Extra dry skin this Winter?

[Lin19687]

No idea if it is just here in New England but I NEVER get this dry in Winter. And I have dry skin to begin with.
Every one I have talked to at the Markets say the same thing, that they have never had such a dry skin issue in years before.

So I wondered if it is was just here or is that the case else where in the US/World?

also let me point out that it has been a very warm Winter here with only about a week of bitter cold last week.

 

[Obsidian]

Were you extra dry before the bitter cold? We've had a warmer then normal winter too but the last week and a half, its been bitter cold and my skin feels absolutely shriveled. My sinus are even affected.

 

[Lin19687]

Yes, dry before it got to 2 F out .. brrr. Started in Dec.
Her is our weather for Dec '18 https://www.wunderground.com/calendar/us/ma/bedford/KBED/date/2018-12

and Jan https://www.wunderground.com/calendar/us/ma/bedford/KBED/date/2019-1

No reason to be this dry. I thought it was just me, darn thyroid, but when others were saying it was the driest they have ever been ....
And I know that we all have the memory gap. Like Ohh this was the worst winter, but really last year was worse lol. It isn't like that.
I am very aware of how dry I am because of my Thyroid issues and I can't use lotion

 

[Clarice]

Can you use oils? I use a variety of oils on my skin winter and summer - with the weight varying as my "dryness" changes.

Shea Nut Oil (not butter)
Fractionated Coconut Oil
Sweet Almond Oil
Pomegranate Oil
Etc.

I sometimes blend them

Good luck - dry skin is so uncomfortable!

 

[Marilyn Norgart]

I made a batch of cream with shea butter, cocoa butter and aloe vera gel that has helped my skin. I have used way more moisturizing stuff this winter too!!

 

[newbie]

I keep a big pot of water on the stove on the lowest setting just to keep the humidity in the house at a more reasonable level. It has helped a lot but it requires an occasional deliming with vinegar. Totally worth it and I can tell the difference when I don't have the kettle on, so to speak.

I will add a couple fantastic oils to Clarice's list for helping skin-

Babassu
Jojoba
Argan (if you can get it in its unadulterated form)

I used a bit of lanolin and beeswax in a butter I made for hands. It works well but I can't use it on my face. I break out from it.

 

[Lin19687]

Thanks, I do have a balm I make that I use.
Just was curious if anyone else thought this Winter was worse.

 

[newbie]

I am in Wisconsin and I feel it's drier/harder on the skin than other winters. However, we have had a lot of extremely cold days so I can't tell if I am mentally comparing apples to apples. I'm with you though. Can't explain why it would be other than more frigid temps but it does seem like that.

 

[Clarice]

I grew up in Loyal, WI! Nearly the center of the state.

I adore EMU oil but recently found out they KILL the EMU to get it, so that makes me sad.

I have never tried Babasu - is is a solid at room temp?

Also - if my hands are really bad, i do this before bed:

• Shea Nut OIL
• let it soak in a bit
• Slather my hands with either lanolin or Non-petroleum Jelly (this makes a barrier to help lock the oil in the skin
• cotton gloves

My hands are usually much improved the next AM

 

[DeeAnna]

My skin has become unusually dry and itchy since the super cold weather in the past couple of weeks. It's depressing to wake up in the night from the discomfort -- I can't say I've ever experienced that before. Ugh.

I made a dry-skin tweak of a lotion recipe I've made for a few years. This latest version has a slightly higher % of fats in proportion to water than previous versions. It is working nicely to protect and relieve my skin without being greasy or sticky.

A couple of ingredients in the recipe I wanted to mention are panthenol and calendula. These soothing ingredients are especially helpful for reducing the itching from dry skin. IMO they can soothe the skin more fully than the use of fats alone. Another ingredient that is helpful for healing damaged and irritated skin is allantoin, but that's not something you'd need if your skin is not broken or inflamed.

Panthenol is a water soluble ingredient so it needs to be used in a lotion or other water based product. It won't work in an anhydrous balm or salve. Calendula flowers can be infused in oil or in glycerin, so calendula can be included in anhydrous products or water-based products, depending on the menstruum (infusion liquid).

 

[Obsidian]

Normal lotions, either store bought or homemade aren't really helping me at the moment. I have some gel body oil that I like better, its really greasy but seems to last longer.

 

[earlene]

I am not sure if my skin is dryer than normal, really. But I do know our internal air is dryer than usual this winter because we have relied on a lot more heat than usual. I do believe we have a humidifier at work with the heat, but compared to our normal-ish winters, the heat is on a lot more than usual. So perhaps it is a combination of heat and lack of humidity at work drying out the skin.

 

[lsg]

Have you tried making a skin cream using a little lanolin? Lanolin is usually tolerated by most skin types. Lanolin can form a protective layer that locks in moisture. A little lanolin in creams and soap goes a long way, too much will make a sticky product.

 

[newbie]

Babassu is solid at room temp but it melts easily and doesn't make your skin feel greasy at all. I keep a paper cup of it in the bathroom and scoop a bit out with a finger to rub on. I love it. I agree about the lanolin as well, particularly for leave on products. It can smell so I don't put a high percentage in but, boy, a little can make quite a difference.

I used to do the gob of vaseline at night and then slept with old socks over my hands. It works very very well.

 

[Clarice]

I think I am gonna get me some Babassu! Thank you!

Mango disappears into skin too, but i don't find it super moisturizing. i actually kinda like the smell of lanolin - but I know many don't!

One guilty pleasure in winter - I bought a baby bottle warmer and I have it on my bathroom counter with the shea nut oil in it so I can slather it on WARM - yum!

 

[Snowbell]

Good to know I’m not the only one. I thought old age was starting to set in. I too can’t use store bought lotion or makeup makes my skin crawl. I tried Lindy goat milk lotion with Shea and safflower oil and knock on wood it my skin seems to be really liking it

 

[Clarice]

Good to know I’m not the only one. I thought old age was starting to set in. I too can’t use store bought lotion or makeup makes my skin crawl. I tried Lindy goat milk lotion with Shea and safflower oil and knock on wood it my skin seems to be really liking it

can you share where you found it? I just did a search on "goat milk lotion" and @Lindy and got no results? Thanks much!

 

[Snowbell]

can you share where you found it? I just did a search on "goat milk lotion" and @Lindy and got no results? Thanks much!

https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/goat-milk-lotion-tutorial.48113/

 

[Lin19687]

For here it can't be the heat in the house. The temps have been mostly in the 40's/50's so it isn't running as much here. Oh and we have had more rain this Winter then ever.
I have plenty of 'oops' balms here to slather on, but I am not real big on having to put it on a lot... and then not be able to touch anything for 15 min while it soaks in You can't pet the Cat with that stuff on your hands........... nor the phone or Puter