Many people experience dry, cracked, and itchy skin in winter, especially on the lower legs and back. This phenomenon is known as "winter itch". It can be particularly bothersome and scary for individuals with dry skin and most elderly people. So what can we do about it?
[Causes of Winter Itch]
1. Bathing too frequently can lead to itchy skin
Itching often occurs at night and mostly affects the limbs, especially the lower limbs. When patients sleep, their body temperature increases and their attention is focused, resulting in intense itching. They often use their nails to scratch and relieve the itch. However, this often leads to temporary relief but can easily cause skin damage. Repeatedly scratching the skin can cause secondary skin lesions, such as scratch marks and lichenification, and may also lead to secondary bacterial infections, exacerbating the itching.
2. Dryness causes hand and foot cracks
Hand and foot cracks refer to a condition where the skin on the hands and feet becomes dry and develops linear cracks due to various reasons. The pathogenesis is related to thickening, dryness, external stimuli, and local activity of the epidermal stratum corneum. In winter, the climate is dry and cold, sweat gland secretion decreases, and there is a lack of sebum moisturization. In addition, various physical, chemical, and biological factors can stimulate and abrade the skin, causing thickening, dryness, and brittleness of the skin, leading to cracks and pain when there is significant local activity or traction. Furthermore, certain skin conditions such as ichthyosis, tinea manus et pedis, eczematous dermatitis, and chilblains can also cause cracks under pathological conditions.
The depth of cracks can generally be classified into three degrees. First-degree cracks: the skin is dry with small cracks, but they only reach the epidermis, so there are no bleeding or pain symptoms. Second-degree cracks: the skin is dry, keratosis thickens, and the cracks extend from the epidermis into the dermis, causing mild pain but no bleeding. Third-degree cracks: the skin is dry, keratosis thickens, and the cracks extend from the epidermis into the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, often causing bleeding and tenderness or burning sensation.
3. High humidity leads to "chilblains"
In areas with high humidity in winter, the incidence of chilblains is higher. Chilblains are more likely to occur when the temperature is below 5°C, the relative humidity is above 60%, and mainly affect areas such as the back of the hand and fingers, edges of the feet and toes, lower limbs, and cheeks. Local skin feels cool and appears dark purple or bluish-purple patches. When pressed, it feels soft. In severe cases, blisters may appear, rupturing to form erosion or ulcers. After exposure to heat, there is itching, burning sensation, and pain. These symptoms can last for 1-2 months and only resolve when the weather warms up. However, some patients may experience a recurrence in the same areas the following winter.
[Preventive Measures for Winter Itch]
1. Prevention starts with daily life
In winter, try to reduce the frequency of bathing, as hot water and soap are irritants to the skin. If bathing is necessary, the water temperature should be between 36-38°C and not too hot. Adding bath oil (vegetable oil works too) to the bathwater can moisturize the skin and accelerate the healing process of itching. Use electric blankets, heaters, or air conditioning for warmth in winter, but the temperature should not be too high and the duration should not be too long. It is also important to stay hydrated. Engaging in light physical labor and exercise can improve overall blood circulation, promote sweat gland and sebaceous gland secretion, and to some extent, alleviate skin dryness. It is advisable to wear soft and loose cotton underwear.
2. Pay attention to dietary regulation
Meals should be light, and it is recommended to eat foods rich in plant oils, such as sesame, peanuts, walnuts, and soybeans, to moisturize the skin. Eating fresh fruits and drinking plenty of water helps maintain regular bowel movements. Avoid spicy foods and limit consumption of alcohol, strong tea, and coffee, as they can stimulate the skin and trigger itching.
3. Use medication for treatment
For mild cases, topical creams containing menthol, camphor, or corticosteroids can be used, as well as urea creams. For severe cases, sedatives and antihistamines such as diazepam, doxepin, and promethazine can be used under the guidance of a doctor. Hormonal therapy can be highly effective for some patients but must be used under the guidance of a physician. For individuals with unbearable itching, antihistamines can be used orally, and various anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents can be applied topically. It is important to strengthen the care of the affected areas when using medication.
[Tips for Preventing Winter Itch]
1. During winter bathing, sometimes symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, palpitations, chest tightness, sweating, thirst, nausea, vomiting, limb weakness, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and darkening vision may occur. Medical experts refer to this condition as "winter bathing syndrome".
2. Analysis of the causes: high temperature, high humidity, low oxygen, and poor air quality in the bathroom, combined with weak constitution and soaking in hot water, result in vasodilation of the capillaries, causing a large amount of blood to accumulate on the surface of the body, decreased circulating blood volume, insufficient cardiac output, and a drop in blood pressure, leading to transient ischemia and hypoxia of brain tissue.
3. Prevention guidelines: strengthen exercise and enhance physical fitness; control water wetness gradually; take measures to prevent accidents.
[Tips]
Before taking a bath, avoid drinking alcohol, overeating, excessive fatigue, and tension. If the above symptoms occur during bathing, immediately lie down outside the pool to rest, drink a cup of hot tea or sweet soup, and normalcy will quickly return.
