Guest Post: Winter Skin Care Tips from Dermatologist and Mother Dr. Brooke Jackson

November 3, 2011

Guest Post: Winter Skin Care Tips from Dermatologist and Mother Dr. Brooke Jackson

(photo by camera eye photography)

If you live in an area that’s anything like my hometown, the Windy City of Chicago, you know what is in store for your family’s skin this winter: Dry, brittle nails and hair, and chapped hands and face. But with the proper care, you and your family can enjoy the winter weather and keep skin from becoming "winterized."

I’ve listed some of my top Winter Skin Care Tips below:

Hydration: Most people are slightly dehydrated during the winter because we drink less water. Make sure your children continue to drink appropriate amounts of liquids during the winter months.
Humidify your home: Once the heat goes on in the house, everything dries out. Increase the humidity gage on your furnace or place a humidifier in your bedrooms.
Heavier Products: Because of the harsh weather in places like Chicago (the Midwest), people need two sets of products - fall/winter (heavier) and spring summer (lighter). An easy way to remember what products to use is: Scoop out of a jar in the cooler months, Pump and Pour in the warmer months. A pump and pour bottle has a higher water content, so not as thick as the ‘scoopable’ lotions. Moisturizers should be applied just after bathing and perhaps a second time during the day if there are conditions such as eczema.
At-home quick (cheap) fixes: Use olive oil for a deep conditioner in hair. Be sure to leave on hair for a few hours. Olive oil can also be used on extremely dry skin. Crisco is a great moisturizer as well. And for families on a tight budget with little kids that have eczema, this can be used on their entire body. Older kids might not enjoy having Crisco lathered on their body, but the younger kids won’t know the difference. If your kids have dry feet, rub Vaseline on the feet and wear socks to bed.
For the little athletes: Don’t forget the sunscreen! Snow, sun and wind can harm your face, so be sure to apply at least SPF 30 when doing outdoor activities. Also, put thin layer of Vaseline or Aquaphor on the face to prevent windburn.
Shorter Showers/Baths: Cold winter mornings mean long hot showers for us and winter play dates mean long warm baths for kids. But the hot steamy water will dry out skin even more. Shorten the shower and/or bath to 10 min or less. Also, minimize the bubble baths for the little ones. These are pretty drying. Use them as a special treat only. One great tip for baths: drizzle some baby oil in the bath water to add some moisture.
Gentle Fabrics: Avoid scratchy fabrics next to skin such as wool. Make sure the kids wear cotton or silk t-shirts under sweaters.

With three little kids at home, I know the importance of preparing their skin for the "Windy" elements. After reading these tips, you’re ready to have a healthy, happy, and safe winter. Get outside and enjoy the activities. Just don’t forget the sunscreen!

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Dr. Brooke Jackson is a Board Certified dermatologist, the Medical Director of the Skin Wellness Center of Chicago (www.skinwellnesscenter.org), and mother to three young adopted children. She is passionate about educating families on healthy skin care. For more information, call: 312-236-9950 or look for the SWCC on Facebook.