Skin Care World

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It's a while before the clocks go forward and British Summer Time starts again. During the colder winter days and nights, our central heating is turned up full - it's not an easy time for our skin. During the winter, many more people suffer from dry skin conditions than at any other time of the year — conditions vary from dry-flaky patches, skin cracking, eczema, psoriasis to dermatitis.

WHAT CAUSES IT?

As with all dry skin conditions, there are many triggers, and everyone will react differently to different triggers. In winter, we turn the heating up higher, drying out the air inside our homes and buildings; we take hotter baths and showers for longer periods, trying to warm up; and then we go outside into the freezing cold! It’s no wonder our poor skins react and dry out.

Our skin provides a barrier against the outside world and contains natural moisturisers, which get stripped by the cold, windy weather. Once our skin gets dry and there’s a lack of moisture, it cracks and gets attacked by bacteria, allergens and irritants. The red, sore, swollen, cracked and itchy patches that flare up are your skin’s way of reacting.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE DRY SKIN…

Bathe frequently, using warm — but not too hot — water; avoid soap and use soap substitutes e.g. Epaderm, and stay in the bath for 30 minutes. Avoid itchy jumpers making direct contact with your skin; and moisturise the skin repeatedly. Try to avoid overheating your home; use a humidifier (or pans of water next to the radiators) to moisten the air. Keep your body hydrated by drinking lots of fluids – ideally, two litres of water a day.

View all tips, questions and answers currently submitted to Dr Chris Steele