Itchy Winter Skin
By: Gretchen Bolander
Updated: January 13, 2011
Itchy winter skin can be tough to cure. Dr. Eric Vonholten with Freeman Health System said, "We have to remember that the whole point of the skin is to keep things out of our bodies. So sometimes it's hard to get thru to the skin and we don't want to get, to just coat the outside of the skin. We want to get underneath that first layer and treat what's really going on, what's really wrong."
Dr. Vonholten said products with organic ingredients sink in better than those with synthetics so it's best to start there. "Shea butter, vitamin e oil, avocado oils, macadamia nut oils, even uric acid and lenolinic acid. Those are more natural things and tend to stay longer and get deeper into the skin."
VanHolten said that if a lotion isn't quite enough, consider using a cream or emulsion which are thicker. And watch out for products with fragrance and color. "As it dries, it's going to dry the skin as well as going away. We want things that are going to stay there and hold their moisture for a long time."
And don't forget your lips. The skin there is even thinner and can dry out even more quickly. Vonholten says the guidelines are the same - focusing on products with organic ingredients over those that are synthetic.
