Tips for Protecting Your Largest Organ in the Cold Weather

Picture of hands on a pink background holding a container of thick, white moisture cream. Fingers have scoop of white cream to moisturize skin.

Have you ever had that “itchy skin” feeling when the weather changes to cold and the furnaces come on? Or maybe it’s a feeling of your skin not quite fitting because your skin is so dry and tight. If you have, you are not alone.

The largest organ of our body is our skin. Our skin does many things for us such as providing a barrier, manufacturing vitamin D, helping with temperature regulation, and giving us our appearance. But skin needs care. From the summer months to the colder months our skin care regime changes.

Here are some tips you can use to keep your skin intact and healthy.

Hot water tends to dry out the skin. Those long hot baths or showers when it is cold outside sound wonderful; however, they will dry the skin out. Limit the time of hot water baths or showers. If you have the “winter itch,” short lukewarm showers or baths for less than 10 minutes a day are the best.

Watch the soaps you are using. Try using non-irritating and non-detergent-based soaps. Look for unscented soaps that say “gentle” or “moisturizing” on the label. Scented soaps may have alcohol that can increase the drying out of the skin.

Remember to humidify. Heaters, without added humidity, will dry out your skin. Placing a humidifier in your home, particularly in the bedroom, can help put moisture back into the air and help keep your skin from drying out.

Hydration is a key factor in preventing dry skin. In the colder months we tend not to drink as much as we would in the hot summer months. But skin needs hydration from the inside out as it is made up of 60% water. Drinking water is a must in the cold months.

Moisturizing is essential. Your skin needs help to maintain its moisture in the cold weather. As per the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) “moisturizing your body while your skin is still damp after a shower or bath is an effective way to keep skin hydrated”.¹ Be careful of heavily perfumed lotions. Lotions with a lot of perfume can have added alcohol that would dry out the skin. When choosing a moisturizer look for ointment and creams as these thicker formulations have more moisture. Using a moisturizer with hyaluronic acid absorbs 1000 times its weight in water, so look for these if you can. Using lotions for dry skin with glycerin, lanolin, mineral oil, petrolatum, and shea butter also work well.

Don’t forget those feet. Dry heels and soles can crack. Cracks in the skin can let bacteria in and cause infections. If you have diabetes, foot care is beyond just a good idea; it’s imperative. This could help prevent wounds and/or amputations. But if you are a diabetic never moisturize between the toes. Check with your doctor if you have diabetes to sure to use the correct moisturizer for your skin.

The AAD also recommends wearing sunscreen when you are outside in the winter months. Exposed skin out in the sun can cause a sunburn so be sure to prevent with sunscreen. You may want to put a layer of moisturizer on under the sunscreen to protect your skin from getting dried out.

Prevent lip damage from the cold, sometimes called lip eczema. Your lips can dry out very quickly so be sure to use lip balm or other treatments that contain sunscreen to keep lips from being chapped and cracked. Avoid biting, rubbing, or licking your lips in the cold as it can lead to breakdown.

Cover your skin when you are outside. If you go out in the cold be sure to wear clothes that will protect you. Don’t forget the hats, gloves, and layers of warm clothing. Remember your face, as mentioned before, use sunscreen and moisturizers.

Please always check with your physician if you have any questions on what would be your best plan of action to protect your skin.