What are tips for protecting my sensitive skin in winter and summer?
• Answer: First, you should know that the American Academy of Dermatology recommends protecting your skin with sunscreen year-round. Use a product with at least a sun protection factor (SPF)15 rating, and use it every day that you will be in the sun for longer than 20 minutes. And remember, the sun’s skin-damaging UV rays are strongest between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Avoid going out in the sun during these hours whenever possible — any time of the year. In winter, to help prevent skin dryness, flaking, itching, and cracking: • Don’t overheat your home. • Take warm, not hot, baths and showers — and fewer of them — and use a soap-free cleanser. • Minimize skin dryness after bathing: Pat your skin dry and apply moisturizer while your skin is still moist. • Use a moisturizer containing petrolatum, mineral oil, linoleic acid, ceramides, dimethicone, or glycerin. In summer, keep in mind that tanning actually damages your skin — don’t lie out in the sun, even if you’ve applied sunscreen.
