Our Top 10 Tips for Keeping Skin from Getting Dry
Itching? These articles might help:
In our previous post, we talked about how to recognize the symptoms of dry skin, and we explained some of the common ways we treat it here in our office. However, there are many ways you can keep your skin healthy right at home! If you follow our top 10 tips, you are much less likely to develop a dry skin issue in the first place:
Tip 1: Hot water is bad. I know, that hot shower feels so nice, but it is taking all of the natural oils right off of your skin. Try to stick with warm or cool water as much as possible.
Tip 2: Keep your soap gentle. Does your soap contain alcohol, fragrance, or antibacterial properties? Switch to something that’s fragrance-free, mild, and moisturizing like Vanicream skin cleanser.
Tip 3: Bathe fast.Keep your bath or shower to under 10 minutes. 5 minutes is even better. Try not to bathe more than once a day, and if you must rinse your face again, use cool water only.
Tip 4: Towel Gently. Use soft towels, and pat your skin dry. Vigorous scrubbing only irritates dry skin more.
Tip 5: Lock in moisture.After that fast bath, slather on moisturizer as soon as you are done. This will help seal in the skin’s natural oils.
Tip 6: Soften, then shave.Shaving can often further irritate already dry skin. To avoid this, apply a shaving cream a few minutes before you shave and let it soak in. Once the hair has softened, make sure to shave in the direction the hair grows only. Use a sharp blade, and change it often.
Tip 7: Humidify! Keep the air in your home moist with humidifiers.
Tip 8: Need itch relief? If you’re itching, try applying a cool cloth for a few minutes before moisturizing.
Tip 9: Cover it up. Keep the wind off your hands and face with scarves, gloves, and hats.
Tip 10: Don’t Forget Your Lips! Are your lips chapped and dry too? Choose a lip balm with petroleum and apply it every night at bedtime.
Dr. Mark Hutchin graduated cum laude from the University of California at Los Angeles. As a senior at UCLA, he was team captain of the lacrosse team and was selected Most Valuable Player. He then attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, where he was a Distinguished Medical Scholar and received numerous other awards and distinctions, including the Deborah C. Leary Award and induction into the Junior Alpha Omega Alpha society. He graduated with Honors, Highest Honors, and Distinction from the UNC School of Medicine. After completing a surgical internship and one year of residency in Head and Neck Surgery, Dr. Hutchin shifted his career focus to emphasize dermatology and skin disease. Skin cancer became the focus of a several year scientific endeavor at the University of Michigan, culminating in 2005 with the publication of an important paper on basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer. As Chief Resident at the University of Michigan, Dr. Hutchin received many awards, including the Medical Student Teaching Award. He is a board-certified dermatologist. As a resident of Asheville, he now enjoys mountain biking, gardening, and spending time with his wife. Dr. Hutchin and his family, including his dog, a Newfoundland, have lived in Asheville since 2007.
