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WINTER 2013
1 0 3 Y E A R S | O U R H O S P I T A L F A M I L Y C A R E S F O R O U R C O M M U N I T Y F A M I L Y E V E R Y D A Y
Winter months don’t have to make you
miserable with dry, itchy skin. Just give
your skin what it’s missing—moisture. To
prevent or relieve dry-skin discomfort,
follow these tips from the American
Academy of Dermatology:
w
Keep the bathroom door closed when
you shower or bathe to hold in the
humidity. Put on moisturizer within
three minutes of getting out of the
shower or tub.
w
Avoid antibacterial, perfumed and
deodorant soaps.
w
Apply hand cream to seal in moisture
immediately after washing your hands.
w
Choose ointments and creams over
lotions—their higher oil content makes
them better at locking in moisture.
w
Dab petroleum jelly on problem areas
to seal in moisture and heal very dry skin.
w
Use a humidi er to keep the humidity
in your home between 45 and 55 percent.
If your skin doesn’t improve, see your
healthcare provider.
YOU
take steps to protect your
home and car during the winter. It
makes sense to do the same for your
health. To help, here are ve ways to
stay healthy and safe when tempera-
tures drop:
1
Get a u shot.
You need a u
vaccination every year because the
predominant viruses change annu-
ally. Vaccination is recommended
for everyone age 6 months and older.
2
Wash your hands.
Frequent
handwashing
helps remove
germs that
cause colds and
u. Use warm
water and soap.
Scrub your hands thoroughly for at
least 20 seconds.
3
Dress warmly.
Wear several thin
layers of clothing. Air trapped be-
tween layers helps keep you warm—
inside or outside your home.
When outside, wear mittens,
which are warmer than gloves, and
a hat. If breathing cold air bothers
you, wear a scarf to cover your nose
and mouth.
4
Protect your skin.
To help
prevent dry, itchy skin, use a mois-
turizer. Before going outside, apply
broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun
protection factor (SPF) of at least 30.
(Yes, you still need to wear sunscreen
even in the winter.)
5
Prevent falls.
If
you have the bone-
thinning disease
osteoporosis, falls are
especially dangerous.
To reduce your risk,
make sure your footwear has good
traction. Use handrails on stairs, and
don’t try to walk on snow or ice. Ask
your doctor whether any medication
you take might a ect your balance.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Stay well this winter
Join us on Facebook. Visit Sharon Hospital Women’s Services today!
We’re here for you. Please call
our Health & Wellness Concierge
at
877.364.4202
or email
.
NEW
VISITORS’
HOURS
daily from
11 a.m.–8 p.m.
Please sign in and
out at the reception
desk in the
front lobby.
Smooth move: How to avoid dry skin this season
