Dubai: Despite UAE’s mild winter, many residents complain about dry skin and chapped lips every year. Dubai dermatologists are advising people to regularly use moisturisers that contain lipids, and avoid using harsh soaps to reduce skin dryness.
“The more a soap foams, the more likely it is to be harsh on the skin,” said Dr Reem Al Kaddah, specialist in dermatology in iCare Clinics. She confirmed that a large number of patients in Dubai complain about dry skin during the winter months, and highlighted the drop in temperature as one of the main causes for dryness. “Our skin is our body’s first line of defence against the nature element’s such as sun, wind, and cold weather. The drop in temperature and humidity levels leads to the dry air leaving the skin parched,” said Dr Al Kaddah.
When buying moisturisers during winter, look out for ingredients including glycerin, fatty acids, ceramide, lecithin, hyaluronic acid and elastin in the formulations, she advised.
Application frequency can vary between users depending on skin type, but people with dry skin should apply moisturiser more frequently. “The best time to apply moisturiser is after any type of exfoliation such as a bath or shave, and preferably after washing your hands,” said Dr Al Kaddah.
Also, ensure there is no soap residue after washing hands as this too can further dry out skin.
A common cause for dryness can also be excessive hand washing, overusage of hand sanitisers and usage of harsh soaps such as antibacterial soaps can cause dry skin to get worse over time, said Dr Al Kaddah. She also recommended using gloves when touching citrus food items or detergents such as dishwashing soaps and house cleaners that can irritate skin upon direct contact.
Dr Abdul Majeed, specialist dermatologist at Aster Medical Centre in Al Qusais told Gulf News that hot water and air conditioning can also lead to dry skin during the cooler months.
Dry skin, also known as xerosis, can be mild and hardly noticeable in some cases, and more severe in others leading the skin to break down and cause intense itching and possible infections.
“Dry skin is a result of lack of moisture in the upper layer of the skin called the stratum corneum. Winter increases the transepidermal water loss (TEWL) leading the stratum corneum to stiffen, which further causes dryness and cracks that become irritated and inflamed,” said Dr Majeed.
Once irritated, the disruption of the skin barrier stimulates the release of inflammatory molecules from the skin leading to conditions such as atopic dermatitis and contact allergies.
Along with using the right moisturiser, Dr Majeed advises patients to maintain a rich diet in alpha linoleic acid by eating foods such as salmon, cod liver, oat meal and shea butter. Dry skin issues are reccurring and can affect patients year after year in the cooler months but it is best to assess the symptoms and match the treatment option to the patient’s skin condition, said Dr Majeed.
Steps to tackle skin dryness:
Avoid harsh soaps such as antibacterial soaps.
Don’t overuse sanitisers.
Use moisturiser often, especially after a bath or shave.
Use gloves when touching citrus food itemss, dishwashing soaps and house cleaners.
Maintain a rich diet in alpha linoleic acid by eating foods such as salmon and cod liver.
Eat natural-source foods such as oatmeal and shea butter.
