Is your dry, flaky skin playing up this winter?

With the cold weather and falling temperatures, the skin can become very dry that it might start flaking, cracking and even sometimes may end up with eczema. What exactly happens to the skin in cold weather? When the superficial skin layers (known as the stratum corneum) lose their moisture and water content, the cells shrink.

When the volume of the cells decreases significantly, it can then adversely impact the skin’s elasticity, thereby creating fissures. Fissures cause rupture of capillaries, causing clinical bleeding. The disruption of skin integrity will thereby result in inflammation, with a risk of infection. The absorption of allergens and irritants also rises since the skin is damaged. This thereby increases its susceptibility to allergic and irritant eczema which may cause persistent complications, and it only gets harder in winter, when the natural oils are leeched from the skin.

Here are some tips to keep the skin hydrated and healthy.

Moisturise more: An ointment moisturiser that’s oil-based is preferred. Lotions containing “humectants” are advisable.

Yes, sunscreens in winter: Apply a generous amount of sunscreen to your face and neck, about 20-30 minutes before going outside. Reapply frequently if you’re out for a long time.

Drop the harsh products: Avoid harsh scrubs and alcohol-based toners, these will remove vital oils from the skin. Instead, use a cleansing milk or mild foaming cleansers.

Hand care: Keep your hands warm at all times to avoid excessive dryness, and keep a hand moisturiser in your bag wherever you go.

Feet care: Lotions that contain petroleum jelly or glycerine would be thicker and more effective. Also use exfoliants to get the dead skin off periodically; this will help moisturisers to sink in faster and deeper.

Body care: Soaking in hot bath feels great after frolicking out in the cold. But the intense heat of a hot shower or bath actually breaks down the lipid barriers in the skin, which can lead to a loss of moisture. Luke-warm water is any day better than hot or cold waters.

The author is a skin beauty advisor. As told to Chief Reporter Sharmila Dhal