With the start of winter, the weather becomes more dry and colder, causing the skin to lose its natural moisture and become more prone to cracks, which can be very uncomfortable, especially if accompanied by a painful itching. This can turn into serious skin irritations.
How can you reduce dry skin and cracking? Here are the key tips to help protect your skin from dryness and cracks during the winter season.
Why does skin crack?
Dry skin
Dry skin is one of the main causes of skin cracking, as when the skin is dry it loses its natural oils that retain moisture, causing dryness and the appearance of skin cracks.
Cold weather
Decreased humidity and temperature, including indoor heating, can strip your skin of its natural oils that maintain moisture, making your skin dry and more prone to acne.
Chemical irritants
The use of products containing harsh chemicals such as soap and cleaning agents can erode the skin barrier and destroy your skin's natural protective oils, resulting in dry skin and cracking.
Hot water
Hot water from bathing or washing dishes can reduce the moisture in your skin, leading to dryness.
Medications
Dryness can be a side effect of some medications, such as topical retinoids.
Low humidity
Low humidity in the air can also cause your skin to dry out and crack.
To protect your skin, use a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer regularly, avoid long hot showers and baths, wear gloves to protect your hands from the cold, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Take care of your hands and fingers.
One of the biggest fears in winter is dry skin and cracking, and constant exposure to water and chemicals while washing dishes and cleaning can exacerbate the situation. So, make sure to dry your hands well, then use creams and moisturize a little. A few times a day to protect your hands from environmental factors.
Look for organic moisturizers that contain vitamin-rich ingredients such as shea butter and moisturizing ingredients such as glycerin to trap moisture and keep your hands softer for longer.
Don't forget to exfoliate and moisturize your feet.
The first step in any foot care routine is to get rid of dead and tough skin on your feet.
Gentle exfoliation can remove dead and dry cells from your skin surface, and this treatment is often recommended for cracking feet and shoes.
Try to do this once a week, which helps renew skin cells.
Be sure to moisturize your skin using a creamy moisturizer to enhance the dryness of your feet, as the latter helps repair the skin's natural barrier.
And don't forget to wear socks after exfoliating, as this will ensure that moisture is not lost through evaporation on the surface.
Avoid wearing tight shoes to avoid creating an ideal environment for bacteria growth.
Often, the skin around the cracking heel is thicker and drier than the rest of your skin because this area is subjected to constant pressure and friction. So, be extra careful to keep your feet moisturized.
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