The drop in temperatures during winter, and the use of hot water for bathing, results in the cracking of skin and skin irritation. The skin’s outermost layer – stratum corneum – maintains a moisture balance between 10% and 30% to stay healthy, soft and supple. Drop in water content results in abnormal shedding of skin cells.
The cracking of skin can be particularly concerning as it compromises the skin barrier, leaving a person vulnerable to potential secondary bacterial infections. The area’s most often affected are those naturally low in oil glands, such as the lower legs, forearms, hands, and feet, though the face and lips are also common trouble spots, according to Dr. K. Venkata Chalam, president, North Andhra Association of Dermatologists.
While anyone can experience winter dryness, certain individuals are at a higher risk for severe symptoms which include elderly people, those who frequently work outdoors, people with underlying health conditions like diabetes, kidney/liver ailments, or hypothyroidism, patients taking diuretic drugs or using topical products like retinoids and individuals with hereditary conditions like ichthyosis.
Frequent hot showers are a major culprit, as they strip the skin of its natural oil barrier. Exposure to irritant agents and low humidity further exacerbates the damage, often triggering flare-ups for people already managing conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
