically, the air is drier, less humid. The skin may lose moisture easily and become dry. This may be compounded by people’s tendency to take long hot showers in the colder weather. Hot water can easily strip away the natural moisture barriers of the skin, leading to dry skin. Dry skin is the number one cause of itching. So, take quick warm showers, not long hot ones. It is preferable to use a gentle, non-drying cleanser. Upon exiting the shower, pat the skin dry, but leave it slightly moist. Then, apply a moisturizer. The choice of moisturizer may be influenced by how dry the skin tends to be, and what clothing will be worn next. If one showers before bedtime, or you don’t care what you are about to wear in the morning, a heavier moisturizer may be used. A bath oil will cover a large surface effectively, and pajamas or sweats can be put on. No need to worry about ruining clothes. If your shower precedes wearing nice clothes, then a more sheer product may be preferred. However, the heavier and greasier the moisturizer, the better, if the skin is very dry.
