DRY WINTER SKIN - By: Dr. Mike DeBrule

Winter is a great time of the year in Minnesota for sledding, snowball fights, hockey, figure skating, sipping hot chocolate, and complaining about the windchill. However, colder temperatures each winter bring many Minnesotans one big problem: dry, cracked skin. Those itchy, dry patches are nature's way of letting us know that the outer layer of our skin, made up of dead skin cells, natural oils and lipids and might need some help from time to time.

Cold weather and lower humidity as a result of indoor heating can strip away our skin's natural protective layer and wreak havoc with our skin's ability to stay moisturized. In extreme cases, if not treated, some of these dry areas can deteriorate into painful cracked bleeding skin, particularly about the feet and ankles. This also increases risk for bacterial infection. A quick trip to your local drugstore will show that there is almost no limit to the number products designed to alleviate dry skin.

The medical term for excessively dry skin is xerosis. This condition is best thought of as manageable, other than curable. The most important factor in success treatment of xerosis is incorporating the management into the daily routine of the patient. Successful hydration management is dependent on daily washing of the scan and removal of dead scale, and reapplication of the desired agent to moist skin. Daily care of your skin is quite a challenge for some elderly patients who can no longer reach their feet.

What exactly is a skin moisturizer? The term refers to maintaining or restoring a state of as near-normal hydration to the skin is possible. Emollients help the skin appear smoother by filling in spaces between shedding cells (lanolin, glycerol, propylene glycol). Humectants are compounds that attract water from the second layer of skin (the dermis) and bring it into the epidermis (urea, ammonium lactate). Occlusives help in increasing water content in skin by slowing evaporation of water from the skin surface (mineral oil, paraffin, beeswax). Most treatments have overlapping properties. For example, glycerin has both emollient and humectant action.

If your skin is excessively dry and certainly if you have any cracking on your feet are heels, you should consider visiting with your podiatric physician. Your doctor will diagnose and help treat your feet so that you can get these conditions under control. Mild cases can often be treated with over-the-counter products. One of my favorite over the counter products is Kerasal. However, prescription creams are sometimes necessary for severe dry skin.

About the Author

Minnesota Podiatrist Dr. Mike DeBrule treats foot problems that can cause [foot,ankle,knee,hip,back pain] using custom foot orthotics and advanced gait analysis techniques. His office is located in Marshall, Minnesota. Visit his website http://innovativefootcare.com/ For more videos go to http://www.youtube.com/user/InnovativeFootCare.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Dr--Mike-DeBrule/165198

Additional Articles From - Home | Health & fitness | Foot health