How to Treat Dry Winter Skin

It's not uncommon for people to complain about dry skin in winter. The reason for this is usually a lack of moisture. In winter, the humidity in the air outdoors drops. The air indoors is even drier, thanks to the indoor heating we use to keep warm.

 

To make matters worse, the hot baths and showers people take to stay warm strip your skin of the natural oils that keep it nourished. The resultant dehydration can cause your skin to crack and peel. So how does one go about treating skin that has been dried out by winter?

 

Moisturise

 

To restore dry, scaly skin to its former state, you need to replenish the moisture it is missing. In this case, drinking water won't do the trick. Applying moisturiser directly to your skin will lock in moisture and give your skin a healthy appearance.

 

It's also important to note that applying moisturiser once a day will not provide adequate protection. According to Mayo Clinic, moisturiser should be applied after shaving, exfoliating, showering or bathing, then reapplied to visible parts of the body three or four times a day for adequate protection.

 

Choose the Right Moisturiser

 

You have to keep your skin type in mind when you decide which moisturiser to use. Petroleum jelly is a reliable moisturiser for most instances. But sometimes you'll want to use something that was specially formulated for a particular problem.

 

For example, if you have parched, scaly skin that is in need of dry skin repair, it would be best to use Vaseline Intensive Care Dry Skin Repair Body Lotion.

 

Alternatively, if you're looking for something that offers long-lasting protection, then you would have to use Vaseline Intensive Care Dry Skin Repair Cream, which is clinically proven to moisturise and restore very dry skin in just five days.

 

Change Your Hand Washing Routine

 

Frequent hand washing is a crucial part of protecting your health, so abandoning the process is out of the question. To protect your hands while you protect your health, wash your hands with a mild soap, use lukewarm instead of hot water, pat your hands dry and apply moisturiser as soon as you're done.

 

Use a Humidifier

 

Humidifiers add moisture to the air, which prevents certain parts of the body from suffering the type of damage that comes from dryness. The best time to use the humidifier is when you're asleep. This is because your body goes into recovery mode while you're sleeping. Growth hormones are released while you sleep, stimulating the repair of damaged cells. This is the perfect time to give your skin a hydration boost.

 

When to See a Doctor

 

In most cases, dry skin is a minor inconvenience that can be solved with at-home remedies such as the use of petroleum jelly. But in some instances, nothing short of medical intervention will help. You should seek medical attention if you exhibit any of the following symptoms:

 

• Blisters
• Skin discolouration
• Bleeding
• Extreme redness
• Swelling.

 

Whatever the cause of dryness, help is always at hand (whether in the form of moisturisers of medical help).