Skincare tips for the changing seasons...

Fall has officially arrived  and winter is right around the corner. As the seasons change, so should your skin care regimen. Hot showers, dry air, wood stoves are just some of the culprits that can wreak havoc on your skin. At Dermatology and Skin Health, we would like to make a few simple recommendations for making certain that your skin survives the long cold winter:

1. Use a gentle skin cleanser. No soap since it can be drying. We recommend cleansers such as Cetaphil, Cerave, Purpose, or Dermologica.
2. Ahh, a long hot shower on a cold winter morning.. sounds great but can do more harm than good. Turn down the temperature of those hot showers and minimize your time in a shower or bath.  Cutting down on the time and temperature of your shower will make a big difference in the amount of natural oils that get stripped from your skin.
3. Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize.. we like to recommend changing from lotion based products ( those found in pump bottles) to more cream based products ( those found in jars or tubes) beginning in the fall and extending into spring. The oils found in creams and ointments will create a protective barrier that can help retain moisture in your skin.
4. If the skin on your face tends to be dry.. avoid harsh peels, masks, and alcohol based toners or astringents during the winter season.  Choose masks that are deep hydrating , rather than clay based which can draw moisture out of skin.
5. Don't forget your lips and hands. The skin on these parts are much more susceptible to the harsh conditions of the winter. Keep your hands covered and lips moisturized with an ointment based product such as Aquaphor.