WASHINGTON 鈥斅營s it possible to have soft, healthy skin, even in the dead of winter? While you may be suffering from red, raw, cracked skin right now, there are things you can do to make a difference.
Keep your whole body happy
, a pediatric and adult dermatologist at Medstar Washington Hospital Center,聽says having a good winter skin regimen, and sticking to it, is the most effective way to manage winter damage.
鈥淥ne of the biggest things you can do on a daily basis is try to maintain the moisture level in your skin,鈥� says DeKlotz. 鈥淲hen you have changes in the heat and the environment, especially in cold weather, skin gets much drier very easily.鈥�
To set up a good regimen, DeKlotz recommends starting with a bath or shower. But re-evaluating the products you use every day may help you get long-lasting results.
鈥淯se a gentle cleanser that鈥檚 ideally free of all fragrances and perfumes,鈥� she says.
鈥淎ctually reading the labels and seeing if something is free of all dyes and perfumes, not just 鈥榰nscented,鈥� is really important if you鈥檙e experiencing dry or sensitive skin. The fragrances can irritate the skin when they get into the fabric of the clothing.鈥�
While it may be tempting to dry yourself as quickly and as vigorously as possible, DeKlotz says creams and lotions will be more effective on slightly damp skin.
鈥淵ou only want to pat dry, as opposed to getting completely bone dry. You want to make sure you can seal the moisture into the skin very quickly.鈥�
DeKlotz says creams with ceramides, which are naturally occurring moisturizing agents in the skin, can help rehydrate particularly dry areas.
However, if your dry skin is cracked or bleeding, that may require a prescription ointment.
鈥淚f your dry skin goes to the extreme where you see cracks and fissures, you鈥檝e actually damaged the barrier of your skin,鈥� says DeKlotz. 鈥淚f you have those open areas in the skin, you鈥檙e at a higher risk for developing infections.鈥�
Treat yourself: At-home hand treatments
Andrea Vieira and Claudia Diamante, co-owners of in Logan Circle, N.W., have seen it all.
鈥淎 lot of people come in here with raggedy cuticles, really dry knuckles and especially with hands that are really red from the chafing that occurs when hands are exposed to frigid cold air,鈥� says Vieira.
At Nail Saloon, there鈥檚 a three-step process that manicurists use to rehydrate thirsty hands and feet. First, gently exfoliate to remove the top layers of dead skin.
鈥淧eople don鈥檛 realize that a lot of what you can do to keep your hands silky soft, you can do at home,鈥� Vieira says. 鈥淲e use all-natural scrubs made with ingredients you can buy at the grocery store.鈥�
It鈥檚 so simple, she says, you can even do it while you鈥檙e cooking.
鈥淲e tell people to open up their pantry while they鈥檙e boiling water, grab a spoonful of sugar, two spoonfuls of olive oil, or any oil, really, and rub your hands together over the sink. It’s great on your lips too.鈥�
The second step is to steam them. A steamy shower, a hot towel, anything at your disposal. You might even try holding your hands high above that pot on your stove. Be careful, though. There is such a thing as too much steaming.
The third step: Lock it in with a powerful moisturizer.
鈥淲e mix our moisturizer with oil,鈥� says Vieira. 鈥淎 lot of people assume that oil leaves your skin really greasy, but if you prepare the surface, it absorbs quite nicely into the skin.鈥�
Exfoliate, steam, and lock it in, says Diamante, and do it often.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not a complicated process, it鈥檚 just about following through. Do all those steps consistently. There鈥檚 no miracle sauce for beautifully moisturized hands.鈥�
In addition to the three-step process, Vieira says it pays to keep an eye on your bad habits.
鈥淒o not pick your cuticles. Everyone is always picking at them. That does a lot of damage.鈥�
鈥淔rom a sanitation standpoint it鈥檚 bad for you too,鈥� says Diamante. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just the visual aspect of it. It鈥檚 also about making sure you don鈥檛 get an infection as a result.鈥�
A common culprit for dry hands, Vieira finds, is hand sanitizer.
鈥淚n the winter we all wash our hands a lot more because of colds and sniffles and we expose ourselves to alcohol-based sanitizers. They鈥檙e great to kill germs but they鈥檙e very drying for your hands.鈥�
If you want long-lasting soft skin, repetition is key.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not talking about taking your hands to a spa. You can do this while you鈥檙e cooking,鈥� says Vieira. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the accumulation of the effect of constantly practicing simple things that you can do quickly.鈥�
