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Beauty101
Seasonal Skin Care
Strategies that help your skin weather
the cold. By Ellen Miller
Some things in life are certain: death, taxes, celebrities in rehab, and the dry, itchy skin that comes along when the temperature drops. Dermatologists sum up the reason for most winter skin problems in two words: barrier function. "The skin's uppermost layer is supposed to keep water in and irritants out," says David E. Bank, associate in clinical dermatology at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. "But in winter, humidity levels drop both outdoors and in, moisture evaporates, and skin can't do its job as a protective covering." The solution: "Change your whole regimen," says New York City dermatologist Cheryl Karcher, who suggests a combination of quicker, cooler showers and baths, gentler exfoliation, and richer moisturizer. "A humidifier in your bedroom overnight can also help skin retain moisture," Karcher says -- or you could just hightail it to the tropics until spring.
1. Cleanse
FACE: Switch to a soap-free, creamy cleanser -- anything that produces a lather can be too harsh. Women with acne-prone skin should go with ...