By Matthew Reeck, M.D., St. Luke’s Clinic – Dermatology
Your skin is a highly adaptable organ system, but the extremes of the winter season can take their toll.
One of the responses to the cold temperatures is for blood vessels to constrict, allowing the body to harbor heat. As it does so, the skin becomes less pliable and will crack more easily. These small creaks also allow water to escape from the skin, creating a cycle of cracking and water loss. As the cracks become larger and larger, they eventually form the tender cracks and peeling skin that might afflict you at this time of year. How can you prevent this type of damage? The first step is to protect your skin from extremes in temperature.
• Wear mittens or gloves when you are outside.
• Wear scarves or balaclavas to protect your face.
• Add a primary thermal layer to protect your extremities and torso.
• Avoid extremes in temperatures when bathing, as the large swings between hot and cold will exacerbate the altered condition of the skin. Use warm versus hot water.
The second step to prevent or correct dry winter skin is to hydrate the skin. We recommend thick emollients like a cream or an ointment versus a simple lotion. Lotions are mostly water.
The lips are a transitional zone from the skin of the face to the mucosa of the mouth. Water can be lost easily in this zone. The mucosa in the mouth requires water, so be sure to drink plenty of it. Also, a humidifier will help keep the mouth and nasal passages in better shape. For the lips, a thick ointment helps to fill in cracks and make them pliable instead of fragile.
On clear, sunny days, the sun can still be intense and reflect off of the snow and it can be easy to develop a sunburn quickly. Use sunblock with a SPF rating of at least 15 (30 or 45 if you burn easily or have a history of skin cancer or sun damage). Reapply every 90-120 minutes, because the ability to protect is lost with time. Protect your eyes with UVA- and UVB-blocking glasses and goggles, as the retina could sustain damage, as well.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment with Caroline Hobbs, N.P., Steven Karassik, M.D., or Matthew Reeck, M.D., at St. Luke’s Clinic – Dermatology, call (208) 725-2171.
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