![]() ![]() ![]() I should note that my wife suffers from rosacia and she is prescribed MetroGel which works wonders for her. The patches are not itchy, and moisturizing cream does not help - until they have died down. The patches remain scaly even after the period of inflamation has died down. They last anywhere from about 2 weeks to 2 months and almost always disappear by May. Occasionally they will get red, but for the most part they are pink and the skin gets very scaly. They are always circular and fairly well defined but there is rarely a defined border, although the center is sometimes lighter. The rash starts as a small scaly patch and then grows eventually to the size of a dime. For the last 5 winters I have been getting small circular rashes on (mostly) my arms and upper chest. The Methodist Physicians Clinic dermatology team can help with every aspect of skin care. You don’t have to fight this battle alone. The reflection of light off of snow can increase your exposure to UVA rays when you’re outside. If you’re doing any activity outside, you should still apply sunscreen with SPF 30 or 45. To protect yourself, I recommend applying a daily moisturizer with SPF 15 or 30 to exposed skin (often the face, ears, neck, scalp for bald patients, V of the chest, back of the hands and forearms). UVA rays contribute to melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma and wrinkles. That’s why you don’t get a sunburn while driving, even in the summer. Here’s why: Windows in cars, buildings and homes block UVB rays, which cause sunburns. What about sunscreen in the winter?Ī discussion on winter skin care wouldn’t be complete without a mention of sunscreen. Bacteria likes to grow on skin with eczema, so there could be a secondary infection called impetigo that would need topical or oral antibiotic treatment. If you continue to have areas of skin rash with pink bumps, scaling, itching or cracking after following the advice above, a dermatologist can help by prescribing medications, usually topical steroids, to calm eczema. ![]() Also try to avoid dryer sheets, as they apply a layer of chemicals to your clothes. Try switching to detergent that is free and clear, meaning it contains no dyes or perfumes. You may notice irritation from chemicals in products you’ve used in the past. If your skin has broken out in a rash, little cracks allow chemicals to enter and moisture to evaporate. Many lip balms can contain fragrances that patients may develop allergies to and flavors that lead to increased lip licking – which makes them drier. Dry lipsįor dry lips I recommend plain Vaseline or Aquaphor. Washing your hands is key to your health ( here’s how and when to properly do it), but try to follow it by applying a lotion like the ones recommended above. Using alcohol-based hand sanitizer may be appropriate in some cases, but it can burn if you have eczema. Hand washingįrequent hand washing and the use of harsh soaps can dry your skin out. But skip this step and the water will evaporate, leaving the skin even drier than before. Good options include Vanicream, Vaniply, CeraVe, Cetaphil and Aveeno. You can take advantage of the water your skin absorbed by applying a thick, white, unscented lotion within five minutes. There’s more to be done after the shower. No soap should be applied to your arms, legs, back, chest or abdomen during a normal shower. Even non-soap cleansers do this to a degree, so soap should be limited to your “dirty” areas – just the groin, buttocks and armpits. Know that 100 percent soap cleansers can dry out the skin because they bind to and remove natural proteins and oils. Dove Sensitive and Vanicream bar soap are good options. Then use a limited amount of non-soap cleanser to help retain your skin’s moisture. It’s how you’re doing it.įirst, lower the temperature from hot to warm. But there are steps you can take to combat and manage dry skin. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t be heating your house, washing your hands and taking showers. So people without a history of eczema can develop it as adults, especially in the winter. Chemicals in laundry detergents and dryer sheetsįurther, as we age, our sebaceous glands (oil glands) make less oil.Limited use of moisturizing hand and body lotions.Indoor heating, which dries the air further.Low humidity, which allows moisture in your skin to evaporate faster.What’s causing all of this? The possible culprits include: Children and adults with eczema often experience flare-ups, and many adults with no history of eczema develop eczema-like rashes. It’s also a tough time of year for people with eczema, a separate medical condition characterized by inflammation, itching and rashes that don’t always have an obvious cause. In the fall and winter, I see an increase in patients coming in with dry, itching skin. Here are some answers to common questions my patients ask, and treatments I recommend. ![]()
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