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Maine Weekly Article

published February 5, 2004

Skin Care Tips for the Winter Months

by Dr. Peter Helton

Dr. Peter Helton in his Beverly Hills Dermatology practice.

As a board-certified dermatologist specializing in cosmetic dermatology, I’ve devoted my life to making people look better, feel better about themselves, and solving problem skin. But underlying outside beauty is health, particularly as it relates to skin. Taking proper care of your skin can do more to enhance your appearance than all the lotions and creams applied to cover up unhealthy skin.

Proper care can even help you avoid the rashes and other diseases which necessitate an expensive visit to a dermatologist.

The winter months pose unique challenges. Constantly switching between dry indoor air and harsh cold and wind outdoors removes moisture from the skin. While creams and lotions replace some of that moisture, it is far better to take steps to prevent moisture loss in the first place.

1. The skin is the body’s largest living organ. General health rules regarding nutrition, proper rest and exercise all contribute to the overall health of the skin.

There are special rules relating to healthy skin. Here are a few that are important during the colder months.

-- First, keep well hydrated. This is easier to remember during summer, but is just as important in winter. Continue to drink at least eight glasses of water a day. This keeps skin moisturized and flushes toxins out of your body.

-- Next, use sun block. Although skin is less exposed in winter, ultraviolet rays can be particularly intense on clear winter day. Even when cloudy, UV rays still penetrate. If you go skiing, UV exposure is even greater. Bottom line; use a good sunscreen that blocks both types of ultraviolet radiation - UVA and UVB.

2. Keep out the chemicals. Your skin wasn’t designed to deal with dish soap, bleach, hair coloring and thousands of other everyday chemicals. Many common cleaners and solvents specify the wearing of gloves. Always follow such advice. Even products that don’t require gloves can still rob oils and moisture from the skin, leaving it dry, cracked and irritated. This even applies to antibacterial soap. As you can’t wear gloves all the time, I recommend Gloves In A Bottle at the website www.glovesinabottle.com, which I will explain in more detail later.

3. Use gentle cleansers on the face. The face is more delicate than other parts of the body and deserves special treatment. I recommend Cetaphil from Galderma Laboratories www.galderma.com for people with dry skin.

4. Get rid of dead skin. Most "dry skin" is actually skin that is ready to fall off. Exfoliation should be part of your regular routine. Use a washcloth when washing your face and then work up to something like a loofa if you can. Exfoliation helps moisturizers and other skin care products do a better job. By exfoliating your skin before you apply moisturizer, it isn’t blocked by dead cells.

Using Your Body’s Defenses

As I mentioned above, keeping your skin healthy requires protecting the skin and keeping out the harsh chemicals. The skin is designed as a barrier between your internal organs and the outside world, so it is already very tough. But it wasn’t built for the range of chemicals that we come in contact with today. It is well known that these chemicals are harmful if swallowed. Many are also bad for the skin.

For example, if you get bleach on your hands, it won’t kill you, but it can affect your skin. Even if you wear gloves while cleaning, you certainly don’t when washing your hands, reading the newspaper or the many other day-to-day activities that remove skin moisture. There are other parts of the body such as the feet, which become dry and rough. Even your elbows or the parts of the arms which touch the edge of your desk when working on the computer need help.

Moisturizers can replace what is lost, but they are not an ideal solution. To begin with, they don’t prevent the absorption of chemicals into the skin. Then, there is the problem of the body’s response to the moisturizers. When the body thinks it has enough of something, it cuts down production. For example, drinking caffeine raises the body’s production of adrenaline, giving you more energy. Over time, however, the body compensates for caffeine by cutting down on adrenaline production. It gets to the point where people can’t wake up in the morning until that first cup of coffee hits their bloodstream.

The same applies to moisturizers. Constant use makes the body think it has enough moisture and it cuts back on producing its own moisture. The answer, like so many other aspects of medicine, is prevention not curing.

This is where Gloves In A Bottle enters the picture. It is a moisturizer designed to bond with and protect the skin. It seals the skin to prevent the loss of your own natural moisture as well as providing additional moisture. Most skin products are simply oil or lanolin based and so they sit on top of the skin where they can wash right off when you clean your hands or do the dishes. Gloves In A Bottle, on the other hand, does not wash away since it is absorbed into the outer layer of skin. It acts as a protective barrier that keeps your own natural moisture while repelling outside chemicals. It is gentle and suitable for all skin types and is a great way to prevent many of the skin problems that wind up in visits to the doctor.

I would not advise using it for severe problems such as open wounds or skin that is so cracked it is bleeding. You should definitely see a physician in such cases. But after the application of the appropriate medication, Gloves In A Bottle can often improve the absorption and effectiveness of the medicine. Consult with your doctor and act accordingly. Normal, daily activities can rob your skin. Follow the above tips and keep your skin soft and healthy.

Dr. Helton practices Dermatology in Newport Beach, California and writes monthly articles on aspects of skin care.

http://www.glovesinabottle.com/dry-skin-info.html.