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Winter Skin by Elvira Maricic

As a letter carrier for the postal service, Rick Leonard is exposed to the elements year-round. Surprisingly, the ravages of his work don't show up on his face, because Leonard consistently uses sunscreen before heading out, no matter what season it is. It's a lesson he learned the hard way.

"One very cold February several years ago, I spent all day skiing in the sunshine.  Because it was winter and the sun was low in the sky, I didn't think I needed sunscreen, which I had put away months ago.  To my surprise, at the end of the day my face was all red," Leonard says.   Initially, Leonard believed the redness was caused by windburn, until his skin began to peel. "When I got home, I put aloe all over my face and neck.  The next day, the redness was still there, at the top of my neck under my chin.  There was also some burning under my nose, as if I had chaffing from constant nose-blowing during a cold.  It looked exactly that way when it started peeling. That's when I realized what was going on," Leonard says.

Leonard's mistake is a common one, as many people don't realize that skin needs to be protected year-round, and that includes late fall and winter. According to the American Melanoma Foundation, ultraviolet reflection from pavement, cement, and snow doubles the amount of ultraviolet exposure. And since ultraviolet light can be more intense at high altitudes, skiers and other winter sports enthusiasts need to protect themselves by using sunscreen and lipscreen on exposed areas.  In addition, anyone planning to spend time outdoors during the winter should keep in mind the American Academy of Dermatology's recommendations for effective sunscreen use:

Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.

Use sunscreens every day if you are going to be in the sun for more than 20 minutes.

Apply sunscreens to dry skin 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors.

When applying sunscreen, pay particular attention to the face, ears, hands, and arms, and generously coat the skin that is not covered by clothing.

One ounce of sunscreen is considered the amount needed to cover the exposed areas of the body completely.

Reapply sunscreens every two hours or immediately after strenuous activities.

But the sun is not the only winter-skin culprit. The cold air outside and forced heating systems indoors can  also take their toll. "Most things that happen to the skin in winter are due to the fact that people have forced heating," notes Arthur K. Balin, MD, a dermatologist and executive director of the American Aging Association. "If houses have forced air heating, those houses will have very low humidity, generally leading to dry, chapped, scaly skin. People who have radiators [in their homes] are not nearly as bad off," says Balin.

Getting Under Your Skin

In addition to using a humidifier to increase the humidity in your home, Balin, co-author of the book The Life of the Skin, recommends that people with really dry skin invest in a good-quality moisturizer like petroleum jelly. "To use it properly, though, you need to soak in the tub for 25 minutes without any soap and allow the water to get into your skin," he says.  After getting out and drying off, Balin recommends waiting 15 minutes before applying the petroleum jelly all over the skin to seal the moisture in. For chapped lips, he suggests using an emollient after each meal and at night.

Hands, too, can be especially vulnerable in cold weather. "For people who are subject to hand dermatitis, there is a moisturizer called acid mantle cream, which should be used before the problem begins," says Balin, adding that if a person knows that they're inclined to get dry skin, they need to keep the skin lubricated as a preemptive measure. "And, after washing your hands, you want to dry them thoroughly, as air drying creates chapping," he notes.

Preparing for Winter

Dee Anna Glaser, M.D., assistant professor of internal medicine in the division of dermatology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, notes that the lower temperatures and low humidity in the fall and winter dry the skin out faster than the warm summer weather.

She provides these additional tips for improving skin condition in cold weather:

Use a moisturizing soap during fall and winter, since it is not as harsh as the anti-bacterial soaps used in the spring and summer.

Some people may need to cut down on the number of baths and showers taken in the fall and winter. The hot water can strip the body of its natural oils. Most people should only take one bath or shower a day.

Avoid wearing wool clothes on areas of the skin that are afflicted with rashes or are inflamed. Wool worn close to the body or directly on the body can irritate existing skin problems. Cotton or silk can be used to line wool clothing or worn as an undergarment.

The low humidity in the fall and winter tends to cause split ends, dryness and itchiness of the scalp. If a medicated shampoo is used, Dr. Glaser suggests leaving the shampoo on the scalp for a few minutes longer before rinsing out to give the active ingredient a chance to work on the hair and scalp. Extra conditioning may also help. Avoid excessive curling or permanents to the hair.