Dry, itchy skin can be more than uncomfortable. It can be a persistent and nagging problem during the winter when you spend more time indoors and the air is drier – that’s what a furnace does. But dry skin problems don’t end at your front door. Once you step outside, you’re often greeted by the cold, dry wind which further strips away your skin’s natural oils. So, you can just sit around and take it or fight back to help keep your skin looking and feeling silky smooth. Here’s how.
- Choose the right moisturizer. Several major brands of skin lotions contain harsh chemicals that only make the problem worse. For best results, select products with a natural coconut or almond oil base.
- Moisturize your skin daily. “Once in a while” doesn’t work when it comes to preventing and treating dry skin.
- Exfoliate once a week to remove dead skin. The rest of the time, wash your skin gently with a non-drying body wash.
- Change up your diet. There’s a direct connection between your tummy and skin health, so increase your daily intake of fats, but not just any fats. Walnuts, olive oil, and avocados are on the “good for you” list, while alcohol and coffee intake should be minimized.
- Spend less time in the shower. Hot showers feel extra good in the winter, but don’t overdo it as hot water is another impediment to moist skin.
- For especially dry hands or feet, apply a thin layer of moisturizing oil before bed. To avoid getting oil on your bed linens, wear thin, breathable gloves or socks overnight.
- Humidify your home using simple, practical techniques. These include buying and maintaining house plants, leaving the bathroom door open after you shower, purchasing room humidifiers, hanging clothes to dry in one or more rooms, and so on.
- Choose non-irritating clothes and laundry detergent. When our skin is dry and raw even clothes and laundry detergent can be irritating. To avoid this, wear cotton or silk under rough-feeling clothing like wool. Also, start using laundry detergent labeled “hypoallergenic”
It’s time for Boldt HVAC to step up with a solution of our own: a whole-house humidifier that enables you to keep indoor humidity in the perfect winter-time comfort zone: 30-50% relative humidity. A whole-house humidifier also will help reduce your heating costs. For information, contact us today.
