1. Take shorter, cooler showers

A hot shower sounds great when it’s chilly outside, but that’s one thing you shouldn’t do. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a five- to 10-minute shower at a lukewarm temperature. The hot water washes away essential oils, making your skin even dryer.

2. Wash your hands in cool water

With so much hand-washing going on during the Pandemic, you run the risk of severely drying out your hands. The CDC advises that cooler water is just as good at getting rid of germs as hot water.

3. Use fragrance-free cleansers and washes

Soaps and cleansers that have scents contain ingredients that can irritate your skin. Use a fragrance-free moisturizing cleanser instead. Your skin will thank you.

4, Use a humidifier

Winter air is dry, and home heating makes it dryer still. Use a humidifier to put much-needed moisture back in the air.

5. Don’t overdo the heat

Along with humidifier use, keep the thermostat lower. 68 to 72 degrees is comfortable enough, and will prevent your skin from drying out. And if you have a fireplace, don’t sit too close to it. The heat will do the same thing!

6. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize

Keep your skin hydrated, especially those hands that you’re washing constantly. Apply hand cream after each washing.

7. Adopt a winter skincare routine

Use cream-based cleansers and avoid astringents, which can irritate and dry out your skin. The AAD recommends that you eliminate the use of products that contain alcohol and fragrance, especially if you’re already combating dryness. And don’t forget the lips!

8. Use sunscreen every day

Just because a winter day can be overcast and gloomy doesn’t mean you can skip the sunscreen. The sun emits two different types of UV rays that can penetrate clouds and cause havoc with unprotected skin.

9. Eat right

Foods that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as fish, nuts and seeds can help combat skin dryness.

10. Wear clothing that doesn’t irritate

Wool sweaters and other roughly textured clothing put directly against your skin can cause it to become even more irritated and itchy. Put on a light layer of softer, breathable material first to act as a barrier and then add the sweater.

If you’re having a difficult time managing your skin’s dryness, you may need a prescription-grade moisturizer. Contact us at (830) 331-4150 for a consultation and product recommendations.

The post Tips for Maintaining Healthy Winter Skin appeared first on San Antonio & Boerne Dermatologist.

Your skin is full of nerve endings that help you feel things like heat, cold and pain. If you couldn’t feel these things, you could get badly hurt and not even know it!

Why is healthy skin important?

Since your skin plays such an important role in protecting your body, you should keep it as healthy as you can. This will help you keep from getting sick or having damage to your bones, muscles and internal organs.

What you might not know about your skin

Skin is actually your body’s largest organ by size. Your skin helps keep your body temperature even. If you get too hot, blood vessels near the surface of the skin, called capillaries, enlarge to let the warm blood cool down.

Your skin also makes vitamin D when the sun shines on it. Vitamin D is important for the health of your bones and other parts of your body.

Keep it clean

Washing your skin, especially your hands, is very important for keeping it healthy. Hand washing keeps you from spreading germs to other parts of your body. It also keeps you from spreading germs that could give others a cold or the flu. To help keep your skin from getting dry, use water that’s comfortably warm, not too hot, when you take a bath or shower. If your skin is dry or itchy, try a moisturizing cream or lotion.

Enjoy the sun — but protect your skin

Your skin produces vitamin D when it is exposed to sunshine. Vitamin D helps keep your bones and other body systems healthy. However, too much sun can damage your skin and increase your risk for skin cancer. It may make your skin look old years too soon and can make it less able to fight off infections.

Whenever you’re outside, use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or 45 as well as zinc oxide as the main ingredient. Apply it evenly, and have a friend or parent help you with the hard-to-reach spots. Follow the directions that tell you how often to reapply it — one application won’t last all day!

What about tanning beds?

Tanning beds don’t offer a safe alternative to natural sunlight. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation damages your skin, whether the exposure comes from tanning beds or natural sunlight.

This damage increases the risk of skin cancer and premature skin aging, just like too much sun will. In fact, most tanning beds emit mainly UVA rays, which may increase the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Physical activity

Being physically active is good for your skin! It increases the flow of blood to the surface of your skin and brings oxygen and nutrients to your whole body. Sweating helps to flush out impurities from your skin. Get one hour or more of physical activity every day. This will be good for your skin as well as your heart, lungs, muscles and other parts of your body.

Be sure to drink enough water to replace the fluids you lose when you sweat. If you have any concerns about your health, talk to your doctor or a physical therapist to find out what kinds of activities are right for you.

A healthy diet

You really don’t need a special diet to keep your skin in good health. Eating a balanced diet will help you maintain a healthy weight and provide a variety of nutrients for your skin and your overall health. A balanced diet:

• Consists of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products like milk, cheese and yogurt.
• Includes protein from lean meats, poultry, seafood, beans, eggs and nuts.
• Is low in solid fats, saturated fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), added sugars and refined grains.
• Is as low as possible in trans fats.
• Balances calories taken in through food with calories burned in physical activity to help maintain a healthy weight.

Get sufficient sleep

Getting enough sleep helps improve your overall health, which is good for your skin. Teens need at least nine hours of sleep each night, while adults need about seven to nine hours.

See your doctor

If you find anything unusual on your skin, like a mole that changes size or color or a patch that looks red or itches, make an appointment. For skin diseases, it’s important to see a doctor as early as possible to prevent permanent damage.

Start now

Healthy skin will help you look your best and feel good about how you look.

“At DeSilva Dermatology, we offer the services and products you need to keep your skin looking beautiful for a lifetime,” says Dr. Thushan DeSilva. “It’s never too early to start a healthy skin regimen.”

Call us at (830) 331-4150 to schedule a consultation or use our online request form.

The post Healthy Skin Is Important appeared first on San Antonio & Boerne Dermatologist.