It is dry skin time again in New England. I asked a dermatologist friend what to do about it, other than slather on “dermatologist-developed” Lubriderm from Costco. “At least use some good moisturizer!” she exclaimed. What constituted “good” in her mind? “Eucerin Advanced Repair,” she responded, “but make sure you don’t get it confused with a bunch of similarly named Eucerin variants.”
If moisturizing cream isn’t sufficient to get rid of red, dry skin, what then? “Topical steroids, cream or ointment. The ointment works better. Some of the latest ones are $700 per tube and most insurance companies won’t cover them. I prescribe them only for teachers and state employees.”
She noted that, due to some lucrative new drugs for psoriasis and heavy advertising regarding that disease, a lot of patients with dry skin came in fearing that they were afflicted with psoriasis. “If it clears up within a week or two of moving to a warm and humid environment, it is unlikely to be psoriasis.”
[Separately, has competition sucked the profit out of laser hair removal, which has funded quite a few turbine-powered aircraft at our local airport as well as some lucrative cash transfers through family law? “The machine costs about $100,000, plus some renewables, and generates at least $1,200 per hour in revenue,” she said. (Depending on the state, I think that the machine can be operated by an assistant under the nominal supervision of the dermatologist, who might be at home, for example, while the laser was in operation.)]
Eucerin is still the duck’s guts after 30 years. Don’t expect anything better or you’ll cause a recession.
Phil, what about whole-house humidifier?
It may sound obvious, but my doctor advised me to make sure to wear gloves when outside in the winter.
I’ve experienced the “rebound effect” while using topical steroids, that is, that symptoms returned with a vengeance when I stopped, so I wouldn’t recommend them unless you really need it. I think it’s fair to say it can be difficult to properly stop using them without backsliding. Probably better for the ‘casual’ to just tough it out with some less finicky treatment.
Maybe the solution is to travel to the hot and humid Hawaii in the winter! Isn’t that what the Obamafuherer did? Isn’t that what the Philenfuherer is doing?
Eucerin is the best. A friend of mine who is a fireman introduced me to it; he uses it on his hands, which are exposed to water in the cold weather & the skin cracks, etc. I use it on my feet. A couple of years ago i could barely walk in the winter but now it is all fine — thanks to Eucerin.
All these creams are endocrine disrupters and should be avoided. People just bathe too often and strip away the skin’s natural function. Take it easy with the hot showers and the soap/shampoo.
Are you saying dirt is Nature’s Eucerin?
No, but sebum is. It’s literally the same stuff as the lanolin in the original eucerin formula. Unless you’re actually dirty from working outside or something, in the winter just take a quick rinse in lukewarm water and only use a little soap on the bits that need it. If you take a hot, soapy shower and then apply lotion you’re literal stripping off the natural protective layer and replacing it with a bunch of inferior chemicals that aren’t great for you.
@Phil,
I didn’t understand your question about laser hair removal. Is there some anecdotal evidence that this procedure is not popular any longer with the dermatologists?
I went to the dermatologist with what I knew was flesh eating bacteria. He asked if I wash my hands a lot. I said yes. He said just put on petroleum jelly while my hands are damp after washing. Worked like a charm. That was in Tucson, so I know dry.
Phil, after having the same problem, getting worse for years, we got a humidifier for the bedroom. It helps a lot. We got a Honeywell HCM350 or something like that. Its a pretty good size but really humidifies the room. Also we use an off the shelf in shower moisturizer that you put on at the end of your shower while wet. Seriously, no itching at all so far this year.
SK: I have tried humidifiers in the HVAC system. The air handler was up in an attic. Eventually the process of supplying water to the apartment was simplified to “just dump it through the ceiling.” Most people in New England with whole-house humidifiers seem to have given up due to failures, mold, etc.
Whole house humidifiers are trouble but the portable ultrasonic ones in your bedroom are fine. The biggest problem is that you have to keep refilling them. Also depending on what your water is like they produce a lot of dust because when the water evaporates the minerals in the water are left behind. But at least they won’t wreck your house.
Second (third?) a recommendation for a portable warm-mist or ultrasonic (not whole house!) humidifier – just needs to be filled with RO-filtered or distilled water, and rinsed occasionally with vinegar.
A big pot of water over low heat is a fine, almost cost-less, humidifier.
CeraVe Moisturizing Facial Lotion PM:
cera refers to ceramides; I buy the generic from CVS, etc; AM formula contains sunscreen;
When I was in college a friend of mine kept a coffee can with water in it on top of the radiator.