Soak and Seal Hands to Fight Winter Dryness

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" Soak and Seal " Hands to Fight Winter Dryness

Many people think that water is bad for their dry hands. Indeed,

repeatedly dipping hands in and out of water can further dry them out.

But if done correctly, soaking hands in water can be an effective way to

fight the dry skin that plagues many people, especially in winter.

" The most important treatment for dry skin is to put water back in it, "

says Noreen Nicol, skin expert and Chief Clinical Officer at National

Jewish. " The best way to do that is to soak in a bath or shower. Then

you must seal in the absorbed water with a thick layer of moisturizer.

At National Jewish, the 'soak and seal' hydration method is a

fundamental element of our therapy for atopic dermatitis patients with

severely dry and cracked skin. "

When you put your hands in water, the top layer of the skin, the

epidermis, opens up. That can be both good and bad.

If you quickly pull your hands out of the water and dry them off, water

doesn't have time to soak in and precious moisture inside your skin

evaporates more easily. At the same time, skin becomes more susceptible

to irritants, such as harsh soaps or other cleaning chemicals. When

dipped repeatedly in and out of water, skin becomes more dry and more

sensitive. Applying moisturizer right after you dry your hands can help

reduce this water loss.

But if you really want to rehydrate your hands and help them heal, let

them soak in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes, say in a bath or shower.

That will give your skin time to absorb the much-needed water. Then pat

your skin dry and immediately apply a thick layer of an occlusive

moisturizer to seal that water in. An occlusive moisturizer has an

ointment or cream base rather than the thinner lotion base. Aquaphor®

ointment and Eucerin Creme® are two good occlusive moisturizers. For

those who dislike the greasy feel of many ointments and creams, Nicol

recommends Vanicream® and Cetaphil® cream.

" Moisturizer is 10 times more effective when applied to skin that has

been soaked in water, " said Nicol. " The moisturizer can soak more deeply

into the top layer of skin, creating a more effective barrier against

water loss. "

Nicol recommends performing the " soak and seal " at night just before

bed. You are unlikely to further dry out or irritate your skin while

sleeping. That allows water to be more thoroughly absorbed into your skin.

For especially severe cases of dry skin, light cotton gloves worn at

night can further reduce water loss through the skin.

Ms. Nicol also recommends using a mild fragrance-free cleanser. Try

products labeled for use with " sensitive skin. " They are usually free of

fragrance, dye and other irritating chemicals. Such cleansers include

Dove®, Oil of Olay®, Basis®, Oilatum®, Aveeno®, and Neutrogena®.

National Jewish Medical and Research Center is a non-sectarian,

non-profit institution devoted to the treatment and research of lung,

allergic and immune diseases. Among its programs is one devoted to

atopic dermatitis, or eczema, a chronic skin disease characterized by

intense itching with red or dry skin. The program's multidisciplinary

team offers comprehensive evaluation and treatment of patients. For more

information call 1-800-222-LUNG.

http://nationaljewish.org/news/soakandseal.html