In winter, environmental aggressors attack your skin, increasing its sensitivity and compromising its protective barrier.

• Icy temperatures and wind cause accelerated water loss from the skin.
• Central heating, open fires, and long, hot showers add to the problem.

The results are chapping, cracking and in some cases, infection. Thankfully, there are solutions to every skin problem.

Problem: Dehydration
Twenty percent of the skin's moisture sits above the epidermis, where most moisture loss occurs. But in winter, moisture loss can occur below the epidermis, too. The result is severe dehydration.

Solution
Exfoliate regularly with a mild cream or mask, to gently buff away dead cells on the skin's surface and assist moisture absorption. Start using a richer moisturizer than your summer brand. Apply the moisturizer all over your body while your skin is still wet.

Problem: Eczema
Eczema mostly appears in the form of itchy, scaly and inflamed skin. Anything that changes the lipid layer aggravates the problem, such as overuse of soaps.

Solution
Use a neutral pH soap substitute and apply an unscented moisture cream or sorbolene after your shower.

Problem: Broken capillaries and redness
Pollution and UV rays can attack already-dry skin, causing capillaries to break and redness to appear.

Solution
Protect skin with a high-SPF sun block. Address redness with soothing skincare.

Medical Intervention: Once a capillary wall has burst, laser treatment or IPL is the only way to reverse the damage.

Problem: Stinging, sensitive skin
This happens when a product you're using disagrees with your body chemistry. The ingredient most commonly associated with stinging is AHA or retinol. Over-exfoliating could be another cause.

Solution
Look for products containing allantoin, anti-oxidant vitamins A and E, lavender and chamomile - all of which are healing and strengthening.

Problem: Chapped hands, hangnails, splitting nails
The daily battering of hands and nails intensifies in winter, due to exposure to water, cold air and UV rays.

Solution
Smother hands in a rich, hydrating hand cream. Apply a nail hardener to protect the nail, and massage healing balms and creams into the nail bed to prevent hangnails.

Problem: Dry eyes
Cold air and icy winds can take their toll on the fragile skin around the eyes.

Solution
Wear wraparound sunglasses, invest in a soothing eye cream and eye drops. When removing eye makeup, always use a mild eye make-up remover.

Problem: Dry, scaly skin on body
Legs, elbows and knees can really suffer in winter, as can shins and upper arms, which may begin to form small, dry bumps. Certain fabrics such as scratchy wools can exacerbate the problem.

Solution
Keep skin smooth with dry body brushing. Post-shower, drench skin in moisture by applying hydrating body lotion. Get rid of old scratchy clothes; look for clothes made of pure cotton or smoothly-brushed blends that agree with your body chemistry.

Problem: Dry, chapped lips
Lips have no oil glands to keep them naturally hydrated. They're particularly vulnerable to dehydration in winter. Constant licking of lips and sipping of hot drinks accelerates the damage.

Solution
Apply high SPF lip protectors when outdoors, and smother your lips in hydrating, soothing lip balm at night to heal and repair.

In addition take these steps to keep your skin from getting dehydrated in the first place:

1. Take only one shower or bath daily. Wash with comfortably warm (not hot) water, using a soap that either has a high fat content or contains glycerin.
2. Limit your bath time to 10 to 15 minutes, and avoid scrubbing.
3. If you are an athlete, shower off quickly after a workout or game. Use warm water, and bring your own mild soap, since heavy-duty "gym" brands may be too strong.
4. When you finish your bath or shower, apply moisturizer while your skin is still wet.
5. Cover exposed skin when you play outdoors. Apply a sunscreen with a moisturizer.
6. If your indoor air is excessively dry, use a humidifier to raise the humidity level.
7. As necessary during the day, apply a moisturizer that contains at least one of the following ingredients: glycerin, urea, pyroglutamic acid, sorbitol, lactic acid, lactate salts or alpha hydroxy acids.
8. Avoid overusing antiperspirants and perfumes.

If you have any questions, call our office. We can help you select moisturizers and balms that will offer the maximum relief for your particular skin type.

Or, set up a free consultation with our esthetician. Her professional life is all about finding the most effective skincare solutions available today. She has more information than we could ever fit into a newsletter. SO, just pick up the phone and make an appointment.

We're always happy to see you again.