Here’s how to fix that winter dry skin.
We may not be seeing a lot of snow this winter so far, but the cold, dry weather is still causing a lot of issues. Not so much on the roads, but for our bodies. From itchy ears to cracked hands and feet, wintertime brings a host of uncomfortable problems with it.
Pharmacist Phil Cowley shared helpful remedies to keep you feeling your best all season long.
Itchy Ears
Itchy ears can be really annoying during the winter months. According to Phil, “itchy ears have a lot to do with earwax because when the earwax dries, it starts to pull on that skin.” This can lead to an itch that is hard to ignore.
Phil’s simple remedy involves a combination of mineral oil and Nasacort, or Triamcinolone. “ So you just take one dropper of the mineral oil… then we take the same amount of Triamcinolone,” he explained. “That steroid’s going to help reduce that inflammation… and then it’s also going to help reduce how dry it is. The mineral oil is going to make this nice protective coat.”
“ Now, if your ear is leaking or if you have ear infections, don’t use this stuff,” Phil emphasized. “ This is [for] like, a solid intact ear.”
Managing Earwax Buildup
Earwax buildup can get worse in dry winter conditions. Phil recommended using hydrogen peroxide to manage earwax. You can find earwax kits, but Phil said, “Hydrogen peroxide is substantially better.” Drop hydrogen peroxide into the ear, let it fizz, and then rinse it out. Follow up with the mineral oil and Nasacort mixture to keep ears clear and moisturized.
Treating Dry and Cracked Hands and Feet
We all know winter weather often leads to dry, cracked skin on your hands and feet. “Our hands have a lot of layers of dead skin on them,” Phil noted. “Dead skin has cracks in it.” He recommended a mixture of urea 20% and hydrocortisone. Urea helps remove dead skin, while hydrocortisone reduces inflammation and brings moisture into the tissue.
You can also add urea 20% to lotion you already have. “You take 20% urea and you can actually mix that in with your favorite lotion… or you can use it direct depending on how much you want to get,” Phil said. “When they’re really, really terrible, you take the urea 20% and you mix it with hydrocortisone.”
Relieving Stuffy Noses
Stuffy noses are another common winter complaint. Phil suggested a solution using Miralax and Nasacort. He explained that Miralax, which contains polyethylene glycol, acts as an osmotic agent. When mixed with Nasacort, it forms a gel that keeps the nasal passages hydrated. This helps reduce inflammation and improves breathing. “By adding a little bit of Miralax to your nasal spray, you’re going to find a huge difference on how well you can breathe,” Phil said.
Find more solutions from Phil on Instagram, @philsmypharmacist.
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