Lips, around the nose, under the eyes, hands, nails, elbows and knees, heels and the whole body.
Usually the cause is lip licking, minty or scented balms, and applying too rarely. Use The Derma Co 1% Ceramide Complex Lip Balm SPF30 PA++ four to five times a day, especially after eating and drinking. Put on a thick layer before sleep. Stop licking your lips. See a doctor if they have not healed in two to three weeks, or if sores or blisters appear at the corners.
Cover bleeding cracks with a thick, sealing balm such as Vaseline Lip Therapy Cocoa Butter. Rinse gently, pat dry, then apply several times a day and thickly at night. Do not pull off loose skin, and skip lipstick and spicy food for a few days. See a doctor if the cracks have not closed in two weeks, or if there is pus, swelling or blisters.
Lips darken in winter mainly from sun, cracking, licking and smoking; no cream can promise a colour change. In the day use a balm with SPF, such as Fix Derma Lip Shield SPF50 PA+++, reapplying every two to three hours outdoors. Use a plain balm at night. Do not rub on lemon or toothpaste. See a doctor for a sudden dark spot or a patch that changes shape.
No. Pulling it off causes sores and more cracks; soften it first and it will shed on its own. Put a thick layer of Laneige Lip sleeping mask on before bed and gently wipe the lips with a soft damp cloth in the morning. A very light sugar scrub once a week is fine, but never on cracked or bleeding lips. Apply balm straight after wiping.
Red, rough skin around the lips usually comes from licking, cold wind and food left on the skin. After meals, rinse with water, pat dry and apply a thin layer of Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream Dry to Very Dry, Sensitive Skin, a little more at night. Stop strong toothpaste and scented balms. See a doctor if red bumps spread or it lasts beyond two weeks; do not use steroid creams yourself.
Both work, but they do different jobs: petroleum jelly seals moisture in, while a ceramide balm helps repair the barrier. When you go out in the day, use a balm with SPF, such as Sebamed Lip Defense SPF30 Cherry Lip Balm; at night a thick petroleum layer is ideal. Reapply before the balm wears off. Whichever you choose, licking it off undoes the work.
After every wipe, apply a thin layer of a thick balm around the nose, such as Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume, four to five times a day and a bit more at night. Press with a soft tissue instead of rubbing. Keep menthol rubs away from the nostrils, as they sting. See a doctor for honey-coloured crusts, painful bumps, or fever lasting more than three days.
Dry air and heaters dry out the skin inside the nose until it cracks. At night, dab a tiny amount of Vaseline Lip Therapy Cocoa Butter just at the rim of the nostrils with a fingertip; do not push it deep inside. Stop picking, and keep a bowl of water in the room. See a doctor promptly if bleeding is frequent, lasts more than 15 minutes, or follows an injury.
Use a fragrance-free, light eye cream under the eyes, such as Cerave Skin Renewing Eye Cream. Morning and night, pat a rice-grain amount in with your ring finger; do not rub. While the skin is peeling, pause retinol or acid eye creams for a few days. Wash your face with lukewarm, not hot, water.
First stop any new kajal, mascara, eyeshadow or cream; eyelid skin is very thin and reacts easily. Wash with lukewarm water only, then apply a tiny amount of Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream Dry to Very Dry, Sensitive Skin, keeping it out of the eye. Do not rub. See a doctor if the eye swells, has discharge, hurts or your vision changes, or if it has not improved in a week.
Too much cream, or cream placed too close to the lashes, melts into the eye and stings. Put a rice-grain amount of Cerave Skin Renewing Eye Cream on the bone around the eye, about one centimetre from the lashes. At night, apply it at least 20 minutes before lying down. See a doctor if the eye stays red without cream, hurts, or your vision blurs.
Use a mild syndet bar or creamy cleanser, such as Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar; harsh laundry soap or antiseptic liquid is not needed for everyday hand washing. Wash in lukewarm water and pat dry, including between the fingers. Apply moisturiser within a minute or two of washing. See a doctor if cracks bleed or ooze pus.
Alcohol strips the hands' natural oils, so use soap and water when you can and keep sanitiser for when you are out. Once the sanitiser has dried, rub in a pea-sized amount of Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion for Normal to Dry Sensitive Skin; it absorbs fast and fits in a bag. Use a thick cream at night. See a doctor if your fingers crack and bleed or blister.
Palms usually peel from dryness and soap or detergent. Do not pull the loose skin; apply a little Cerave Moisturising Cream For Dry to Very Dry Skin after every hand wash and a thick layer at night. We have no dedicated hand cream on our shelf right now; this cream does the job. See a doctor for itchy tiny blisters, spreading round patches, or peeling on both hands and feet.
Water trapped between the fingers softens the skin until it cracks, so dry the gaps well after every wudu or hand wash. Use a little Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion for Normal to Dry Sensitive Skin in the day and a thick cream at night. If the skin between the fingers turns white, soggy and very itchy, it may be fungal, so see a doctor.
