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Prepare Your Skin for the Upcoming Winter

Fall is in full swing and the temperature is quickly dropping. With the air getting cooler and dryer, we’re here to make sure your skin doesn’t. These are some helpful hints to keep your skin healthy and moisturized this season.

Wearing sunscreen is just as important in the winter as it is in the summer. UVA and UVB rays stay strong throughout the year, and without proper skin protection, can contribute to rapid skin aging. Add extra protection on snow days – UV radiation reflects 55 percent stronger off of snow than off sand.

The heat indoors can be more drying than the cold outdoors. Space heaters, open fireplaces, and wood-burning ovens dry the air’s humidity. Invest in a humidifier to help protect your skin indoors, too.

Everyone loves a hot shower on a cold, winter morning. However, scalding water can do more harm than good by removing natural oils from the skin. Best practices are to use warm water, limit showers to five to ten minutes and pat dry your face when drying off.

Using moisturizer and lip balm consistently, especially overnight, is another essential winter practice. Buyer beware: thick lotions are not necessarily more moisturizing. Get in the habit of checking the ingredients on the lotion’s labels. Hyaluronic and lactic acid are especially effective.

Contact Knoxville Dermatology Group at (865)690-9467 to book an appointment.

How Winter Weather Affects Your Skin

The cold, dry winter months effect all skin types, but what if you are already suffering from a condition? It is important to be proactive to understand how the winter weather affects your skin condition. Here are some common skin conditions, how the weather affects it and how to better manage the symptoms.

Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic condition that causes the face to become inflamed and remain red for an extended period of time. This can be a frustrating condition; however, it causes no internal health issues. In the winter months, your skin can be especially delicate as it fights against the harsh temperatures and conditions. Try to keep your skin covered from the elements. Wearing a scarf is a great idea, as you can pull it up to cover your nose and cheeks as you trek to your destination. It’s important to stick to your treatment plan. However, if you are experiencing more intense flushing, start applying a heavy moisturizer and talk to your dermatologist about adding something seasonal to your treatment regimen.

Psoriasis

Phototherapy and spending time in the sunlight are common psoriasis treatments. The condition causes a buildup of skin cells that leave scaly, raised patches. In addition to the patches, psoriasis can also cause small, red bumps that cover different areas of the body. Decreased exposure to sunlight can play a huge role in the increased intensity of the condition during winter months. Try talking to your doctor about phototherapy, a new psoriasis treatment, to supplement for the time lost in the natural sunlight. Another reason for the condition worsening is the dry weather. A lack of humidity in the air can cause dry skin. A way to add moisture back into the air is to use a humidifier in your home, allowing your skin to drink in a bit more hydration.

Eczema

The skin condition, eczema is commonly seen as red, irritated and bumpy skin. It is often itchy and uncomfortable. Although it is not treatable, eczema is easily managed. However, in the winter, flare-ups occur more often causing heightened symptoms due to rapid temperature changes, especially when coming indoors from a cold day. To help avoid a reaction that may cause your skin to inflame, it is important to regulate your temperature as best possible. Try keeping your heater at a low setting. While it may seem nice to walk into an incredibly warm house after being in the cold, keeping your heater at a lower setting helps your skin acclimate to the temperature more easily.

Seborrheic Dermatitis

Similar to dandruff, but with more serious implications, seborrheic dermatitis causes a red, burning scalp with flakes. However, unlike dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis can appear on your body anywhere hair is present. The dryness of the winter can cause your condition to worsen, but be sure to still follow your treatment plan. Don’t use hot water when showering, but instead use lukewarm water so your scalp does not become inflamed. Try adding a humidifier in your home so your scalp stays moisturized without adding extra products to your hair or increasing oil production.

You can’t change the weather, but you can change up your daily routine by adding some simple items to your home treatment regimen. If your skin condition is beginning to worsen, it may be caused by the weather. Talk to your dermatologist about changes in your condition and ask about different treatment options. If you suffer from one of the conditions listed above, the dermatologists at Knoxville Dermatology Group are ready to help. Visit our website or give us a call to schedule an appointment at 865-690-9467.

Winter Skincare Tips

Winter Skincare Tips

It’s no secret that colder temps and the winter season wreak havoc on your skin. The heat you turn up to stay warm and toasty significantly dries out your skin and the frigid temperatures outside cause more dryness and cracking. To save your skin until you can crawl out of another wintery season, here are some tips to ensure you have happy and healthy skin heading into the spring and summer. dry skin treated in Kent Island, Glen Burnie, Annapolis, Leonardtown, Prince Frederick, MD

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize. It’s imperative that you find a moisturizing product that adds a protective layer to help keep the moisture in your skin. Be sure to apply lotion and moisturizers regularly to any part of your body that may interact with cold air. For a facial moisturizer, ensure you choose a non-pore clogging (noncomedogenic) product so as not to cause breakouts.

