Even if you’re a skin care zealot when it comes to your face, you might be a little less on top of things when it comes to your body. I get it—your face makes the first impression so if you’re going to focus your efforts anywhere, it makes sense that you’d do it there. But that doesn’t mean you should neglect skin from the neck down. Especially if you are prone to dryness and/or eczema.
Cooler weather brings drier air quality which leads to dry skin. Let’s take a little detour here. Drinking more water does not help dry skin. Our bodies are an amazing machine and it usually sends water to our cells in our other organs first. Since I am in Dermatology, I would love to say that the skin comes first, but it just doesn’t in this case. Thus, you would have to drink A LOT of water to quench your skin.
Instead of drowning in water, the skin needs external moisture to combat and treat dryness.
- Pick a good cleanser. You don’t need to get “squeaky clean”. All that does is strip your skin of natural oils. Choose something that says moisturizing cleanser and avoid harsh soaps.
- Always use a moisturizing cream. I cannot tell you how many people who tell me they skip moisturizer. It just takes a few moments and it does so much for your skin. It is best to apply right after cleansing your skin. If you are especially dry, look for moisturizers with ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
- Exfoliate. You can use an exfoliating cleansing cloth or brush (mechanical) or use a chemical exfoliator. I don’t recommend exfoliators that use crushed shells and other harsh ingredients. Instead, find something with glycolic or lactic acid. Just don’t overdo it, most of us only need to exfoliate 1-2 times a week.
- Add a humidifier to your room. When the air is cold and dry, skin has more difficulty holding onto moisture. When the air gets dry enough, the moisture on our skin can evaporate.
Kimberly
Dermatology PA and creator of Perfect Skin Code.