Dish bars and detergents damage the hands' barrier and bring on itching, so wear rubber gloves while washing up. Afterwards, rinse your hands in clean water, pat dry and apply Bioderma Atoderm Crème Ultra-Nourishing Cream, several times a day. Do not scratch the skin raw. See a doctor for small blisters, oozing, or itching that has not eased in two weeks.
Knuckle skin folds over and over, so it cracks easily in winter. At night, apply a thick layer of Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume and sleep in thin cotton gloves. In the day, use a little after each hand wash, and wear gloves out in the cold. See a doctor if redness spreads from a crack, or there is pus or swelling.
Knuckles look dark mostly from dry, thickened skin and friction; with steady care they soften slowly, and no one can honestly promise to lighten them. At night, on uncracked knuckles, use CeraVe SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin three to four times a week and a plain cream on other nights. See a doctor if the neck or armpits also have velvety dark patches.
Nails turn brittle from repeated wetting and drying. At night, massage Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream Dry to Very Dry, Sensitive Skin into the nails and the skin around them. Keep nails short, file in one direction, and wear gloves for chores. Use acetone remover less often. See a doctor if a nail changes colour, thickens or lifts away from the skin.
Do not bite or tear your cuticles; snip off only the lifted bit with clean nail clippers. At night, rub a little Vaseline Lip Therapy Cocoa Butter into the cuticles; the small tin fits in a bag too. Do not let a salon cut the cuticles away, as they protect the nail from germs. See a doctor if the area turns red, swollen and painful.
Swelling and pain beside a nail is usually an infection that got in through a torn cuticle, so take it seriously. Soak the finger in lukewarm water for 10 minutes two to three times a day, then dry it; never prick it. See a doctor promptly if pus collects, redness spreads, you get a fever, it is not better in two days, or you have diabetes.
Dark elbows and knees are mostly from friction and dry, thickened skin. Apply lotion after your bath, and on three to four nights a week use CeraVe SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin, which softens the thick skin. Lean on your elbows less, and do not rub on lemon. Results take six to eight weeks, and there is no promise of lightening.
Ordinary dryness makes skin rough, but raised patches with sharp edges and silvery scales may be psoriasis, so get a doctor to confirm. Meanwhile, apply a thick layer of Cerave Moisturising Cream For Dry to Very Dry Skin after bathing and do not pick the scales. See a doctor without delay if you also have pitted nails, joint pain or patches on the scalp.
Never cut deep cracks with a blade or knife. Wash and dry your feet, apply a thick layer of Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume over the cracks at night, and put on cotton socks. Keep salicylic lotions off open cracks. We have no dedicated heel cream on our shelf right now. See a doctor for redness, heat, swelling, pus, diabetes, or cracks that have not healed in two weeks.
Yes, but gently and only on dry, thick skin, never on open cracks. Soak your feet for 10 minutes and rub lightly two to three times a week, never until it bleeds. Pat dry and apply CeraVe SA Lotion for Rough & Bumpy Skin at night; it softens thick skin. Never use a razor or blade. If you have diabetes, talk to your doctor before filing your feet yourself.
Every day after your bath, while the skin is still damp, apply a thick cream to your heels, such as Cerave Moisturising Cream For Dry to Very Dry Skin, then again at night with socks on. Walk less barefoot and in open-back sandals. Gently buff thick skin once a week. Starting in October or November means far fewer cracks by December.
The tops of the feet have few oil glands, so they turn white and scaly easily in winter. After your bath, pat your feet dry and apply CeraVe Moisturising Lotion for Dry to Very Dry Skin within three minutes, then again at night with cotton socks. Do not soak your feet in very hot water. See a doctor for itchy round red patches or blisters.
This is likely chilblains, a reaction of small blood vessels to cold. Warm your feet up slowly; putting them right next to a heater or in hot water makes it worse. Wear dry cotton socks and closed shoes, and do not scratch. See a doctor if blisters or sores form, if you have diabetes, or if it has not settled in two to three weeks.
Trapped sweat can cause a fungal infection, athlete's foot, between the toes. When you get home, wash your feet with Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar and dry between the toes completely. Change into dry cotton socks every day, and do not put moisturiser between the toes. If it itches, cracks or has not improved in a week, ask a doctor or pharmacist.
White lines from scratching mean the skin is very dry. Keep baths short and lukewarm, then apply CeraVe Moisturising Lotion for Dry to Very Dry Skin to damp legs, and again at night. Wear soft fabrics to reduce rubbing from trousers, and keep your nails short. See a doctor if two weeks of lotion does not ease the itch or red bumps appear.
