Montefiore Medical Center Dermatologist Offers Cold-Weather Skincare Advice for the Whole Family
NEW YORK CITY (January 16, 2013) – Young or old, we all need to take special care of our skin during the cold winter months. Chilly, dry air outdoors and forced-air heat indoors can be a lethal combination for skin, causing it to lose its ability to retain moisture and become dry, cracked and itchy.
“Simple daily steps can ‘winter-proof’ the skin and help prevent more serious health conditions,” says Karthik Krishnamurthy, D.O., dermatologist at Montefiore Medical Center. “Bacteria love to colonize in cracks in the skin, which can lead to severe skin infections and even spread internally if not treated rapidly. This is why preventing dry skin is so important.”
To keep skin hydrated and healthy during the winter months, Dr. Krishnamurthy offers the following tips:
“In kids we see a lot of eczema flare ups in the winter, even in children with no history of skin problems,” Dr. Krishnamurthy says. “Be wary of extended bathing time, as this draws both salt and moisture out of the skin. This process is accelerated with bubble baths. Sitting in soapy water strips natural, protective oils from the skin, allowing it to dry out much faster.”
“What happens is that the water cannot penetrate past the oil, so it’s forced back into your skin,” Dr. Krishnamurthy said. “Many people are skeptical, but in a few weeks are amazed by the difference and lack of greasiness, if done while the skin is still moist.”
Dr. Krishnamurthy is co-director of the cosmetic clinic at Montefiore’s Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic and Laser Surgery and assistant professor of Dermatology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He provides general and cosmetic dermatologic care and specializes in prevention and detection of melanoma and other types of skin cancer in his role as chief dermatology consultant with the Melanoma/Sarcoma Program at the Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care.
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