Gentofte Hospital skin and allergy department professor Dr Jeanne Duus Johansen said the current cold climate often leads to extreme dry skin, which occurs when the temperature drops below 0 degrees. “Cracks can appear in the skin, and this means that the skin barrier against the environment, such as chemical substances, viruses, and bacteria, becomes prone to serious skin problems such as eczema,” she told DR. To mitigate and avoid drying skin, Jeanne gave several tips, and they are as follows:
- Try to use lotions that have at least 70% fat, this will help the skin retain its moisture and reduce evaporation,
- Apply moisturizers between 20 and 30 minutes before heading out, this gives the skin the time to fully absorb the moisture it needs,
- Moisturize at night, before you go to sleep,
- Choose moisturizers that are perfume-free to avoid skin irritation and allergies.