Helping Hands. The skin on your hands is thinner and therefore more susceptible to dryness and cracking. Ensure you cover them up when heading outside with gloves or mittens and keep them well-moisturized.

Invest in a Humidifier. A humidifier rehydrates the air within your home and helps to keep your skin from drying out by redistributing the moisture evenly. Humidifiers are typically inexpensive and help to keep you and your skin healthy during the winter months.

Cut Showers Short. Long, hot showers, though relaxing and enjoyable, strip your skin of the natural oils that maintain your skin’s moisture. Help keep your skin’s natural defenses in check by shortening your showers and turning down the hot water.

The winter months are also a great opportunity to make an appointment with your dermatologist for an annual skin check-up.

Winter Skin Conditions

Spring weather may be on the way, but warmer days could be a long time coming which is especially difficult our skin. The consistent dryness of our indoor heat coupled with the coolness in the air can be exhausting on our skin. The two most inflamed skin conditions during the winter months are psoriasis and eczema. The cold weather tends to strengthen itchy, irritated patches. Here are a few facts about each:

Psoriasis causes severe skin inflammation due to overly active inflammatory pathways. Psoriatic skin cells are produced and mature too quickly. This tends to appear on the hairline, elbows and kneecaps.

Eczema and psoriasis can look very similar, but there are many differences. Eczema includes a decreased effectiveness of the skin’s ability to heal from external elements. Additionally, skin with eczema tends to lose hydration and become dry easily.

If you suspect you may have eczema, psoriasis, or just very dry skin, call Knoxville Dermatology Group at (865)690-9467 to schedule an appointment with a practitioner.

Debunking Your Winter Myths

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With a change in temperature comes a change in perception of what we should be doing to take care of our skin. We’ve got some practices we’re ready to go full “Mythbusters” on!

  1. “Sunscreen is just for the summer.”

FALSE. UVB rays can still pierce through overcast skies. In fact, clouds barely filter out the rays. Keep a sunscreen of around 15 SPF year-round.

  1. “Exfoliating in the winter makes my skin dryer.”

FALSE. Exfoliating actually causes a cycle of skin cell renewal, moving moisturized cells to the surface. However, you should also follow exfoliation with a moisturizer, to help the cells rejuvinate.

  1. “Chap stick is essential.”

FALSE. While it is important to keep your lips moisturized, not all lip balm is good. Balms with petroleum jelly, mineral oil, crazy flavors and scents can actually dry your lips. Look for shea and cocoa butter, as well as balms that are natural-oil infused.

  1. “Windburn isn’t permanently harmful.”

FALSE. Windburn can cause broken capillaries in your cheeks. While it’s said this can produce a desirable glow, too much can also lead to rosacea and permanent redness. Use moisturizer and clothing to protect your face before hitting the slopes.

Have other winter myths you want debunked? Contact a dermatologist or call (865)690-9467 for more tips on how to take care of your skin.

Image courtesy of artur84 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Ice Skating on Market Square

It’s true the coming months will require more layers. It’s true you may be drinking more cocoa and less lemonade. But you don’t have to hibernate all winter long- you’ll surely go stir crazy. Find some time to get outdoors for a hike, ice skating, or skiing. To keep skin healthy in the winter, it’s important to create a barrier that protects from the dry air.

Cold winter air has very low moisture content and steals water molecules from the skin. If you factor in wind, you may as well forget about any moisture in the air. We add layers of clothes when the weather is cold, but moisturizing cream should be used to treat dry skin. Protect your skin by applying moisturizing cream before you get dressed and step outside. It’s better to take preventative measures than simply try to treat skin after you’re already red, dry and itchy.

There are other things to try in the winter months to keep skin healthy. Winter showers should be shorter and use cooler water, because hot water strips natural oils from the skin. You may also want to ask Santa for a humidifier. Keep it on at night when your skin dries out the most. Lastly, stock up on lip balm. Slather your lips before sleep to prevent chapping.

Are you experiencing signs of dry holiday skin? During the holidays, or anytime throughout the year, skin health should be taken seriously. Please call us today at 865-690-9467 if you have any questions about your skincare routine or changes in your skin. Schedule an appointment with one of our board-certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so it can reach its fullest, healthiest potential.