8 Tips to Relieve Your Dry Skin This Winter

BAY CITY, Mich. –– During the winter months when the freezing temperatures roll in, many of us begin to experience dry, chapped, or split skin this time of year. It all stems from the cold air drawing the moisture out of your skin, leaving it dry, brittle, and susceptible to damage. Your regular skincare routine may not work well enough during this time of year, so we recommend following our eight tips to relieve your dry skin this winter.

Don't Use Hot Water

Whether you are washing your hands or taking a shower, try to use your water at its hottest setting. Hot water strips your body and skin of its natural oil barrier which you need to help trap moisture and keep your skin smooth and moist. Instead try to just use mildly warm water, which isn't so tough on your skin.

Scrub Gently

Again, while either washing your hands or showering, take care this winter to be more gentle on your skin. Scrubbing your hands or skin too hard will definitely remove your body's natural oil barrier, but the friction of your intense scrubbing will damage your skin in general. Now during a warmer month, your skin would be able to bounce back, but during winter it will struggle to do so.

Apply Moisturizer Regularly

Lathering up with moisturizer is one of the tried and true methods of avoiding dry skin during the winter. Moisturizer's benefit is right in its name, helping to rehydrate your skin and avoid dryness. During winter, you should moisturize after every shower or bath to keep your skin healthy. Find an "ointment" moisturizer that's oil-based, rather than water-based, as the oil will create a protective layer on the skin that retains more moisture than a cream or lotion.We also recommend carrying a non-greasy hand cream with you the day as well for use after each hand washing.  

Drink Lots of Water

Moisturizer is a significant help when trying to hydrate your body, but you can always do it the old-fashioned way too, by drinking water. This winter, make sure you are still drinking lots of water to maintain your hydration levels and help your skin out. There are also plenty of fruits and vegetables you can eat to help keep yourself hydrated as well such as apples, oranges, kiwi, celery, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, and carrots. 

Wear Lip Balm or Chapstick

We all know that our lips can become chapped and dry as well during the wintertime, so make sure to keep lip balm or chapstick on your person during the day for regular use and application. It will help repair and defend your lips from the cold.

Bundle Up!

We're not quite sure why you wouldn't be wearing gloves, hat, or scarf outside in the freezing cold, but if you're not you are doing your skin a disservice. Bundling up during the winter isn't just about staying warm, it's also about protecting and shielding your skin from the cold air.

Get a Humidifier

Heating your house keeps you warm, but it also removes moisture from the air, making dry skin even more parched. To combat this, we recommend getting a humidifier for your home. Use the humidifier to reintroduce moisture into the air to create a comfortable living space and a reprieve from the cold outside for your skin. An indoor humidity of about 50% is recommended.

Moisturize Overnight

The best time to heal your skin is at night, a long interrupted period of time when it's not being washed, moved, or exposed to the cold. Lathering up with moisturizer or healing ointments before you hop into bed is recommended for best results. However, here's a handy tip if your hands or feet are severely cracked and damaged; generously apply your moisturizer to the affected areas and then put on socks and knit gloves to wear to bed. The socks and gloves will help trap the moisture in your skin allowing for a "deep-treat" overnight.

Follow our homemade dermatology routine with these eight tips to relieve your dry skin this winter. We can't stress how important it is to take of your skin this winter, but it is equally crucial to look after your vehicle this time of year as well. Complete our Winter Car Care maintenance routine to ensure your sedan, truck, or SUV's internal components don't get worn down, broken, or disabled by the cold weather or poor road conditions.

Hank Graff Chevy is located at 3636 Wilder Road, Bay City, MI 48706 and we are here to help our community grow to become an even better place to call home! For more information on Hank Graff Chevrolet, or for any questions call us at (989) 684-4411 or visit our website: www.GraffBayCity.com.

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