How to protect your skin in cold weather

Jet, Jan 5, 2004

If you paint your house or wax your car to protect it from the harsh elements of winter, why not do the same thing for your skin?

Did you know that your skin is the largest organ on your body? It serves as a protective barrier that keeps harmful substances away from tissue, bones and blood vessels. Not only that, it contains nerve cells, allowing us to feel warmth, cold, touch and other sensations. But, cold temperatures, combined with low humidity, indoor heating, hot showers and baths are all factors that rob your skin of moisture during the winter, which can cause your skin to become dry, cracked and itchy.

This isn't just a cosmetic or comfort issue. Severely dry skin can split and bleed and become less effective as a barrier against infection, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), which states that one of the best ways to counter this is to keep as much moisture locked into your skin as possible.

The skin on your face is especially vulnerable because it's the only part of your body that's constantly exposed to the elements during winter. To protect your face, the AAD recommends that you wash with mild facial soap and lukewarm, not hot, water.

Don't overuse products that contain alpha-hydroxy acids. They exfoliate the top layer of skin, which is good for dry skin, but leaves a new layer of skin that has no protection against bitter winter weather.

Don't forget to use lip balm with sunscreen to protect your lips.

Shower or bathe in lukewarm, not hot, water. Hot water removes natural oil from the skin. Limit showers to 10 to 15 minutes.

Use bath oils if you do take a hot bath. Use mild soaps. Deodorant soaps are more likely to dry your skin.

Put moisturizer on your skin immediately after a bath or shower, while your skin is still wet. It helps trap moisture in your upper skin layers. And when you dry off, gently pat the skin dry to avoid irritation and redness.

Instead of shaving cream, use lotion or hair conditioner to shave.

Petroleum jelly is good for problem areas. It seals in moisture to help heal very dry skin.

After you wash your hands, use hand cream to seal in moisture.

Use a humidifier in your home to keep humidity levels higher.