Lehigh County Health & Medicine Winter 2019 - 24

FEATURE

BATHING TIPS FOR

DRY SKIN RELIEF
When bathing, follow these tips from

TURN
DOWN THE
TEMPERATURE
Use warm water.
Hot water
removes your skin's
natural oils.

board-certified dermatologists
to prevent dry skin or keep
it from getting worse.

KEEP
IT SHORT
Limit your bath
or shower to
five to 10 minutes
to avoid drying
out your skin.

MOISTURIZE
IMMEDIATELY
Apply moisturizer
while your skin
is still damp to
lock in moisture.

REACH
FOR GENTLE
PRODUCTS

Use mild,
fragrance-free
cleansers.

If these tips do not bring relief, make an appointment to see a board-certified
dermatologist. Very dry skin may require a prescription ointment or cream.
Dry skin can also be a sign of an underlying medical condition, such as eczema.

PAT
YOUR
SKIN DRY
Gently use a
soft towel.

You can find a board-certified dermatologist at aad.org/findaderm.
Copyright © by the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Academy of Dermatology Association.

Hot showers may feel great when it is
cold outside, but they can do more harm
than good. Long, hot showers dry out our
skin, and this becomes more noticeable in
the colder months. Try limiting showers
to 5-10 minutes in lukewarm water using
a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser. You only
need to apply enough cleanser to remove
dirt and oil from visibly soiled areas; a
thick lather is not needed. After your
shower, blot dry with your towel rather
than rubbing the skin.
24 Lehigh County Health & Medicine | WINTER 2019

Immediately after your shower, apply
a moisturizer all over. When choosing
a moisturizer, creams are favored over
lotions because they are better at locking
in moisture. Creams often come in tubs
whereas lotions are in pump bottles. Ingredients to look for that help to soothe dry
skin include ceramides, lactic acid, urea,
hyaluronic acid, dimethicone, glycerin,
lanolin, mineral oil, and petrolatum. Skin
care products should be fragrance free and
hypoallergenic to avoid irritating sensitive

18-684-CMM

winter skin. Colognes/perfumes or other
products made with alcohol should also
be avoided.
Once out of the bathroom and deciding
what to wear, there are several things to keep
in mind. Choose natural and breathable
fabrics, and avoid things like wool, acrylic,
or polyester which can irritate dry skin. If
you are going to wear an irritating fiber,
be sure to wear a cotton or silk undershirt
to decrease your skin's exposure to harsher

http://www.aad.org/findaderm

Lehigh County Health & Medicine Winter 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Lehigh County Health & Medicine Winter 2019