How to combat dry winter skin

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have extremely dry skin. Is there anything I can take orally for it, rather than applying moisturizing lotions? – J.

ANSWER: I don’t know any oral medicine for dry skin. I can give you some tips on how to lessen your skin’s dryness. Dry skin becomes a problem for many people in the winter, when furnaces are pushing out hot, dry air. Those people, and possibly you, benefit by increasing the humidity of the house to between 40 percent and 60 percent with a humidifier. Use only mild soaps like Dove or Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser.

Don’t take long baths or showers, and keep the water temperature warm but not hot. After bathing, pat yourself with a towel, but leave the skin somewhat damp. That’s the time to use a moisturizing product. Petroleum jelly is cheap and effective. If a moisturizer leaves your skin greasy, first rub a small amount between your hands and then apply it to the skin.

It’s not so much a matter of oil returning to your skin as it is water. Your skin needs hydration.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: When I was a little girl, my mother used to warn me about chilblains. I think it was her way of frightening me into dressing the way she wanted me to dress for winter. These days I never hear that word. What are chilblains? Did my mother make it up? – D.G.

ANSWER: “Chilblain” is a real word. It’s a cold weather injury that most often strikes the toes, and less often the fingers. It comes about from intense and prolonged spasms of blood vessels. Blood circulation is greatly decreased.

This mostly happens when weather is cold but not freezing.

Skin changes might not occur until 12 to 24 hours after exposure. They consist of purple patches on the toes. They itch or give rise to burning pain. Warmth gets rid of them. Women between the ages of 15 and 30 are the ones most susceptible to this kind of cold injury. Chilblain has another name, “pernio.” I never hear either word mentioned.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. © 2014 North America Synd. Inc.