Cold, dry winter air can wreak havoc on otherwise healthy skin. Even those with good skin care regimens may need to change things up to better deal with the winter air. Dermatologist Dr. Anne Chapas mentioned on TV today with her top three tips for winter skin care.
- Shorter Showers - It's normal to want to take a long hot shower when it gets cold outside, but you're better off taking a short one, and cool it off a bit. Dr. Chapas says that 5-10 minutes of shower time is best and that you should use warm water rather than hot. "Hot water really saps your skin of those natural moisturizers," she says.
- Wash Smart - Dr. Chapas advises that it's okay to shower every other day in the winter, so long as you clean the areas where sweat glands concentrate daily. She says to wash around the neck, in the underarms and between the legs daily and to avoid anti-bacterial soaps. These can dry the skin out, so use a moisturizer like a nice fragrant body wash.
- Moisturize - "You've got three minutes when you get out of the shower to pat off and put on that moisturizer while your pores are still open. It will seal in the water," says Dr. Chapas. She also says it's not important to get the most expensive moisturizers. Look for ingredients like shea butter, lactic acids, lanolin, hyaluronic acid or mineral oil.
Don't live with chapped skin all winter long. Keep skin moisturized and enjoy a winter free of skin discomfort.
