Bathe away dry, itchy skin

Redlands Daily Facts Health Section
Staff Writer

Q: My skin gets dry and itchy in the winter. What can I do for it?

Mimi: The easy answer is to stop bathing and rub bear grease into your hide. But since you won't accept that, read on:

Is your skin dry, itchy, and uncomfortable to live in? You don't need to suffer with this common winter complaint. The first line of defense against this ailment is to avoid washing away your natural oils. Bathe less often and use warm instead of hot water. Try different cleansing agents like super fatted soap, oatmeal soap, or aloe vera body wash.

Use bath oil properly. Soak for several minutes before adding oil. After soaking in plain, warm water, add a little hydrodispersable massage oil or light mineral oil. Almond scented massage oil or oil with Essential Oils added for fragrance are always favorites. You can purchase them from your massage therapist or Spa. If you add the oil at the beginning of the bath, it will coat your body as you submerge and then not allow the skin to absorb any moisture. So add it only after soaking for a while.

Try a soothing Oatmeal Bath. Put 1/2 cup uncooked rolled oats in an old nylon stocking. Hold the stocking in the stream of water as the tub fills, and swish the stocking in the tub of warm water. Soaking in the oatmeal-milky water will clean your skin without using any soap. After showering or bathing, pat dry, and while your skin is still slightly damp, massage lotion all over. For extremely dry flaky skin, a rich cream containing aloe vera and safflower oil is wonderfully effective. Use aloe vera foot cream to soften calluses.

Occasionally buff off dead, flaky skin with a loofa or with scrubbing body buff gel to keep your skin silky smooth. Have your massage therapist give you a body buffing treatment with Dead Sea Salts.

When laundering your clothes and sheets, use unscented detergent like Cheer Free or use soap such as Citrus. Your clothes will not be as sparkling white using soap, but you will avoid the chance of suffering with contact dermatitis from a sensitivity to detergent residue. Do not use detergents containing enzymes. Use less soap or detergent than recommended. Avoid over-filling the machine, and run the machine through a second rinse cycle. Avoid fabric softeners or dryer softener sheets; instead use 1/4 cup white vinegar in the last rinse to neutralize any alkalinity left by the detergent or soap.

If you are a postmenopausal woman, estrogen replacement therapy may help also.

Winter air is dry and sucks the moisture out of your skin. Use a vaporizer in your bedroom at night. If you have small children, don't do the following. To add moisture to the air, after your bath, don't drain the tub. You paid to heat the water; let the heat dissipate in the air to warm your house. Also, leaving the water in the tub adds moisture to the air.

With loving care your skin can be silky smooth and comfortable all winter.

Mimi Barre is the owner of International Day Spa, 325 Cajon St., Redlands. Send your skin care questions to her at MimiB@INTLdayspa.com. She and her estheticians are available for personal consultations, (909) 793-9080.