Don't Let Cold Weather Wreak Havoc with Resident Skin

Cold weather has come in with a bang here in the Midwest! In addition to sending you scrambling for warmer clothing, it can also do a number on the already-delicate skin of your residents. As we age, our skin is likely to become drier due to the natural loss of oil glands, which help keep skin soft. Combine this with the drier air created by indoor heating, and you have the perfect recipe for dry, flaking or cracking skin.

What can you do to keep your residents – and yourself – comfortable?

Here are eight ideas:

1. Ask your supplier rep or a dermatologist which products they would recommend to deliver extra moisture to skin that is battered by the winter elements.
2. Moisturize resident skin more often with a product that creates a protective layer on the skin to help retain moisture.
3. If residents will be going outside, apply sunscreen to their faces and hands (if they're exposed). Winter sun, when combined with glare from snow, can still damage skin.
4. The skin on our hands is thinner and contains fewer oil glands, which makes it harder to keep hands moisturized in the winter. When your residents go outside, make sure they're wearing gloves (and remember that wool gloves can cause irritation to the skin).
5. If residents come back into the building wearing wet socks or gloves, remove them immediately to reduce the likelihood of itching, cracking, sores or even eczema flare-ups.
6. Consider placing several small humidifiers throughout the building. These help to put more moisture into the air, which helps prevent the skin from becoming dry.
7. To keep residents' feet moisturized, seek out a lotion that contains petroleum jelly or glycerine. 
8. Keep in mind that super-hot baths and showers can break down the lipid barriers in the skin, leading to moisture loss.

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