Joan from Winslow asks, "Why does my skin get so dry this time of year? Is there any way to prevent it?"

With the change of seasons, a new stress is placed on you body. The temperature outside has dropped causing us to turn up the furnace. Heating your house causes the air inside to become exceptionally dry. Outdoors the relative humidity may be sixty to seventy percent, but inside the heated house the humidity may be as low as ten percent. This is much too dry for us to live in comfortably. Overly dry air may also cause an increase in sinus problems.

Long hot showers may contribute to the drying of your skin. When you get out of the shower your skin is still warm and moisture is evaporating at an increased rate due to the decreased humidity.

Cold weather and wind also contribute to your dry skin problems.

There are a few approaches that are helpful in keeping you comfortable during the cold winter months. Take shorter showers or use just warm water when bathing. Milder, less astringent soap will be helpful. Use a humidifier in you home and keep it near the bedrooms. If you heat with wood always keep a pot of water boiling on the stove. If possible, shower with the bathroom door open so that the steam can permeate the house.

Using a good moisturizer after a shower keeps your skin from drying and flaking. Supplementing, the essential fatty acids (EFA) in your diet is very beneficial. With the "fat scare" in our society many people are deficient in these EFA’s. These are the Omega-3 and Omega-6 oils with include the fish oils, evening primrose oil, flaxseed and olive oil. All of these are required by the body to protect from excessive moisture loss. An additional benefit is the Omega-3 oils have been shown to decrease the possibility of heart disease. Thank you for your question Joan.

I hope this is helpful, and thank you for your question, Elaine.

Original publication The Town Line newspaper South China, ME 04358
Information contained herein furnished by Nadeau Chiropractic Wellness Center, 2135 N. Belfast Ave, Augusta, ME