In the winter time, the ambient air temperature cools down and the use of heaters become more common. The colder air has a relative lower humidity level and heaters can dry out the air even further. These factors lead our skin to lose more moisture and dry out. What can tip our skin over into severe dryness is our tendency to take longer hot showers and baths which can feel very enjoyable. However, prolonged exposure to hot water leads to further drying of our skin. Severely dry skin becomes quite itchy (winter’s itch) and in some cases, develop into a rash known as the asteototic or xerotic eczema.
We can prevent skin dryness during the winter time by taking a few routine measures that focus on gentle skin care and maintaining skin’s hydration:
In most cases, taking these simple measures will allow our skin to maintain it’s hydration during the dry winter months. However, if you continue to have dryness, itching, or even rashes despite taking these measures, we advise you schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified providers for further evaluation and treatment recommendations.