Thursday, January 20, 2011

Winter Dry Skin...!


One of the worse things for me as I've become older...is the dry skin I seem to get during the Winter time.

I don't really know why it seems worse in the cold months, but it does seem to be a lot worse in the past couple of years.

In searching around for something to help prevent it, I found some information in the Farmer's Almanac that I intend to try. I'll share it with you, just in case you may need it! OK?

Winter’s low humidity and harsh conditions can do a number on your skin, leaving it flaky, itchy, and dry as an old bone.

• Try adding lemon juice or vinegar to your bathwater. Soap, being highly alkaline, may make your skin feel itchy.

• To soften dry skin, add 1 cup of powdered milk to your bath.

• Avoid steaming water or long immersions, which will strip your skin of its natural oils.

Here's a few more tips from the almanac that relate to dry skin!

* As soon as you get out of the shower or tub, while your skin is still damp, slather on the moisturizing lotion.

* Choose a lotion brand that has petroleum jelly or lanolin high on the ingredients list.

* Don't go outside in any season without using SPF of at least 15 on your face and hands.

* Try adding lemon juice or vinegar to your bathwater. Soap, being highly alkaline, may make your skin feel itchy.

* To soften dry skin, add 1 cup powdered milk to your bath. (It worked for Cleopatra.)

* Avoid steaming hot water or lengthy immersions, which will strip your skin of its natural oils.

* Wash gently. Vigorous scrubbing can further irritate sensitive skin.

* Forgo skin products that contain alcohol, which is drying.

Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. –Samuel Ullman

The only reason I don't like the dry skin is that it is a bit more itchy than during the Summer! I just don't like anything that itches! I don't care if it's 'skeeter bites or wool underwear...if it itches, I don't like it!

How about some hot chocolate in the kitchen? Of course, there's coffee as well! Heck, I might even whip up some biscuits and gravy, if ya want some!

12 comments:

Catman said...

Hey Jim,

Yeah, I hate the effects of Old Man Winter on my skin too. Use Witch Hazel to clean your skin instead of other types of cleansers. It's more gentle and actually helps to fight wrinkles by destroying free radicals.

HermitJim said...

Hey Catman...
I know it seems kinda silly to be bothered by such a little thing, but at my age I don't need any aggravation, ya know?

Thanks for the input about the witch hazel! I'll give it a try!

Thanks, buddy, for coming by today!

DianeLynn said...

I don't have problems with dry skin BUT what about mosquito bites in the winter time. Yep I got 2 yesterday right below my short sleeve exactly same spot on each arm. LOL blood must be tasty there eh? We had a lot of rain and since the temp has been in the 60's & sunny..wallah skeeter's hatched...and they luv me way too much!

Ben in Texas said...

I understand you dry skin Sir Hermit. One thing that changed and helped clear up my badly cracking hands particularity was I quit drinking beer !! I think that the body breaking down the Alcohol take moisture from the body ,thus leaving your skin drier.

Just my theory , That, and I don't get out in this crappy weather either.

Stay Warm sir

vlad said...

Olive oil on dry skin.
https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Olive_oil

Anonymous said...

Glycerin (water glass) will likely help you. Early this spring, my hands developed some type of condition that caused my skin to peel, didn't hurt or itch, but it was sure annoying. Tea Tree Oil helped, but didn't cure - the glycerin was much less expensive and seemed more effective.

Glycerin is also used to help preserve eggs - might give that a look as well. Hope this helps.

JoJo said...

Good Morning My Special One,
I hate all this dry skin too. Gold Bond is working well but some of the other things listed above I have heard work wonders forgot about those.

Now about that breakfast you talked about.....

HermitJim said...

Hey Ben...
I don't drink beer like I used to. Haven't had one in a long time, but I have thought about it!

My drink of choice used to be whiskey! Blended Canadian whiskey!

Trouble was, I had to quit because I was drinking more and more to get a buzz, and I knew that was not a good sign!

Taking the blood thinners now prevents me from drinking any beer as it aids in thinning the blood...and I don't want to bleed out from a simple cut, ya know?

Thanks, buddy, for coming by today!


Hey Diane-Sage...
I know what you mean about the 'skeeters! Being on the Texas coast, we seem to have them all year long.

Getting bit in the same spot is not good! Must be one of your sweet spots to them, ya think?

You have a great day and thanks for coming by!


Hey Vlad...
Seems like I saw in the Almanac that many used olive oil to cure dry skin! Worth a try, I reckon!

Thanks for dropping in today!


Hey Anon 7:30...
Haven't heard of that one, but it certainly makes sense to me!

Now if I can just find it somewhere!

I appreciate you coming by today!


Hey JoJo...
Maybe we should all get together and take turns rubbing each other down with our favorite cures!

That would be interesting, to say the least!

Biscuits and gravy coming up! Thanks, sweetie, for coming over this morning!

Anonymous said...

I think Glycerin is available at Wal-Mart, its pretty inexpensive. Another possible use - mixing with potassium Mangamate makes a chemical reaction for a fire starter. Here is a link to that process:

http://tinyurl.com/yn2q9r

Bob from Athens said...

for a while back in the seventys, we milked a small herd of goats,(six or nine something like that), and the udder cream we used to keep them smooth and crack free worked wonders on my hands. Can't remember which brand we used, there are several. Seems like corona maybe. It also relieved the kids diaper rash almost immediately.

Tatersmama said...

Okay, don't laugh, but I've always sworn by Avon's "Skin So Soft" in the winter time... smoothing it on after a shower.
But I ran out and couldn't get any more, and in desperation, I used Crisco instead... and I've never looked back! Just a penny/nickle sized bit warmed between my hands and then smoothed on while still wet from the shower - and I swear I've got the skin back that I thought I had lost in my twenties!

HermitJim said...

Hey Bob...
I think i know which one you're talking about...and I think I have some in the storage shed!

I hadn't thought of it until you mentioned it.

Thanks for coming by today!


Hey Tatersmama...
Makes perfect sense to me!

Hard to beat some good ol' Crisco sometimes!

I sure appreciate you coming by today!