 Dry
itchy irritated skin is often synonymous with the
onset of autumn. Heaters go on, our baths become
warmer, fireplaces and woodstoves get lit, and the air
is much drier.
Dry skin is quite prevalent,
especially in older people. There are
precautions we can take to alleviate this problem.
First, the use of harsh
cleansers should be discontinued. We often recommend a
mild, oiled soap for our patients called Oilatum.
Taking long, hot baths or showers to ward off the winter chill can aggravate dry skin.Shorter, cooler showers or baths should be replaced during the dry season.Moisturizers should be applied on still damp skin after bathing to “seal” in the moisture. Most patients need only a good, all-purpose, mild moisturizer such as our Hand and Body lotion.Therapeutic moisturizers with glycolic acid added are especially helpful for those with sun-damaged or particularly dry skin.
When
the skin is especially itchy, Pro-X lotion is a
wonderful combination of both moisturizer and
Pramasone, an anti-itch medicine.
When moisturizing, don’t
forget your nails. Dry brittle, splitting nails are
often from dryness of the cuticle area.
Cool air humidifiers can be
added in the home and work environment. Humidity in
the household should be approximately 30%. Routinely
we recommend that patients wear natural fibers such as
cotton. When dry skin becomes inflamed, the term
eczema or dermatitis is used. Treatment of this
usually requires a visit to the doctor and possibly
prescription medication.
About
Skin Patch Testing
Appropriate diagnosis
and management of persistent eczematous conditions
such as contact dermatitis are common challenges for
the dermatologist. The causes of contact dermatitis,
which can be either allergic or irritant in nature,
are also diverse. Learn
more about the use patch testing.
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