Skin Care

Take extra care of your skin during winter.

- Dr. S S Hiremath

Some of the common winter ailments include dry and itchy skin, points out skin specialists

The cold and dry tends to dry the skin more readily. Dry skin may crack and cheap to form sores. It is better to drink lots of water and use water based moisturizes to keep the skin hydrated and prevent drying. Natural oils like coconut and avocado are great when smeared on the body. They can help soothe the skin and should be included in daily grooming routine during winters.

Plenty of nutrition can help care of both your health and your skin. Vitamins C help boost immunity. Vitamin C can also help prevent common cold and flu.

Skin turns dry and itchy in winter because of the low air humidity. The normally fine lines in the skin become more visible and the skin feels rough and flaky. Skin cracks easily too. Dry skin occurs most commonly on the arms and legs, but can also affect the trunk of the body. Unless dry skin is treated, it may result in itching that is severe enough to interfere with sleep and other daily activities.

- Repeated rubbing and scratching can produce areas of thickened, rough skin which may crack, especially in exposed areas like hands and feet. Scratching dry skin may cause dermatitis which leads to red and inflamed skin. Bacterial infections may also set into these areas. Any skin problems you have will only be aggravated in winter.

- People with sensitive skin, or conditions like eczema or psoriasis