It's Winter Now, Take Good Care of Your Skin

With the official arrival of winter, your skin requires extra TLC. 

Dr. Mohiba Tareen, of Roseville, has written the following post for Roseville Patch:

Tareen Dermatology has created a list of winter skin care tips to keep your skin healthy and glowing during the upcoming months.

• Moisturizing is key!  Choose a thick moisturizing cream (rather than a thinner lotion or oil) for the body.  The moisturizing cream should be applied soon after showering in the morning, and again before bed if necessary.
• Look for great ingredients – At Tareen Dermatology, we recommend a moisturizing cream that contains ceramides.  Ceramides are unique ingredients that help to repair the skin’s barrier; by repairing the skin’s barrier, moisture is held within the skin in order to prevent excessive dryness in the winter.
• Moisturize overnight – If your hands do become chapped (cold weather can often exacerbate hand eczema), keep the following tip in mind: Apply ointment, such as Vasoline or Aquaphor, to your hands and slip on a pair of white cotton gloves.  The gloves will help the ointment to absorb into the skin, providing much-needed moisture to extremely dry hands.
• Use drying medications sparingly – Topical acne medications and anti-aging serums (such as retinoids) can cause dryness on the skin.  Use only a pea-size amount of these medications during the winter months and apply a moisturizer immediately afterward.
• Don’t forget sun protection – Sun protection, in the form of sunscreen and direct sun avoidance, is just as important during the winter months as it is in July. Remember to apply a sunscreen to your face and hands every morning, and to wear a hat when you will be outdoors during the midday.  Sun damage and skin cancers are caused by both UVA and UVB rays, which are present during the winter months.
• Persistant dry spots must be checked – Any dry, flaky areas of the face or body that do not improve with regular moisturizing should be checked out immediately.  Certain inflammatory conditions of the skin (such as eczema and psoriasis), as well as precancerous lesions and even skin cancers, can present as dry patches.

These skin care secrets will keep your skin looking great and staying healthy during the winter months!

Dr. Mohiba Tareen

Tareen Dermatology, Roseville, MN

www.tareendermatology.com