Winter in the Southern Hemisphere begins this Thursday (21), at 5:50 pm, and brings with it a sequence of three months of weather, in general, marked by low temperatures and dry weather.
The arrival of this season calls for extra care to avoid dry skin, as pointed out by the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD). In addition to intensifying the body’s hydration by drinking water regularly and applying creams to the driest skin areas, it is also necessary to keep an eye on skin diseases that can be aggravated in winter.
A CNN List below, with the help of dermatologist Márcia Linhares, an effective member of SBD, four dermatological diseases that can worsen with low temperatures and dry weather. Look:
Seborrheic dermatitis
Characterized by flaking caused precisely by dysregulation in the production of sebum in the skin, seborrheic dermatitis tends to occur mainly in regions where there is more hair, such as the face and scalp. Symptoms such as increased oiliness, dandruff, itching, redness and even hair loss can also be aggravated in winter if the patient takes very hot baths.
Treatment may involve more frequent washing to balance oiliness with active ingredients such as salicylic acid, tar, selenium, sulfur, zinc or antifungals. The dermatologist may also recommend stopping the use of sprays, ointments and hair gels, as well as caps and hats.
You can prevent the worsening of seborrheic dermatitis by maintaining a healthy diet, reducing the consumption of cigarettes and alcoholic beverages, drying your body well after bathing, avoiding clothes that do not retain sweat, controlling physical and mental stress and correctly removing shampoo and conditioner while showering.
Atopic dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is the manifestation of atopy, a genetic disease that causes hypersensitivity to allergies in the skin. Its main symptom is itching, which can affect the face, trunk and limbs, especially in skin folds, such as behind the knees, necks and arms. In these regions, the skin tends to become darker, rougher and thicker.
It can worsen in winter if the patient frequently takes very hot baths or wears woolen or synthetic clothing that can cause skin irritation. Dry weather and the resulting dryness of the skin can also make symptoms appear more intense.
In mild cases, atopic dermatitis tends to be controlled with the use of moisturizers and emollients on the skin. If the condition worsens, the dermatologist may prescribe the use of antiallergics, corticosteroids or other medications depending on the manifestation of symptoms.
Worsening of the disease can be avoided if the patient maintains a constant skin hydration routine, especially in winter.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a genetic autoimmune skin disease that causes red lesions and scaling. Other possible symptoms are swelling and deformation of the joints, detachment, depression and striations on the nails and lesions on the scalp.
Despite having a genetic origin, its manifestation can be aggravated by factors such as dry skin caused by cold weather, stress, the use of some medications to treat hypertension or antimalarials (such as chloroquine) and the consumption of alcohol or cigarettes.
The treatment of psoriasis depends on which type of disease appears on the patient’s skin. In mild cases, a good skin hydration routine may be sufficient. If symptoms worsen, the dermatologist may prescribe medication or recommend that the patient undergo phototherapy sessions.
Ichthyosis vulgaris
Hereditary, ichthyosis vulgaris is a condition that causes the reproduction of a protein responsible for the impermeability properties of the skin. The main symptom of the disease, which tends to appear in the first year of life and disappear over the years, is intense dryness of the skin. In severe cases, it can even cause peeling.
The main treatment measure is precisely to maintain a skin hydration routine, adding products with components such as urea and ammonium lactate, which have strong moisturizing properties. The dermatologist may also recommend the use of topical compounds that help treat peeling, such as salicylic acid.
The Brazilian Society of Dermatology recommends that those who have the disease avoid hot, long baths and the excessive use of soap or cleaning agents that are aggressive to the skin, such as brushes, sandpaper and loofahs.
Source: CNN Brasil
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