Lessening winter's toll on the skin

Even for people who don't have cold-induced urticaria, winter can be hard on the skin, says state-licensed clinical esthetician Jennifer Derry, who works in the Pittsburgh office of plastic surgeon Leo McCafferty.

Multiple layers of clothing and the heat from furnaces and hot showers and baths pull the moisture out of our skin and cause dehydration. "As a result," Derry said, "we see increasing cases of dry, itching or flaking skin."

Moisturizers help the problem, but some people may need a combination of lotions and treatments to combat winter-beaten skin.

"Humidifiers, fish oil, enzyme facials and hyaluronic acid serums are among the many options for patients," Derry said. "Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the body, helping to moisturize from the inside out. By applying more HA to the skin, it helps to hold in more moisture."

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.) via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette