Winter Skin Tips

Chicago winters can wreak havoc on the skin. The wind and cold can leave you with dry, itchy, chapped skin. Dr. Brooke Jackson, Medical Director of the Skin Wellness Center of Chicago, offers a few tips to get us through the winter with smoother, softer skin from head to toe.

Q: What is the number one thing we can do for dry skin this time of year?

A: Hydrate. Most people are slightly dehydrated during the winter. We drink less water. Make sure you keep up your fluid intake.

Q: Speaking of hydration, does it matter what type of moisturizer we use?

A: Yes. Use heavier products. Moisturize immediately after showering. Pat water off, then layer thick cream over skin to trap the moisture. Because of the harsh weather here, Chicagoans need two sets of products, one for fall/winter (heavier) and one for spring/summer (lighter).

Q: Pump versus jar?

A: Avoid the pump. During the winter months, it’s best to use moisturizer from a jar versus a pump bottle. Products that are poured from a bottle have higher water content and are less moisturizing than those you scoop from a jar. 


Q: What can we do aside from moisturizer to help with dry skin?

A: Humidify your home. Once the heat goes on in the house, everything dries out. Increase the humidity gauge on your furnace or place a humidifier in your bedroom.

Take shorter showers. Cold winter mornings mean long, hot showers. Shorten the shower to 10 minutes or less and avoid steamy, hot showers. They will dry your skin out even more.

Use gentle fabrics. Avoid scratchy fabrics such as wool next to your skin. Wear cotton or silk t-shirts and under sweaters

Q: Do you have any tips for chosing winter products?
Face: Cleansers: Milky, creamy cleansers are gentler. Avoid glycolic, alpha hydroxy acids, which may irritate your skin this time of year. Try Dove. Moisturizers: You still need SPF even during the winter. Try Aveeno Positively Radiant Moisturizer with SPF 30 or Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum.

Body: Cleansers: Try Olay Ribbons or Dove Sensitive Skin. Moisturizers: Look for a moisturizer that comes in a jar. Try Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream, Aquaphor Healing Ointment, Aveeno Eczema Care or Olay Ultra Moisture In-Shower Body Lotion.

Hands and Feet: Try Vaseline and socks, Olay Thermal Pedicure or Eucerin Plus Intensive Repair Foot Cream.

People who don’t respond to these products should see a dermatologist for evaluation and perhaps prescription strength products.

What's your number one piece of advice?
No matter if the sun is shining bright or hiding behind the clouds, always wear your sunscreen. The UV rays are out no matter what the weather.

Here’s to smoother skin all winter long!

Tagged as: Skin Wellness Center of Chicago, Dr. Brooke Jackson, beauty and skin

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Christine Garcia is founder and president of Plan It PR, a public relations and marketing firm. She dishes tips and survival stories in “Play Dates and Power Lunches.” Ms. Garcia started working public relations after a long career in broadcast journalism, which included work as a television anchor, reporter and producer.