Pampering Your Skin This Spring

Salem dermatology office

Now that the days have gotten longer and the temperature has started to climb, the time has come to kick off those sweatshirts and rain boots to start wearing your shorts and sandals. At our dermatologist clinic in Salem, Oregon, our staff frequently see patients who become so excited for the spring season they fail to recognize that their skin is still singing the winter blues – rough, scaly dry spots on knees, elbows and heels as well as stressed out, undernourished, over stimulated skin on the body and face.

Nothing has a more dramatic impact on the health of your skin than a long, cold winter. Even though we receive a lot of moisture here in the Pacific Northwest, the winter air is still harsher and drier than during the spring and summer. Combined with dry, heated air and the winter can leave your skin looking rough, dry, dull and even older and more wrinkled than before.

Our toes and heels can also take an unexpected pounding while wearing winter boots, leaving areas of the body we often neglect in desperate need of care. Since our feet and legs are displayed less during the winter than during the warmer seasons, we tend to moisturize less frequently, and we fail to notice things like dry cuticles. Sadly, it doesn’t take much for skin that’s been neglected to react negatively by becoming flaky, dull, dry and occasionally red and inflamed.

But if this talk of dry winter skin has gotten you down don’t worry, healthy summer skin is closer than you may expect. The best place to begin is with a head-to-toe moisturizers treatment, and you don’t even need to break the bank to have the job done right.

Finding The Right Moisturizer

While it might take some time and more than a little trial and error, you’ll find the right moisturizer by staying patient. If you try a moisturizer that doesn’t produce the results you want, don’t be afraid to move along to another brand until you find what works best for you. The estheticians at our dermatologist clinic in Salem, Oregon can help you find the right moisturizer for your skin.

When looking for a moisturizer, keep the following tips in mind:

  • Pay close attention to the first five ingredients. Look for common active ingredients like petrolatum, glycerin and lanolin. For those who worry about allergies, glycerin is less likely to cause an allergic reaction than lanolin. And while price can be a consideration, you should always pick a moisturizer made by a reputable company.
  • Sunscreen is an added plus. No matter the time of year, you should always protect your skin from the harmful damage the sun can cause. To keep your skin looking young and healthy, buy a moisturizer with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. Schedule an appointment with our estheticians if you need help you finding the right moisturizer with sunscreen.
  • Make your moisturizer skin appropriate. Facial skin is more sensitive and thinner, so it makes sense to use a different type of moisturizer on your face than you do on the rest of the body. Brands labeled “non-comedogenic” won’t block your pores, and if you suffer from sensitive skin, consider brands labeled as “hypoallergenic”. If you have oily skin, try a lighter, oil-free moisturizer, while those with dry skin should try a heavier brand. If your skin is more of a combination of one or more types, try using a lighter moisturizer for your face and dot drier areas with a heavier product.
  • Before bed, try using a moisturizer with retinol. Retinol is vitamin A for the skin. It works by improving how the body replicates skin cells. Moisturizers with retinol are available over-the-counter and by prescription, but use caution with these brands as they can cause dry skin, red skin and skin irritations.