Winter is here and that means that summer is gone…DUH! 
I’ve always wondered why people get dry/chapped skin during the winner and not summer. It’s just odd how summer is the hottest season of the year and heat is supposedly going to dry up a person’s skin, but I guess not. I finally realized that Winter is the season that causes a person to have dry itchy skin and I must tell you that the feeling is horrible. Having the urge to scratch yourself throughout class lecture or when you’re walking with your wife is just uncomfortable. Not only does it make you feel uncomfortable, but it makes the person besides you feel all oozy because he/she doesn’t know what the heck is happening.
Luckily for my fellow readers here, I’ve gotten information and tips on helping winter dry skin. I do admit that this is old news, but I’ve actually gave this a try and it seems to work pretty well. It is because it worked that I decided to give you guys some help if you’re like me. Now if you don’t get winter dry skin, I truly and deeply do envy you.
The problem with dry skin
Your skin is your largest living organ and its cells die and are replaced every day. The dead skin cells stack up and can become hardened and cause problems like cracked and bleeding skin…*YIKES!* The key is to exfoliate the skin all over your body, exposing the fresh new cells underneath so that the benefits of moisture treatments can reach them. Low temperatures, low humidity and strong, harsh winds deplete skin of its natural lipid layer which keeps the skin from drying out.
Exfoliating steps:
- Salt Exfoliating Scrub Treatment
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/2 cup sea salt
- (Optional) 10-15 drops of any essential oil you like - mint, lavender, rose, etc.
- (Optional) 1 tsp liquid Glycerin (available at most drugstores)
Mix thoroughly. Apply to your entire body, paying particular attention to dry rough areas - elbows, knees, feet, heels, hands.Run a warm (not hot) bath and soak for 15 minutes. The salts and oils will dissolve, and the warm water will help it to get into your skin. When you get out, just gently pat yourself dry. Your skin should feel smooth and moisturized!Store any leftover scrub in a jar with lid. You can double or triple the recipe if you want to make lots at a time for future use and you can store it at room temperature.
Simple tips:
- Keep Water Lukewarm, Not Hot
- Hot water robs skin of moisture, so it’s best to shower in lukewarm water. If you can’t bear this rule — I can’t — try to keep your warm showers short and try showering only once per day. This also means skipping the hot tubs in winter (another rule I simply cannot bear).
- Moisturize After Showers or Handwashing
Moisturizer is the key to soft, supple skin in winter. Apply product when skin is slightly damp. For best effect, pat skin dry instead of rubbing with your towel before application. Antibacterial soap in public places can be harsh on hands, so I like to keep hand salve in my purse (my hands-down favorite: Kiehls). To keep cuticles soft, I massage in olive oil.
- Baby Your Hands & Feet
- Hands and feet can suffer terribly in winter. Put on moisturizer and gloves BEFORE you head outdoors, and consider lathering up your feet in thick moisturizer and sleeping in cotton socks at night.
- Don’t Forget Your Lips
Licking your lips will not moisturize them and instead will help dry them out. Lips retain less moisture than other parts of the body, so they tend to dry out more quickly. A simple lip balm helps, as does my all-time favorite lip trick learned in high school from “Seventeen” magazine: moisturize your lips with Vaseline. Take a toothbrush and “brush” your lips in a circular motion. This will remove dead flakes and leave your lips soft and supple.
- Your Face Needs Extra Care in Winter
Cold, winter wind can wreak havoc on skin. To keep your face supple in winter, apply moisturizer to your face before going out into the cold and cover your face with a scarf in harsh wind. If you have super, duper sensitive skin, consider avoiding rinsing your face with tap water, which can contain harsh minerals that are especially drying to the skin. Instead, do like the French and cleanse skin in winter with a cleaner that does not require rinsing.
I hope the above tips will help you guys in curing the so called “Winter Dry Skin/Itch”. I know that it’s not as cold here in Los Angeles, but some of you guys are getting hit hard by snow and rain. This should definitely help with the skin problem as your skin is very important and any beauty supplies used would just go to a waste.
Thanks for the tips. My skin has been unbearably itchy lately and I was thinking it was an allergy or something.
Exfoliating is always something I do regularly in the summer but neglect in the winter, so I’ll definitely give that recipe a try.
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Great tips and a great reminder. You experience the symptoms but sometimes it doesn’t sink in that’s winter and more care needs to be taken.
I totally agree with both of you. I used to think it was some sort of allergy too, but I was totally wrong. My skin even starts peeling, but it just seems like the weather might be a bit too cold. I’ve actually been using lotion every light before I sleep and my hands are a lot smoother and healthy.
-Mike
Winter is here and dry skin, no no no….my two NON-favorite things…thanks for the tips yo.
Couple of more tips:
1) Get a humidifier. Run it 24/7 and you will feel much, much better.
2) Go to bed early and get lots of sleep. your body uses a certain timeframe from 11 pm to 3 am each night to get rid of toxins and rebuild. If you don’t go to sleep during this time, you’ll miss out. You might also notice that your skin feels a lot better when you get more sleep.
3) Watch the water content of your lotions. Water is actually a drying agent. It removes other moisture with it when it dries. Look for thick creams, not watery lotions. Also layer your lotion with different types. One coat will probably only last an hour or two.
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Thanks for the great tips. I have this problem every winter too and have found some great essential oils to help relieve that dry itchy skin. A humidifier also does wonders.
Yea, you guys are absolutely correct. A humidifier does wonders during Winter..
Excellent help for those of us who suffer from dry skin over the winter months. Actually, these recommendations are good anytime of the year!
I’m a hand-washing addict. I’m constantly cleaning my hands because I can’t stand the least bit of dirt on them and, of course, I wash all of the moisture away. But, as you suggested, immediate moisturizing after cleansing will not only replace the moisture, but leave the skin nice and soft.
I am not able to follow the warm water recommendation. A hot shower at the beginning and end of the day is part of my relaxation. I’ll just have to keep moisturizing!