Parent Time

Canadian winters bring to mind sparkling snowflakes, steaming mugs of cocoa — and dry, itchy skin. Just ask Toronto mom of three Nance Williams. “My skin feels like an old piece of flannel in the winter,” she says. “I just wait for the warmer weather to bring it back to life because I’m too busy in winter to worry about it.”

But when your schedule is packed with hockey games, figure skating lessons and family trips to the toboggan hill, it’s important to find time to take care of your skin. In the worst cases, says Vancouver dermatologist Frances Jang, dryness can lead to cracking and, in turn, the not-so-sexy skin condition called dermatitis. Read on for the causes of and solutions to all your winter skin woes.

Contributing factors

Long walks in the crisp winter air and post-walk cocktails by the fire are bad news for your poor dehydrated dermis, as both tend to suck moisture out of your skin. “On top of that, we’re wearing wools and scratchy materials to keep warm, but these fabrics can irritate our skin,” says Toronto dermatologist Kucy Pon. To keep skin supple in winter, she recommends avoiding long hot showers, and cutting back on alcohol and caffeine, which contribute to dehydration.

Like many women, Williams tends to use the same skin care products all year long — and expects the same results from season to season. But skin care regimens for the body and face have to change during the colder months, says Jang. The good news is that this doesn’t require a lot of extra time. Most areas of the body, especially the face, require a minimalist approach, even in the winter.

Dry skin can be age related too. “As you get older, you’re more impacted by dry air, indoors and out,” says Jang. And although it’s not actually a direct cause of aging, dry skin def-initely makes you look older and those blasted wrinkles look deeper. But don’t despair; a bit of home care can do great things for your seasonally affected skin.

Winter skin care 101

When dryness kicks in, you’ll likely notice it on your face first. “I feel like my face is always exposed to the elements since I’m out with the kids so much,” says Williams. Luckily, it only takes a few minutes a day to treat dry facial skin. Total care starts first thing in the morning, with a quick cleanse. “You want to use a gentler cleanser morning and night, such as Spectro Jel ($15). And then moisturize with a really good cream, such as Linacare ($58),” says Jang. Budget-wise moms can also try Curel, Complex 15 and Moisturel products, she says. “Avoid products with too many acids, like lactic or glycolic, that may worsen irritation. The big key is to hydrate skin and seal in moisture.” Look for creams and lotions with ingredients such as glycerin, petrolatum or urea.On particularly frosty days or when you plan to hit the slopes, give your skin an extra layer of protection by applying a moisturizing cream, then a sunblock lotion.

Originally published in Today's Parent, January 2009