Summer has come and gone. Autumn is here, and winter is right around the corner. In New England, that means cold wind – and dry skin.
At MacMed Spa, Salon & Medical in Milford, Framingham and Hopedale, our professional and friendly staff can help you combat dry skin and develop skin care regimens for all the seasons of the year. To learn more or to make an appointment, contact MacMed today.
The American Academy of Dermatology is the leading dermatology organization for professionals across the United States.
Academy officials say maintaining the same skin care approach all year long is not the way to go to keep your skin at its best. Dry air that comes in fall and winter can lead to wrinkles and fine lines on your face. Even worse, dry skin causes itching, cracking, flaking and sometimes, bleeding.
To help you fight dry skin and prevent it from reappearing, the academy offers the following advice:
- If you have dry skin, close the bathroom door when bathing and limit time in the shower to five or 10 minutes. Showering with warm water instead of hot is best. When you wash, choose a mild, fragrance-free cleanser. Make sure you use enough cleanser to get rid of oil and dirt. But don’t use so much cleanser that thick lather appears. Use a towel to blot skin and immediately apply moisturizer.
- Use moisturizer when you are done washing. Creams, lotions, ointments and other moisturizing products trap moisture in your skin. To make sure, apply moisturizer after you dry off from your shower or bath.
- Washing your face or hands: Use ointments and creams, not lotions. Creams and ointments are more effective and irritate skin less than lotions do. Use creams or ointments with olive oil, jojoba oil, or try Shea butter. Some ingredients that can help dry skin include lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, mineral oil and lanolin. Stow a non-greasy hand cream in your purse or bag and use it after hand washing. This helps fight dry skin.
- Lip balm: Select a product that feels good on your lips. Some balms can irritate. If lips sting or tingle after using lip balm, change to a brand that does not prompt this reaction.
- Use gentle, unscented skin products. Some are too harsh to use on dry or sensitive skin. If you have dry skin, avoid deodorant soaps and products that include alcohol, fragrance, retinoids or alpha-hydroxy acid, which is known as AHA. Avoiding these ingredients lets your skin keep its natural oils.
- Put on gloves: The hands are often the first place dry skin gets noticed, by you and others. Wear gloves when you go outside in cold temperatures or perform tasks that get hands wet.
- Select clothing and laundry detergents that do not irritate your skin. If your skin is raw or dry, what you wear and certain detergents often can make the condition worse. One tip is to wear silk or cotton underneath clothes that are made of wool or rough material. Use laundry detergents labeled hypoallergenic.
- Keep warm, but don’t get too close to the fireplace or other sources of heat. Sitting near the fire can lead to dry skin.
- Use a humidifier: Check your home’s heating system to see if you have a humidifier – and make sure that it works!