Shaving or waxing dry skin traps hairs and causes bumps. Shave at the end of your bath, on softened skin, in the direction of hair growth, then apply Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion for Normal to Dry Sensitive Skin. From two days later you can use a salicylic body lotion on two to three nights a week. See a doctor if bumps fill with pus, hurt or spread redness.
Put pump-bottle lotion on a clean wooden spatula or long spoon and sweep it over your back, or use the backs of your hands. Apply CeraVe Moisturising Lotion for Dry to Very Dry Skin right after your bath. Wear cotton under wool. See a doctor if others at home itch too, or it gets much worse at night.
Heavy oil plus sweat trapped under thick clothes blocks the pores, so bumps appear. On your back and chest, swap the oil for a light lotion such as Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion for Normal to Dry Sensitive Skin. A few days a week you can leave a salicylic body wash on for a minute before rinsing. See a doctor for large, painful lumps or acne that leaves marks.
Pale, slightly scaly patches on the back and chest are often tinea versicolor (chuli), a yeast infection; moisturiser will not clear it. A doctor or pharmacist can give a suitable antifungal, and the colour takes a few months to even out. Meanwhile, bathe with mild Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar and change out of sweaty clothes quickly. If a patch is chalk-white, see a doctor soon.
Wool mufflers and stiff collars rubbing the neck cause redness from friction and dryness. Wear a cotton scarf underneath. After your bath and at night, apply Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion for Normal to Dry Sensitive Skin to the neck; bringing your face cream down to the neck works too. Do not spray perfume on the neck. See a doctor for itchy bumps or blisters.
The neck looks darker in winter from dry dead skin, less thorough washing and muffler friction. Cleanse gently with a mild soap in the bath, then apply CeraVe Moisturising Lotion for Dry to Very Dry Skin, plus sunscreen on an exposed neck in the day. Do not scrub it raw, and ignore lightening promises. See a doctor for thick, velvety dark folds; a blood sugar test may be needed.
A dry scalp sheds small, white, powdery flakes and feels tight; dandruff flakes are bigger, oily and yellowish, and itch more. For a dry scalp, use lukewarm water and a mild shampoo such as L'Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump 72H Hydrating Shampoo two to three times a week. Dandruff needs a ketoconazole or zinc pyrithione shampoo, which is not on our shelf right now.
If the scalp is simply dry, yes, oil helps for a short time. One to two hours before shampooing, massage a little Ribana Organic Coconut Oil into the scalp with your fingertips, then wash it out. If you have dandruff, do not leave oil on the scalp overnight, as the yeast feeds on it. See a doctor for red, itchy sores or thick scales.
Sores and thick scales may not be ordinary dandruff; they can be psoriasis, seborrhoeic dermatitis, a fungal infection or lice, so see a doctor. Meanwhile, wash gently with lukewarm water and a mild shampoo such as L'Oréal Paris Elvive Hyaluron + Plump 72H Hydrating Shampoo, using your fingertips, not your nails. Go promptly if hair falls out in round patches or there is pus.
This spot gets a runny nose, lip licking and cold wind all at once, so it cracks. After washing, dry the moustache, then press a little Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Baume into the skin at the roots, a bit more at night. Keep aftershave and alcohol off this area. See a doctor for yellow crusts, blisters, or cracks that have not healed in two weeks.
A spreading round red patch with beard hair falling out can be a fungal or bacterial infection that moisturiser will not fix, so see a doctor. Do not put steroid creams on it yourself, as they can feed a fungus. Meanwhile, keep your razor and towel separate, wash gently with Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser Normal To Dry & Sensitive Skin and keep it dry. Go promptly for pus or fever.
Itching without a rash in winter is often just dryness. Keep baths under 10 minutes in lukewarm water, use mild soap only where needed, and apply CeraVe Moisturising Lotion for Dry to Very Dry Skin all over within three minutes of the bath. See a doctor if two weeks of this does not help, or if you notice yellow eyes, weight loss or itching that wakes you.
Stopping the itch comes first, because ongoing scratching thickens both the marks and the skin. When it itches, press a cool damp cloth on it, keep nails short, and apply Bioderma Atoderm Crème Ultra-Nourishing Cream twice a day. Once the itching stops, the marks fade slowly over a few months. See a doctor if the skin has become thick, hard patches.
Ear rims and the skin behind the ears dry out from cold wind and friction from caps and headphones. After bathing, dry the ears well and apply a thin layer of Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream Dry to Very Dry, Sensitive Skin at night, keeping it out of the ear canal. Wear a cap that covers your ears outdoors. See a doctor for greasy yellow scales or oozing behind the ears.
No. Do not put cotton buds, sticks or oil inside the ear; they push wax deeper and can scratch the skin and cause infection. After bathing, just wipe and dry the outer ear, and you can put a little moisturiser on the outer rim. See an ENT doctor for ear pain, pus or fluid coming out, reduced hearing, or itching that does not settle.