Journal of Healthy Living

Dealing with Itchy, Dry Skin

There’s been a tremendous response to my article on itchy legs when running or walking, especially when it’s cold out, so I figured I could write a little about how I deal with itchy and dry skin when I’m not walking or running in the winter. You all probably know what I mean, you get out of the shower, you towel off, and your skin ends up being dry and itchy. It’s infuriating and it seems to only happen in the winter! The reason this happens is because most heating systems blow hot air (duh!) and that hot air is typically very dry. That dryness makes the air in your house very dry. When you combine that with a hot shower and a towel, you end up with skin that is very dry and thus itchy. So, how do you deal with this?

• Lotion. A bit of an obvious answer but lotion is the best response, especially for those designed for dry skin. You want to use it liberally because you need your skin to be healthy and well moisturized.
• Bundle up. The cold air does an excellent job of drying out your skin. If you have a hat and gloves, be sure to put them on even if you don’t think you’ll need them because the cold air can strip your skin of that moisture. This is why your hands are often drier than other parts of your body.
• Shave less frequently. Pulling a razor across your skin is bound to dry it out, you won’t notice it in the summer because there’s more moisture in the air, but it’s very obvious in the winter.

What’s your favorite tip for dealing with itchy, dry skin?

Subscribe to the comments for this post