The ravages of summer sun on the skin -- both the face and the body -- are well-known, but winter can be tough on the hide, too.
Cold air can dry out your skin, which is not only uncomfortable, but makes you look older, too.
Paying attention to winter skin care is just as important as summer skin care, dermatologists emphasize. Here are three basics of winter skin care that apply no matter where you live:
1. Moisturize often in winter.
2. Take shorter, warm (not hot) showers and baths.
3. Keep the humidity level up indoors.
But winter in New England -- where temperatures often dip well below freezing -- is quite different than winter in California or the Pacific Northwest. WebMD asked dermatologists from seven regions to clue us in on what residents of their areas can do to baby their skin all winter long. Here are tips for everyone, from sea to shining sea.
Winter Skin Care: East Coast
East Coast winters can be brutal on the skin. Wintry temperatures on the East Coast can mean the humidity dips indoors when the heat is turned on and stays on, says Robert Greenberg, MD, a dermatologist in Vernon, Conn., and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Connecticut, Farmington.
''The air is very dry and we lose water from our skin to the dry air," he says.
Some residents use wood stoves for heat, further drying the indoor air. And he has to dissuade his patients from shaking off the chill with a hot shower when they scramble from bed. "A [long] hot shower in the morning is not a good idea,'' he says. It's too drying.
Besides the general advice to avoid harsh soaps and use gentle moisturizers, Greenberg tells residents to use mild laundry soaps, too, to prevent skin irritation, especially when it gets drier as the winter goes on.
And "humidify the indoor air," he tells East Coast residents.
Winter sports such as snowmobiling can take an extra toll, especially if it is windy. He reminds sports-loving people to apply moisturizer and protect the facial skin and other exposed areas.
Winter Skin Care: Southeast
''In the Southeast, we can experience extreme shifts in temperature on a daily basis," says Andrea Cambio, MD, a dermatologist in Cape Coral, Fla. ''For instance, it is not uncommon for it to go from the 50s to the 90s in the same day. Added to the equation are very strong ultraviolet rays from the sun.''
Besides the typical winter skin care advice – shorter, warm showers, use of a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser, and use of moisturizer -- she stresses sun protection year round. Sunscreen, protective clothing, and hats are a must. Her advice is especially true for visitors, who may be so thrilled to be warm that they forget about sun protection.
