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Strong winds and freezing temperatures are all too common as the seasons transition to autumn and winter. The weather, along with dry indoor air, can wreak havoc on your skin. In addition, frequent hand washing and use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer, which can prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses, may leave hands more cracked and dehyrdated than normal.
“During the winter, you lose water through your skin and then your skin is less of a barrier to bacteria in the environment,” says dermatologist Margaret “Miggs” Muldrow, MD, of Presbyterian/St Luke’s Medical Center in Denver, Colorado. Your skin can become dry, inflamed, itchy or splotchy—and you can even break out with eczema.
With that in mind, here's how to treat dry skin, chapped lips, and more cold-weather skin issues.
Sources: American Academy of Dermatology Associat... + 8
- American Academy of Dermatology Association. Dermatologists’ Top Tips for Relieving Dry Skin. Accessed January 25, 2023.
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Dirty Humidifiers May Cause Health Problems. 2012.
- Satheeshan KN, Seema BR, Meera Manjusha AV. Development of virgin coconut oil based body lotion. The Pharma Innovation Journal 2020; 9(5): 96-101.
- Varma SR, Sivaprakasam TO, et al. In vitro anti-inflammatory and skin protective properties of Virgin coconut oil. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine. January 2019. 9(1):5-14.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthy Weight, Nutrition, and Physical Activity: Water and Healthier Drinks. Page last reviewed June 6, 2022.
- Mayo Clinic. Water: How much should you drink every day? October 12, 2022.
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. How Much Water Do You Need? Reviewed June 13, 2022.
- MedlinePlus. Aging changes in the face. Reviewed July 19, 2020.
- American Academy of Dermatology Association. How to prevent and treat dry, chapped lips. January 26, 2021.
