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Winter is hard on skin and scalp. With its low humidity, heated air pulls moisture out of the skin. This time of year millions of people suffer from dry skin, chapped lips and dandruff. Frequent hand washing also dries skin out in the winter. We are all urged to wash our hands frequently to avoid colds or the flu. Health workers are especially susceptible to dry skin since they must wash before and after each patient.
People with eczema also suffer with itchy rashes, particularly on the hands or where the skin creases. Dry skin makes it worse.
What can people do at this time of year to keep from aggravating dry skin? Dermatologists often suggest using a less drying cleanser than soap. Some waterless hand cleansers are formulated to be less drying. For the face or body, consider a nonsoap cleanser such as Cetaphil or CeraVe. Both contain cetearyl alcohol, a nondrying cleaning ingredient.
Once skin is clean, particularly if it was washed with water, excess dampness should be gently patted off and the moisture should be trapped on the skin with a moisturizer. This helps ease itching and reduces skin cracking on knuckles and fingertips. The idea is the same as covering a slice of apple with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out.
In recommending moisturizers, dermatologists used to say, “The greasier, the better.” That’s not always practical: greasy skin doesn’t work well at a computer keyboard or on a cell phone. Instead, look for a product that rubs in well. Save the greasier formulation (for example, Aquaphor, A&D Ointment or Vaseline petroleum jelly) for nighttime when you can wear cotton gloves or socks after applying it.
Barnyard beauty aids originally developed for cows’ udders are also excellent skin moisturizers. They have the advantage of being very affordable. Bag Balm from the Dairy Association Company of Lyndonville, VT, is greasy and smelly but effective (800-232-3610). Udder Cream from Redex Industries in Salem, OH, is more appealing and also quite helpful against dry skin (800-345-7339). (Redex Industries underwrites the People’s Pharmacy radio show.)
Dandruff requires a different approach. It’s not practical to put moisturizer on the scalp.
Dermatologists believe many cases of dandruff are due to a yeast infection on the scalp. Controlling the yeast often cuts down on flakes. Some people report great success rinsing the scalp with dilute vinegar or Listerine (apply for five minutes before shampooing).
Others find that using different kinds of dandruff shampoo in rotation every few weeks helps control itching and flaking. Start with an antifungal product such as Nizoral A-D and then switch to a selenium-containing shampoo like Selsun Blue. Next, try a zinc pyrithione preparation such as Head & Shoulders.
For more information on dry skin solutions and dealing with dandruff we offer our Guides to Skin, Hair and Nail Care.
With care, indoor heating and frequent hand washing need not dry out your skin and scalp this winter.
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Dandruff? For me? Never! And yet there it was, flaking all over the place and itchy.
I tried everything, and then one morning before washing my hair, I reached for the can of "stuff" that was to treat the scalp, which you left on your head for fifteen minutes and then shampoo well. Oh my, I by mistake used the bag balm, also in a can, and was so preoccupied that I never realized it is now all over my scalp. What the heck, I'll try it - the other didn't work very well anyhow. Voila! Bag balm fixed the flaking and itching. AND my hair is shinier than it has ever been, and soft. (And after shampooing it did not smell like the bag balm!)
I had terribly dry feet with large callouses on the heels, toes, and balls of my feet. I had large horizontal bleeding cracks at the balls of my feet. Finally it was Vicks Vapor Rub, applied liberally, daily. I started wearing sox. I work outside during the summer and fall and was able to do this during the day so as not to offend. It has taken almost 6 months but it has almost completely cleared up.
During the winter I frequently get cracked heals, however this winter I avoided this by using All Natural Shea Butter. I massaged it into my heals each night at bedtime and then wore socks to bed.
Decided to write after reading about heavy moisturizing products like Vaseline. Was suffering from a bad sinus/head cold combo. Skin is always very dry at this time of year and I also have extremely sensitive skin, which other than applying lotion has never given me much of a problem. One evening before going to bed I noticed how dry and cracked my skin look. Reaching for a Hemp salve on the bathroom counter I usually only used on my lips, I applied it lightly to other dry areas on my face neck and chest areas.
The texture of this product is very much like Vaseline. The next morning my skin felt like it was on fire and when I looked in the mirror I could not believe my eyes. The whole areas where I had used this salve were red, raw and looked like bug bites although it was so horribly itchy I could not help but scratch it which made it even worse. By the time I got to my doctor's it had become unbearable, felt very stiff, itchy etc. and my eyes were swollen and red also. Left her office with 3 scripts, only to end up two days later at a walk in clinic leaving with higher doses of prednisone to be taken for ten days tapered off from 40mgs. down to 10.
Today is day #3, the last dose of 40 mgs. Prednisone then 3 for 30 etc., and no relief in sight, rash is worse, spreading and now has started to spread to inside my ear. The swelling around my eyes has gone down but eyelids and surrounding area is still red and dry. I am at my wits end and I have never seen/had anything like this before. It is a rash but it also seems to have pinhead spots on top and is still horrendously itchy. I have been managing to get some sleep by taking 50 mgs. of Seroquel and am becoming almost obsessed with what could be causing this, the Hemp product, something I ate, a bug bite, medication and will it scar??
Will it ever stop itching and how do I prevent it from happening again, other than getting rid of any products that may be suspect.. Any helpful suggestions are welcomed!!
Hi, is Vaseline petroleum jelly safe to use on the face (for men). If it is not what is the alternative to it, because I tried many moisturizers on my face but none of them absorbs in the skin. They always leave residue and make me look tired. I only want something to keep me look fresh. Thanks for your replies