By Sarah Lohman
The heat of summer is gone, the humidity has dissipated and the cold of winter has set in. For many, this change in temperatures is a relief from hot, humid summers.
But the disappearance of humidity and a thermostat set to summer-like temperatures can lead to dry, brittle, cracked and painful skin.
“Cold, windy weather outside compounded by dry air indoors from heating cause the skin to be depleted of moisture,” said Missy Clifton, board certified dermatologist and owner of Premier Dermatology and Skin Renewal Center in Bentonville.
Skin is often drier in the winter because cold air holds less humidity than warm air and furnaces dry out the air more. Showers tend to be longer and hotter to fight back the cold air and chase the chills out of our bodies.
Dr. Mary Sheu, a board certified dermatologist on faculty at the Johns Hopkins University school of medicine’s department of dermatology, said winter is a very important time to remember to keep skin moisturized and healthy.
The National Health Interview Survey found that 81 million Americans suffer from dry winter skin. Older individuals, whose oil glands produce less, women going through hormonal fluctuations such as menopause, and African Americans, who tend to have drier skin, are at a higher risk for winter skin irritation. People who spend a lot of time outdoors are also more exposed to the dry air and should take more precautions, like protecting their skin from the cold with scarves, hats and gloves.

Thyroid disorders, malnourishment and medications to lower cholesterol or lipids also can have a drying effect on skin. People with eczema, psoriasis or ichthyosis are already prone to dry skin need to protect from winter weather induced flare-ups.
Sheu recommended using gentler soaps made for sensitive or dry skin, such as Dove sensitive skin or Aveeno moisturizing cleanser. Showers should be kept short, around 10 to 15 minutes, and areas that need to be cleansed more often, such as the underarms, should be spot cleansed.
“Just let the water rinse the other areas,” Sheu said.
Longer exposure to water in the shower will not increase skin moisture.
“Contrary to what one would think, water actually depletes skin of moisture so short showers and baths are better,” Clifton said.
Lukewarm baths with oatmeal or baking soda can soothe dry skin without drying it out too much.
Sheu said shower water should feel comfortably warm but should not be hot enough to turn the skin red.
“For some people it is very comforting to have that really hot shower if their skin is itchy, but in the long run it will probably worsen the condition,” Sheu said.
After showering, she recommended drying off quickly and slathering on a moisturizing cream within the first minute or two of exiting the shower.
“It is more helpful to put a moisturizer on skin that is moist to begin with,” Sheu said.
Moisturizing creams tend to have a higher content of oil, emoluments and humectants and lock more moisture in. They are often thicker and must be scooped out of a jar or squeezed out of a tube. Lotions are thinner, water-based and can be squeezed out of a pump.
Sheu said dry hands should be moisturized every time they are washed. An article written by Rebecca Kazin, assistant professor of dermatology and director of the Johns Hopkins Cosmetic Center, suggests using hand soap that contains moisturizing ingredients or an alcohol-free hand sanitizer.
Soaking hands in warm water for a couple minutes and then applying cream before bedtime will keep them from getting cracked and chapped. Cotton gloves can help hold in the moisture at night as well.
When treating dry skin, Clifton said heavily fragranced soaps and lotions can cause significant irritation of already dry skin.
“I usually recommend unscented soap such as Dove for sensitive skin, Cetaphil or CeraVe soap substitutes for cleansing,” she said. “For moisture replacement my favorites are CeraVe, Cetaphil, Lubriderm and Eucerin brands.”
Fragrance-free products are less likely to irritate dry skin.
“The barrier that normally keeps irritating chemicals and substances outside of the skin, that barrier can break down and detergents and chemicals that our skin is not normally exposed to can enter through these little cracks and cause more irritation,” Sheu said. “It’s important to apply something that improves the barrier.”
She said especially itchy patches
can be treated with hydrocortisone
1 percent for a week or so, but if the patch doesn’t improve a physician should be consulted.
Sheu said dry lips should be exfoliated with a warm, wet washcloth before applying pure Shea butter. It is also important to make sunscreen part of your year-round skin care regimen, because the sun reflects off of snow.
Acne medications can further dry out skin, and people with acne-prone skin may need to switch to milder acne products during the winter months. A report published on http://www.About.com suggests switching cleansers if your normal product makes your skin feel tight and dry. Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide can be especially drying. It’s also beneficial to incorporate a moisturizing gel or light lotion into your acne care as well.
Sheu said drinking excess water may not help improve the skin moisture, but dehydration can cause skin to dry out more quickly. Maintaining a healthy intake of healthy fats, mono and saturated fats, can help keep skin healthy and moisturized as well.
Foods rich in antioxidants as well as essential fatty acids can also improve winter skin health, according to an article written by Kazin, director of the Johns Hopkins Cosmetic Center.
Dr. Maoshing Ni, an anti-aging specialist with the American Board of Anti-Aging Health Practitioners who practices in Santa Monica, Calif., also suggested consuming the recommended daily amount of vitamins A, B-Complex and E because they support healthy skin. Vitamin E can be applied directly to dry skin on the elbows, knees, hands, feet or anywhere that is especially dry. Feet should also be exfoliated and treated with a petroleum jelly or glycerine.
Clifton agreed vitamin supplements can help dry skin, but cautioned they should not replace the use of mild soap and regular skin lubrication.
“I recommend that everyone take a daily multivitamin for overall prevention of vitamin deficiency,” she said. “In addition, for people with dry skin or skin disorders, omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in fish oils, can help to replace the essential oils of the skin. Biotin is a B vitamin that is essential for overall skin, hair and nail health. Both fish oil and biotin can be taken safely in addition to a daily multivitamin.”
WebMD suggests using humidifiers to keep inside air from drying out skin. Wet socks and gloves can also draw more moisture out of the skin, irritating skin. Waterproof and leather gloves and waterproof shoes can keep phalanges comfortable and dry in wet winter weather. Rough wool gloves can irritate dry skin, but slipping on a cotton glove first can protect skin while wool gloves keep hands toasty.
Sheu said extremely dry skin can split open, forming deep and painful cracks, if not moisturized enough.
“It’s definitely easier to prevent these conditions, once they occur we can certainly treat them,” Sheu said. “But it’s easier to prevent it from occurring in the first place.”
To keep skin healthy year-round, Clifton recommended regular dermatologist visits.
“Yearly skin examination and evaluation by a dermatologist can give you lots of great information about what is going on with the skin and how to improve the health and beauty of your skin,” she said.

Morning News reporter Antoinette Grajeda contributed to this story.