Hot showers, room heaters, wool, drinking less water, fog and travel.
Yes, very hot water strips the skin's natural oils, which is why you feel tight and itchy after a bath. Use lukewarm water: comfortable on your wrist, never scalding, and your skin should not turn red afterwards. Pat yourself dry and, while the skin is still slightly damp, apply CeraVe Moisturising Lotion for Dry to Very Dry Skin to your arms, legs and body.
You can bathe every day, but finish within 5 to 10 minutes. Soap is only needed on the underarms, groin and feet; there is no need to lather your arms, legs and back daily. On very cold days, a full bath every other day is fine too. Within 3 minutes of bathing, apply Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Glow Body Lotion all over, and your skin will feel far less rough.
How gentle it is matters more than whether it is a bar or a liquid. Soaps with strong fragrance and lots of foam dry the skin out in winter. A mild bar like Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar or a creamy body wash both work. Use a small amount just where it is needed, rinse with lukewarm water, and apply moisturiser straight after the bath.
No, you do not need antiseptic soap all over your body every day; in winter it makes the skin drier, rougher and itchier. A plain, mild soap is enough to keep you clean. Keep antibacterial soap for cuts and scrapes or when a doctor advises it. After the bath, apply Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion for Normal to Dry Sensitive Skin to damp skin to ease the tightness.
Sitting too close dries the skin and turns it red, and heat on the same spot day after day can leave a brown, net-like pattern on the legs or thighs. Keep the heater at least a metre away and never point it straight at your legs. Apply CeraVe Moisturising Cream For Dry to Very Dry Skin at night. See a doctor if you notice a net-like mark, blisters or burning.
Most homes in Bangladesh do not need a humidifier; it helps a little if you run a heater or the room feels very dry. A bowl of water or a damp towel near the heater also helps slightly. If you buy one, change the water daily and keep it clean. Moisturiser does the real work: apply Cetaphil Moisturising Cream For Dry To Normal Sensitive Skin at night.
Under a heavy quilt your body overheats and sweats, then the sweat dries and the skin itches; a woollen blanket on bare skin also rubs. Keep a cotton sheet or cotton cover against your body, and use a lighter blanket if you feel too hot. Before sleeping, apply Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion for Normal to Dry Sensitive Skin to your arms and legs, and wash the cover weekly.
Quilts stored all year collect dust and dust mites, which cause the itching and sneezing. Before use, put them in strong sun for 2 to 3 days, shake them out well, and wash the covers and sheets. Use a cotton cover so the blanket does not touch your skin directly. See a doctor if the itching comes with raised red welts, breathlessness or worsening asthma.
The coarse fibres of wool rub against dry skin and make it itch, so wear a soft cotton shirt or vest under the sweater. Before dressing, apply a thin layer of Bioderma Atoderm Crème Ultra-Nourishing Cream to your arms, neck and chest to keep the skin soft. Wash a new sweater once before wearing it. If red welts or swelling appear, stop wearing it and see a doctor.
No, drinking water matters for your body, but water alone does not fix dry skin. Many people drink less in winter because they feel less thirsty, so unless a doctor has told you to limit fluids, drink 6 to 8 glasses a day. For dryness on the skin's outer layer, you still need Simple Kind To Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser on your face after bathing and at night.
A balanced diet supports your skin from the inside, but no food fixes dry skin overnight. Eat hilsa or other oily fish, eggs and nuts, plus winter carrots, spinach, red amaranth, tomatoes, oranges and guavas. Cut down on fried food and sweets. Even then, you still need moisturiser on the outside and balm on your lips. Do not take vitamin tablets without a doctor's advice.
Two or three cups of tea or coffee a day will not dry your skin; they still count towards your fluid intake. The problem starts when you drink tea and coffee all day but hardly any water, with lots of sugar. Make a habit of one glass of water with every cup. Do not keep licking your lips after a hot cup; keep Vaseline Lip Therapy Cocoa Butter on them.
Yes, smoking reduces blood flow and oxygen to the skin and breaks down collagen, so winter dryness, dullness and lines around the mouth all get worse. No cream can fully undo this; quitting is the real fix. Until then, apply The Face Shop Rice Ceramide Moisturizing Cream to your face every morning and night, and wear sunscreen when you go out in the day.
