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Men's Life Today

Moisturizing Winter Skin: When and Why

By Dr. Josh Zeichner for Men's Life Today

Your skin is drier and more sensitive in the winter than it may be during other times of the year. Low humidity and windy weather translate into cracked, itchy skin.

If you can relate, you may need to start using a moisturizer. With tons of products to choose from, it can be confusing to find the right product for you, but -- as I always tell my patients -- the moisturizer that works best is the one that you actually use.

Types of Moisturizer
All moisturizers contain various oils that help keep the skin hydrated and maintain the skin barrier. Moisturizers differ in the types of oil they contain, as well as in their product vehicle (or base):

Thicker moisturizers containing petroleum jelly, mineral oil, glycerin or cyclomethicone in a heavy cream or ointment base can be best for winter skin.
Thinner cream or lotion containing lighter oils such as dimethicone or cetyl alcohol may suffice in warmer weather.
Newer moisturizers include ingredients such as ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which naturally exist in our skin and can help soothe irritation.

Once you’ve got your product, you may still be wondering how frequently you should use it. It really depends on your own skin, but I generally recommend applying it twice per day -- once in the morning and again before bed. And the best time to apply your moisturizer is right after taking a shower, before you leave the bathroom.

Your Hands
Just take off your mitts and you’ll see how your hands also pay the price of winter weather. If you try to keep the germs of cold and flu season at bay by washing your hands frequently or by using equally harsh, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, you may be instigating cracked and painful fingers. Luckily, hand moisturizer can help: Your best bet is to pick up a pocket-size bottle to keep on hand throughout the day.

Photo Credit: @iStockphoto.com/whitemay

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<h2>Men's Life Today</h2>
<h1>Moisturizing Winter Skin: When and Why</h1>
<p>

By Dr. Josh Zeichner for <em><a href="http://www.menslifetoday.com">Men's Life Today</a></em>
	</p>
	
<img src="http://www.menslifetoday.com/partner/content/passageprojecttypepadftp/archive/blog/winter_skin_moisturizer/images/large.jpg" width="352" height="169" alt="Moisturizing Winter Skin: When and Why"/>
	<p>Your skin is drier and more sensitive in the winter than it may be during other times of the year. Low humidity and windy weather translate into cracked, itchy skin.<br /> <br /> If you can relate, you may need to start using a moisturizer. With tons of products to choose from, it can be confusing to find the right product for you, but -- as I always tell my patients -- the moisturizer that works best is the one that you actually use. <br /> <br /> <strong>Types of Moisturizer<br /> </strong>All moisturizers contain various oils that help keep the skin hydrated and maintain the skin barrier. Moisturizers differ in the types of oil they contain, as well as in their product vehicle (or base):</p>

<ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><strong>Thicker moisturizers</strong> containing petroleum jelly, mineral oil, glycerin or cyclomethicone in a heavy cream or ointment base can be best for winter skin.</li><li><strong>Thinner cream or lotion</strong> containing lighter oils such as dimethicone or cetyl alcohol may suffice in warmer weather.</li><li><strong>Newer moisturizers</strong> include ingredients such as ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which naturally exist in our skin and can help soothe irritation.</li></ul>

<p>Once you’ve got your product, you may still be wondering how frequently you should use it. It really depends on your own skin, but I generally recommend applying it twice per day -- once in the morning and again before bed. And the best time to apply your moisturizer is right after taking a shower, before you leave the bathroom.</p>

<p><strong>Your Hands</strong><br />Just take off your mitts and you’ll see how your hands also pay the price of winter weather. If you try to keep the germs of cold and flu season at bay by washing your hands frequently or by using equally harsh, alcohol-based hand sanitizer, you may be instigating cracked and painful fingers. Luckily, hand moisturizer can help: Your best bet is to pick up a pocket-size bottle to keep on hand throughout the day.<br /><font size="1"><em><br />Photo Credit: @iStockphoto.com/whitemay</em></font></p>
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