Winter is cold and the air is dry, which can easily cause skin discomfort. The skin suffers strong cold stimulation, blood vessels constrict, the skin becomes dry, and the cuticle becomes thick and easy to peel. Extreme cold can also cause frostbite. Therefore, in winter, we should pay special attention to skin care. Different groups of people need scientific skin care according to their own characteristics. Today, dermatologists are here to take stock of the skin diseases that are most likely to cause trouble in winter.
Cracked heels
Cracked heels refer to dry and thickened heel skin, with cracks of varying depths and lengths appearing along the direction of the skin texture. When the crack deepens, varying degrees of pain may occur, the crack may bleed, or even become infected. Aging and lowering of temperature may increase the degree of heel cracking.
Cracked heels can be caused by physiological factors or pathological factors. With age, the skin thickens and lacks elasticity, and the foot sebum is secreted too little, resulting in dry and brittle skin; fungal infection of the foot leads to hyperkeratosis of the heel; diseases such as diabetes lead to dryness throughout the body; hereditary or acquired palmoplantar angle Chemical diseases, etc., may cause the problem of cracked heels.
For chapped heels caused by dry skin, etc., the key to treatment is to protect and restore the skin barrier function, which is simply to strengthen moisturizing. As for chapped heels caused by the above-mentioned diseases (such as tinea pedis, diabetes), the key to treatment is to treat and control the original disease to achieve the purpose of alleviating skin symptoms.
Dry eczema
Dry eczema, also known as adipose eczema and fissured eczema, is a common clinical skin disease caused by a variety of factors. It is characterized by dry, chapped skin accompanied by scaling, most common on the front of the calves, often accompanied by itching. Dry eczema is common in people over 60 years old or in patients with ichthyosis. It mostly occurs in cold, dry (low humidity) climate conditions, and is slightly more common in men than women.
This disease is related to a variety of factors that lead to excessive water loss on the skin surface, loss of oil, or poor perspiration. Common factors include increasing age (skin aging), too many baths, excessive use of soap, and habitual bathing.
The main treatments for dry eczema include the use of emollients and choosing appropriate topical medications. At the same time, the causes and factors that aggravate symptoms need to be removed. In terms of removing the cause of the disease, such as reducing the number of baths and avoiding overheating the water temperature when bathing, etc. In terms of medication, you can choose:
Emollients: Apply emollient regularly, especially after bathing. You can use commercially available regular body lotion or hospital-made moisturizing lotion.
Glucocorticoid preparations ointment: can be used to relieve itching and subside the rash.
Antihistamines: If the itching is severe, oral antihistamines can be used to relieve symptoms.
Other skin diseases prone to occur in winter
Pruritus is a disease with skin itching symptoms but no primary skin lesions; the most common cause is dry skin; treatment of the cause should be focused on, and symptomatic treatment should be done at the same time; pay attention to moisturizing the skin to reduce adverse irritation.
Psoriasis is a chronic scaly skin disease caused by the interaction of multiple factors; erythema appears on the skin and is covered with silvery white scales; there are various treatments such as local treatment, physical therapy and systemic treatment; the course of the disease is lingering and easy to recur attack.
Ichthyosis mainly manifests as dry skin, desquamation and fish-like skin lesions; most are caused by genetics; care and topical drug treatment are mainly used, and oral drugs are required in severe cases; this disease cannot be cured.
Shingles Chickenpox - Herpes zoster virus infection affects the nerves and skin; clusters of blisters occur on one side of the body and are painful; people over 50 years old are prone to it, and this group can be vaccinated to prevent it; it can be cured with timely treatment, and some Neuralgia will remain.
Chilblains is a common skin disease that mostly occurs in the cold season. It is mainly characterized by itching of hands and feet, skin erythema, swelling, etc. Drug treatment is the main method, and physical therapy is supplemented. It can be prevented by reducing cold exposure, strengthening warmth, and keeping dry.
