Dry skin on the legs in winter
In winter the skin is particularly badly affected, the legs show increased dry skin. This is mainly due to the constant cold, which upsets the skin’s balance, and the heating air. Room air in winter often has a low relative humidity, which draws water from the skin.
Therefore, it is especially important in winter to pay attention to proper care. The legs should be covered, a bowl of water next to the heater can enrich the air with moisture. A cream should have a fat content of 30% rather than 20% in winter.
A cream with the addition of urea (urea), which prevents itching, is also sometimes recommended.Especially in winter, care must be taken to maintain the skin, as it is more easily damaged due to the constant external irritations. In spite of the cold, it is recommended not to take too many warm showers or baths. When shaving your legs, you should also make sure to use a good, moisturizing shaving foam.
Prophylaxis
The prophylaxis against dry skin of the legs consists primarily of minimizing all harmful environmental stimuli as far as possible and optimizing one’s own habits with regard to care and hygiene. In addition, especially in winter, care should be taken to ensure a sufficient amount of drinking water and a balanced diet. Rather mild soaps and shampoos are better than aggressive hygiene products.
If you place humidifiers next to the heating system in winter, the air in the room can be additionally humidified. If you have a tendency to dry skin, it is recommended to care for your skin with a moisturizing cream once a day. UV protection in summer and subsequent care products are obligatory when sunbathing. With these measures one can counteract the occurrence of dry skin.
Causes
The skin is the largest organ in the human body and forms an important barrier to protect the body from harmful environmental influences. It serves to regulate heat, protects against dehydration and fends off pathogens. The healthy skin contains a lot of moisture in the form of water, which gives the skin its typical elasticity.
In addition, a light layer of fat ensures lasting suppleness. These mechanisms can be affected by environmental stimuli, resulting in dry skin. Environmental factors and one’s own behavior form the largest group of causes for dry skin, and in rare cases skin diseases can also be behind it.
A major cause of dry skin on the legs is cold weather. So it is not surprising that dry skin occurs especially in winter. At temperatures below 8°C the sebaceous glands of the skin reduce the production of sebum.
In addition, less sweat is produced, which also throws the ratio of fats and water out of balance. In addition, during the winter months, the warm, but above all dry, heating air that prevails in the home. Also in summer the legs can be affected if they are exposed to the sun without protection and subsequent care.
Furthermore, pronounced contact of the legs with water causes dry skin, whether in daily hygiene or during sports activities. Especially chlorine and substances from shampoos or shower gel attack the natural fat-water layer of the skin. Many women shave their legs.
With the wrong care, this can also result in dry skin. Wrong nutrition with too little zinc and vitamins can also cause dry skin on the legs. In addition to these everyday stresses, dry skin can also be a sign of another underlying disease. Skin diseases like neurodermatitis or psoriasis, but also systemic diseases can cause dry skin, which also affects the legs. In most cases, however, other parts of the body are also affected.
