How to Treat Winter Skin Problems

I've been getting a lot of questions lately about skin problems. Winter is notorious for bringing out the worst in our skin, from red blotches to painful, cracked hands. Here are some at-home remedies for your winter skin bummers.

1. Dry Skin
Dry skin usually requires several interventions to get under control. It all should start in your shower. I know nothing feels better than a hot shower on a cold day, but that hot water also strips your skin of the natural oils that keep moisture in. Choose warm water instead, and use a creamy body wash. If your skin is getting a little scaly, try making your own body scrub out of olive oil and used coffee grounds or sugar. The oil will moisturize yours skin while the grains slough off dead skin.
Once you get out of the shower, try adding some olive oil, a thick lotion, or vaseline to the driest areas of your skin. I usually need extra moisture around my joints, so I'll go over these areas with my favorite cream, Eucerine Original Healing Soothing Repair Cream.  I also use this lotion on my dry, cracked hands. It's one of the few lotions I've tried that soothes my knuckles after constantly washing my hands at a hospital.
Since I don't want to use such a thick lotion everywhere, I'll go over the rest of my body with a ligher lotion (my favorite is Jergen's Firming). Also, if your skin is really dry, try to avoid lotions with alcohol in them, because this can make your skin dry out more.

2. Cracked Feet
Even though winter feet are usually covered up, it's important to keep the skin intact to prevent infections. To get rid of the cracks, start by soaking your feet in some warm (not hot!) water. I like to add some vinegar and oil to the water. Vinegar will help kill fungus and some bacteria, and the oil will start to soften the skin to ease exfoliation.
Next. grab a pumice stone or other exfoliating device, and go to town on those calloused feet. Rinse and dry your feet, being sure to dry well between the toes. Apply vaseline to your feet, and wear some socks overnight, or for a few hours while you're at home. If your feet tend to get sweaty, apply a little cornstarch between your toes to keep them dry and prevent fungal infections.

3. Oily Face
I've noticed that my face can get even oilier and acne-prone in the winter as a reaction to the dry air. To help combat this, use a cleanser that contains salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Next, apply a moisturizing lotion. I've used a lotion with salicylic acid in the past, but my acne has gotten so hard to control this winter, I had to switch to a prescription antibiotic lotion that works wonders. At night, use a rich, oil-free night cream that is non-comedogenic (doesn't clog pores). This will help nourish your skin, so it doesn't need to over-produce oil. I use Simple Vital Vitamin Night Cream a couple nights a week to help replenish my skin.
I've also started using Milk of Magnesium on my t-zone before applying makeup. It keeps my skin shine-free for hours, and I haven't had any bad reaction to it. When combined with my favorite primer, I don't have to touch up my makeup all day.

4. Tight Face
If your skin isn't an overreacting oil slick, it might be dry, tight, and painful. To help treat this, use a a creamy cleanser and an oil-based eye makeup remover. You can even use olive oil on a cotton ball to remove the most stubborn eye makeup, then rinse with warm water. Use a day lotion formulated for normal to dry skin, like Olay Complete All Day Moisturizer.
My eye area tends to get tight when I don't give it the proper TLC, and after a bout of contact dermatitis under my eyes, I started getting really picky about my eye creams. My current favorite is Clinique All About Eyes. It's a little expensive, but totally worth the splurge. My under-eyes would get cracked and painful after each allergic outbreak, and I haven't had a bad reaction since I started using this.
It's also important that you use a night cream. Since you have dry skin, you can get away with using something thick, like the Simple night cream, every night.

5. Contact Dermatitis

This looks like no fun =(

Contact dermatitis can have a wide range of severity, and often starts out as red blotches. The irritated skin itches, burns, and can be quite painful. If your allergic reaction isn't that bad, try taking some benadryl (diphenhydramine if you're going generic) and applying hydrocortisone ointment to the affected area.
If the rash is more severe, has persisted for several days, or is all over your body, you need to see a health professional. If you start to have shortness of breath with your rash, go to the emergency room. You could be having a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which is a medical emergency.
Persistent rashes are usually treated with a short course of steroids to help reduce inflammation. The steroid might be in a cream or pill form.
It's also important to try to figure out what caused the reaction, so you don't come into contact with it again. Maybe it's a new laundry detergent or perfume. Sometimes it's almost impossible to narrow down, so you might have to do a systemic run-through of your different products and try cutting one out of your routine at a time.

6. Dull Skin
Try adding a little extra glow to winter skin by applying a little extra oil to your joints, along your collar bone, and on your shoulders. Rub it in well, then apply your daily lotion. Want even more glow? try brushing a little highlighter or light shimmery eyeshadow along the shoulders and collar bone. For special events, I'll cheat luminous skin with Victoria's Secret Rockin' Body Luminous Perfecting Body Cream. I don't think it makes me look "5 times sexier" as they claim, but it adds a beautiful glow and smells delicious.


I hope these help solve your winter skin problems! Leave a comment or contact me if there's something else you want covered. =)