Solutions for Winter Itch

In the winter months moisture is sucked from the air and the surface of the skin may become dry and itchy. At its worst the skin may become chapped and may even crack.

Cleansing the Skin

• Avoid bathing or showering more than once a day.
• Use lukewarm rather than hot water.
• Add unscented oils to the bath such as Aveeno or Aveeno Bath Powder.
• Use mild soaps such as Aveeno Dry Skin, Pears, and Cetaphil – minimize lather. Thoroughly rinse all soap residues from the skin.
• Use gentle shampoos and conditioners, such as Cliniderm or Johnson & Johnson Baby No Tears.

Moisturizing the Skin

• After bathing, pat the skin dry – do not rub. Apply a moisturizer while the skin is still damp. Suggested non-scented moisturizers may include: Aveeno, Moisturel, DML Fragrance Free, Glaxal base Complex 15.
• Apply moisturizers such as Aveeno to areas of dry skin such as the hands and elbows throughout the day.

Laundry

• Use unscented laundry detergents such as Tide Free, Cheer Free,

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Healthy skin, like a healthy body begins with prevention. Exposure to the sun not only ages the skin but it also causes skin cancer.

The sun emits three forms of radiation: infrared, visible and ultraviolet. Infrared and visible light are valuable because they provide warmth and the ability to see. But ultraviolet light can be harmful. It consists of three basic wavelengths: Ultraviolet A, Ultraviolet B and Ultraviolet C. Each penetrates the atmosphere and affects our health in different ways.

So the first step towards protecting our skin would be to protect the Ozone layer. Work with the scientists around the world to do your part to keep and maintain clean air.

The next steps require daily vigilance:

• Apply a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 50 to sun exposed areas of the skin. This will protect you through a normal day of getting in and out of the car, going to the office etc.
• If you plan to be in the sun all day then use an SPF of 60 or more.
• Wear waterproof or water-resistant sunscreens if you plan to be in the water.

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Makeup is the palette of the cosmetic artist. Features of beauty can be accentuated and less desirable features can be subdued. Artful application of makeup can greatly enhance ones natural beauty, yet when poorly applied makeup can be distracting.

Cosmetics are a multi-billion dollar industry. As the ‘baby boom’ generation ages, the industry has shifted its emphasis away from products for the younger generation to ‘anti-aging’ products. Magazines are full of advertisements for products suggesting that they alone have the answer to aging. They would have your believe that the daily use of their product will assure you an everlastingly youthful appearance. Their claims, though seductive are questionable.

Let’s review the components of the skin. The skin has three layers: the epidermis (top layer), the dermis (middle layer) and the layer of cushioning fat (bottom layer). Aging largely affects the dermis and at this level a product must reverse the signs of aging to be as effective as it claims. At this time most products are incapable of penetrating the epidermis and are therefore rendered relatively impotent in their impact on aging.

However, liposomes have appeared on the scene. These micro-balloons can carry active ingredients to deeper levels of the skin’s surface and beyond.

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