As temperatures drop, heaters clank on, and thewind whips up, the
battle for healthy skin begins. Dry air takes away the thin layer of
oil that trapsmoisture in the skin, flaring itchy and painful
conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and severe dry skin.
"If we stop producing moisture or if heating sucks it out of the skin,
and it's not being replaced, that will tend to cause little cracks
that affect the barrier of the skin," says Alan Menter, MD, chair of
psoriasis research and the divisionof dermatology at Baylor University
Medical Center in Dallas. Any trauma to the skin, such as cracking,
causes an inflammatory response, which can make skin moresusceptible
to flare-ups of psoriasis and eczema.
But you can minimize the toll the next few months will take on your
skin by preparing now. Here's ouraction plan to keep you comfortable
and flare-free.
By: Health.com