70 | November 2011 | woman this month Showcase Although it is a common and widely suffered problem throughout the year, dry skin worsens during the winter months as the humidity drops. Normally, this means that fine lines in the skin become more visible, the skin feels rough and appears dull and flaky and, in serious cases, fish net like cracks can occur. Most commonly found on the arms, legs and even the trunk of the body, dry skin also brings with it a whole lot of itching. “Dry skin and scratching may result in dermatitis, when the skin becomes red in addition to dry and scaly. Round, scaly, itchy, red patches scattered over the legs, arms and trunk (nummular eczema) may also appear,” says Dr. Hanann Marafie. The condition is caused by a lack of water and natural skin oils in the outermost layer of the skin. Too much soapy water, exposure to harsh chemicals, the normal ageing process and certain types of skin diseases are some of the causes of decreased amounts of protective skin oils. A good routine “It is natural to think that applying water alone to dry skin would help control the problem. However, water, especially hot water, can actually worsen the problem of dry skin by removing the normal, protective skin oils”. Management of the skin is greatly affected by proper bathing techniques and liberal use of the most effective moisturisers. You should take a short bath or shower — no more than 10 minutes — once or twice in a 24 hour period. After bathing or showering, quickly and gently pat the skin partially dry with a towel — no rubbing! Within three minutes of getting out of the water, apply a moisturiser and treat any red dermatitis patches with a medicated cream or ointment for a five to 15 day course. Make your choice Ointment moisturisers have the greatest ability to trap moisture in the skin, but they have the greasy consistency and feel of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. Oil moisturisers are less greasy but still effective. Examples of oils that can be applied directly to the skin include baby oil, mineral oil, vegetable oil, and bath oil. Cream moisturisers are usually white and disappear when rubbed into the skin without leaving a greasy feel. As a result they tend to be more popular than ointments. Lotion moisturisers are suspensions of oily chemicals in alcohol and water. Lotion moisturisers are generally the least greasy and the most pleasant to use and are therefore quite popular. Call 17 585 373. Itch Control Marafie Skin Clinic With the cooling of the weather comes a problem that every woman faces — dry skin! WTM talks to expert Dr. Hannan Marafie to answer all your “winter itch” questions.
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