Following the same skin care routine that worked so well in our youth can take a toll on aging skin — especially when the humidity drops. Mature skin is thinner and drier. Without a change in skin care, dry air can make fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable. It can make skin flake, crack, and even bleed. To help alleviate these unwanted effects, dermatologists recommend:
- Bathe daily. A daily bath or shower can add much-needed moisture to the skin. To hydrate the skin with a daily bath or shower, follow these guidelines:
- Keep it short. A 5- to 10-minute bath or shower adds moisture. Spend more time in the water and the skin begins to dry.
- Use warm, not hot, water. Hot water removes natural oils from the skin more quickly than warm water. The more natural oils removed, the drier the skin becomes.
- Close the bathroom door. This keeps the much-needed humidity in the room.
- Use a mild cleanser. Deodorant bars, fragrance in soaps, and products containing alcohol strip natural oils from the skin, which dries the skin. Look for a mild, fragrance-free cleanser that moisturizes.
- Gently pat the skin dry. Gently blotting the skin helps retain moisture and is less irritating to dry, sensitive skin.
- Apply moisturiser within 3 minutes of getting out of the bath or shower. Contrary to popular belief, moisturiser does not add moisture to the skin. Moisturiser traps existing water in the skin, preventing the water from evaporating. To trap water from a bath or shower in the skin, moisturiser must be applied within 3 minutes of bathing. Applied regularly, this helps decrease dryness and itching.
- Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise! Dry skin needs moisture. Applying moisturiser within 3 minutes of bathing seals in much-needed water. If skin is noticeably dry and uncomfortable, moisturising more frequently throughout the day can help the skin heal. Consistent use of moisturiser will help prevent dry skin from returning.
- Select moisturisers best suited to relieve dry skin. Ointments and creams tend to be more effective than lotions. Creams and ointments also usually less irritating to dry, sensitive skin. Moisturiser does not need to be expensive to be effective. Look at the ingredients not the price.
- Check the ingredients on anti-aging products. Some anti-aging products contain retinoids or an alpha-hydroxy acid, which can irritate dry, itchy skin. Switching to a more moisturizing formula can bring relief.
- Read the ingredients on other skin care products. Using mild, unscented skin care products can help reduce irritation and make skin feel more comfortable. Deodorant soaps, alcohol-based toners, and products that contain fragrance can irritate dry, sensitive skin. Some people with mature skin find using mild, unscented products year round helps their skin feel better.
- Plug in a humidifier. A humidifier can add much-needed moisture to the air.
- Avoid wearing wool and other rough materials next to the skin. These can irritate dry skin, making the condition worse.
- Give hands the extra attention they deserve. Hands often show the effects of a dry environment more than any other part of the body. These tips may help hands heal and prevent future problems:
- When outdoors in winter, wear gloves. This helps protect the skin from the cold, dry air, which can zap moisture from the skin.
- Apply hand cream after each hand washing. It is important not to skimp on hand washing, which can remove harmful bacteria and viruses. Applying hand cream after each hand washing helps hands retain much-needed moisture. This is especially important for people who frequently immerse their hands in water throughout the day. If more relief is needed, dab petroleum jelly on the hands before bed.
- If hands are frequently immersed in water, wearing waterproof gloves can help protect the hands. Again, it is important not to skimp on hand washing.
- Wear sunscreen every day. This is probably one of the most important and difficult tips to remember. Even in the winter, exposure to the sun''s rays speeds up the aging process in the skin. This exposure increases the risk of developing dry skin, wrinkles, age spots, and spider veins. Daily use of a sunscreen can slow these sun-induced signs of aging and reduce the risk of developing skin cancer. Dermatologists recommend wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or higher on all skin that will be exposed.
- Apply lip balm often. Carrying a tube of lip balm and applying it frequently throughout the day helps heal dry, cracked lips.
This is an edited extract based on information provided by the American Academy of Dermatology
References: American Academy of Dermatology. How to Protect Your Skin When Jack Frost Bites. News Release: 2004, October 13.
