Women's and Men's Seasonal Dry Skincare | Summer and Winter Moisturizing Treatments

Seasonal Dry Skin

No matter the season, the environment conspires to dry out our skin. In the summer, the hot sun beating down on our exposed skin just sucks the moisture out. The low humidity from air conditioned inside environments does the same thing. Add in the harsh chemicals in pools and the salt of ocean, and our skin takes a beating, turning into a dry, flaky, itchy mess.

When the winter comes, things don't get any better. That warm toasty fire in the fireplace and the furnace that's pumping away in the basement dry out the air and that means it dries out your skin. Then, when you head outside things go from bad to worse. The icy chill of the winter winds pull the moisture from your skin and your lips. leaving them chapped and damaged.

While the reasons are a little different, the result is the same. Dry skin.

You might think the cause of all this is because there is less oil on the skin but you would only be partially correct. The real reason is there is less water in the skin. Normally about 95 percent of the cells in your skin are made up of water. So it is the amount of water in your skin that determines how moist your skin is. That's why at any age, oral hydration is important, so drinking enough water can help to keep skin moist and healthy, and to avoid dehydration.

Like all the other cells in our bodies, our skin cells are made up mostly of water. If they don't have enough water, they get dry with all the problems that go along with that. Therefore, the effort in the winter is the same as it is in the summer - keep your body hydrated and your skin cells full of water.

One of the keys to battling dry skin in the summer and the winter is to protect the skin from the environment.

Summer Dry Skin Precautions

Adding moisturizers to your skin year round is always a good idea. Moisturizers come in many forms such as ointments, creams and lotions. Each type is slightly different in what is in it and how it helps moisturize your skin. Since moisturizers help to seal in water, it's good to apply them after your bath or shower, while your skin is slightly damp. Women often apply moisturizers to their face, before putting on make-up. For your hands, you may want to apply moisturizers every time you wash them, to prevent over-drying.

Sun protection is crucial year round as well but particularly in the summer when the sun rays are the most intense. You can use sunscreens, which have the added advantage of often containing moisturizers. Sun protective clothing is also a good idea to protect that skin. The UVA and UVB rays of the sun do damage to your skin.

Winter Dry Skin Tips

Clothing is a key to protecting your skin from the harsh winter elements as well. be sure to cover your skin when you are out in the cold winter air. That means your face and lips whenever possible. If you ski remember that the sun reflecting off of the snow can do some real damage. Using sunblock on your face in those conditions is a good idea. A good lip balm with moisturizers and sunscreen will help a lot in the winter.

Your house can really dry out from the heat. You should try to run humidifiers to put moisture into the air. It could save you some money as well. We feel warmer at higher humidity's so you'll be able to turn down the thermostat a few degrees.

And while a hot shower can feel good on a cold morning it also can dry out your skin. So lower the temperature there a little bit as well. After you bathe or shower, be sure to apply some baby oil or moisturizer to help hold the water in your skin.

These tips can help prevent dry skin. But if you develop dry skin there are dry skin treatments that can help.

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Updated May 2008

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