Yes, with too little sleep your skin gets less time to repair itself, so your face looks dry and pale with darker under-eyes. Aim for 7 to 8 hours a night and cut down on phone use before bed. Before sleeping, wash your face and apply a pea-sized amount of Simple Kind To Vital Vitamin Night Cream. If a heater is running, do not sleep right next to it.
Yes, regular exercise boosts blood flow and gives your face a fresh look, but sweat left on the skin can cause breakouts. Change out of sweaty clothes quickly after a workout, and do not sit in cold wind with damp skin. Within half an hour, take a lukewarm shower, wash your face with Simple Kind to Skin Refreshing Facial Wash Gel and apply a light moisturiser.
Apply sunscreen to your face, neck, ears and arms 15 minutes before you start; even winter sun burns and darkens skin over two or three hours. A sweat-friendly option like Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 50+ works well, using two finger-lengths for the face alone. Reapply after 2 hours in a long match. Afterwards, wash your face, apply moisturiser and put balm on your lips.
In winter, Dhaka's air carries more dust and fine particles, and fog traps them near the ground; on the skin they add to redness, itching, breakouts and dullness. At home, wash your face once with CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser Normal to Dry in lukewarm water, then moisturise. Wear sunscreen and a mask when you go out by day. On very bad AQI days, limit time outdoors.
A mask protects your nose and mouth from dust, but friction and trapped moisture from a dirty or tight mask can cause pimples and redness on the chin and cheeks. Wash cotton masks daily and throw surgical masks away after one use. Do not wear heavy makeup under a mask. At night, apply a thin layer of Skin1004 Madagascar Centella Soothing Cream where the mask rubs.
No, an umbrella or cap blocks some direct sun, but light reflected off roads and walls still reaches your face. Apply Missha All Around Safe Block Cotton Sun SPF50+ PA++++ in the morning and treat the umbrella or cap as extra protection. A scarf or muffler shields your cheeks and lips from fog and cold wind; if a woollen scarf itches, keep a cotton layer underneath.
Tea gardens and haor areas are colder and foggier than Dhaka at dawn and night, with strong midday sun. Pack a gentle face wash, the small CeraVe Moisturizing Cream For Normal To Dry Skin, sunscreen, lip balm and a body lotion. Go out in the morning with cream and sunscreen on; at night, wash your face and apply the cream again. Do not scratch itchy insect bites with your nails.
In the hills the sun is stronger and the air drier, so sunscreen and lip balm matter most. Keep Cetaphil Sheer Mineral Sunscreen Stick SPF-50 in your pocket while trekking and swipe it over your face, ears and neck every 2 hours. Use a lip balm with SPF. Hill nights get quite cold, so wash your face and apply a thick cream at night, and carry a cap and scarf.
Even in winter, sunlight bounces off the water and sand onto your face, so apply a water-resistant sunscreen 15 minutes before going in, such as Missha Water Proof Sun Milk SPF50+ PA++++. Reapply after you come out of the water, or every two hours or so. Salt water and sand dry the skin, so back at the hotel take a fresh-water shower and apply lotion all over.
Cold window wind, air conditioning and dust dry your face quickly on a long journey. Before setting off, apply moisturiser, plus sunscreen by day. In your bag keep cotton pads, Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water All In 1 For Sensitive Skin, a small cream and lip balm. If your face feels tight, wipe it with micellar water on cotton and reapply cream. Do not sit facing a fully open window.
Yes, lukewarm water is better for the skin; both ice-cold and very hot water dry it more. After ablution, pat dry gently with a soft towel, keeping the gaps between fingers and toes and your heels dry. After the prayer, apply a little Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream Dry to Very Dry, Sensitive Skin to your hands, feet and face. Cream and socks overnight mean fewer cracked heels.
Yes, detergent left in clothes can cause itching and small red bumps on dry winter skin. Use the recommended amount of detergent, no more; rinse clothes twice in clean water and dry them in the sun. Avoid strong fragrance and too much softener, especially for vests, underwear and bed sheets. Wear gloves when hand-washing clothes, then apply CeraVe Moisturising Lotion for Dry to Very Dry Skin to your hands.