{"id":24955,"date":"2026-03-04T16:18:59","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T00:18:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/?p=24955"},"modified":"2026-04-02T16:22:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T00:22:23","slug":"crusty-dusty-prevention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/crusty-dusty-prevention\/","title":{"rendered":"Crusty dusty prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A partial collection of the author\u2019s preferred
products to manage dry skin. | Photo by Jaylin Emond-Hardin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

March 4, 2026 |\u00a0Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor<\/span><\/p>\n

In the winter, dry skin affects approximately 70% of the population. This is due to a plethora of reasons \u2014 skin conditions or the low humidity that comes with the season being two of the main ones \u2014 and can be cracked, red, flaky and just plain irritating.<\/span><\/p>\n

As someone with chronically dry skin \u2014 having both eczema and psoriasis \u2014 it always gets worse in the winter months. When temperatures drop, the air simply cannot hold as much water vapor, which lowers humidity levels and pulls moisture from the skin. For example, air at 77 F can hold nearly three times more moisture than air at 32 F. That sharp decrease in the air\u2019s moisture-holding capacity is one of the main reasons skin feels tighter, drier and more irritated in colder weather.<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, when skin dries out like this, solutions become essential \u2014 and after 22 years of managing it myself, I\u2019ve learned what truly works. Below are the most effective, winter-tested strategies I rely on to keep dryness under control.<\/span><\/p>\n

Skin <\/b>\u2014 The epidermis layer of the skin is the most obvious when it comes to dryness. We feel its dryness in the form of cracked, flaky layers. To help repair this layer, it needs moisture put back into it \u2014 more than just a shower can give.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lotion is usually the best when it comes to returning this component, although body oil is another great way to moisturize. I swear by Aveeno lotion for the whole body, although any of Bath and Body Works\u2019 lotions with shea or cocoa butter keep skin both moisturized and smelling absolutely divine. For the face, anything with hyaluronic acid, sunscreen or goat\u2019s milk is ideal, especially when there\u2019s a combination of any of the three. Having protection from ultraviolet rays and the additional moisture helps prevent scaling and flaking.<\/span><\/p>\n

While in the shower, gentler soaps and body scrubs can remove the dry scales without damaging the layer underneath. Rice-based formulas are the gentlest and are one of the best options, and don\u2019t clog the pores when adding that moisture back into the skin.<\/span><\/p>\n

The lips are another part that usually becomes especially dry and chapped due to their constant exposure to the cold air. Most traditional chapsticks continuously dry the lips out because of the menthol in them \u2014 part of their design to keep consumers using them \u2014 and have artificial fragrances and dyes. Because of these factors, I typically prefer to use lip oil or Vaseline. They trap moisture in and guard against the winter elements.<\/span><\/p>\n

Applying lotion or oil immediately after a shower is one of the best ways to lock moisture into the skin, as well, especially when it comes to replacing oils lost in the shower.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hair <\/b>\u2014 Just like skin in the winter, hair dries out as well, typically losing shine, volume and strength. When moisture is stripped, hair follicles lose important oils that not only protect it, but also keep it looking healthy. The scalp also dries out, which leads to dry, flaky buildup.<\/span><\/p>\n

To combat this, I use coconut oil on my scalp and rosemary oil on my actual hair follicles. I\u2019ve found I\u2019ve preferred the brand Venrock\u2019s rosemary oil the best, due to its subtle mint undertones and the fact that it doesn\u2019t drip down my face when I put it in my hair. It\u2019s also specifically formulated for curly hair, which means it helps reduce frizz.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When it comes to coconut oil, organic and food-grade is the best. Typically, cosmetic-grade oil isn\u2019t as refined as food-grade oil and contains other chemicals and scents, which means it isn\u2019t as pure or natural, and can strip the hair further of those much-needed oils. I tend to leave coconut oil in all day when I\u2019m home with nothing to do, and keep my hair tied up in a t-shirt so I don\u2019t get the oil all over my clothes and furniture.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Leave-in conditioner immediately after rinsing regular conditioner is also a great strategy, as it offers long-term hydration and damage protection. I know my hair is always softest when I use leave-in conditioner, and it reduces breakage and split ends that are synonymous with winter-dry hair.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Diet <\/b>\u2014 Diet is one of the biggest factors when it comes to dry skin. Proper hydration can mean the difference between dry and healthy skin and hair and lips; meanwhile, eating water-rich foods can assist the skin\u2019s ability to retain moisture. Cucumbers, watermelon and strawberries are some of the best sources of water that come with essential nutrients like vitamin K, vitamin C and vitamin A.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Drinking plenty of water keeps the skin\u2019s barrier firm and hydrated, which works to prevent scaling and flaking. Electrolytes are important for moving fluids through the body\u2019s cells, so making sure plenty are consumed daily will help with the skin\u2019s ability to retain moisture. Salt helps add electrolytes back into the body, though plain salt water may not be the first choice for many people. In those cases, electrolyte drink mixes such as Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier offer a more palatable alternative, combining sodium, glucose and essential vitamins to support hydration in a more flavorful form. The rocket pop flavor is top-tier; with the right amount of ice, it tastes like drinking a melted rocket pop.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sufferers of dry skin, have heart. Winter will soon be over and humidity will improve, which means dry, scaly and flaky skin will soon be swapped for peeling sunburns. Making sure the moisturizer has sunscreen will help reduce the chances of sunburns, as will keeping the skin hydrated and happy.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Contact the author at howlentertainment@wou.edu<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

March 4, 2026 |\u00a0Jaylin Emond-Hardin | Entertainment Editor In the winter, dry skin affects approximately 70% of the population. This is due to a plethora of reasons \u2014 skin conditions or the low humidity that comes with the season being two of the main ones \u2014 and can be cracked, red, flaky and just plain […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1645,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Crusty dusty prevention","_seopress_titles_desc":"Moisture matters: preventing winter damage from head to toe","_seopress_robots_index":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[684,1556,608,39],"class_list":["post-24955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lifestyle","tag-western","tag-western-oregon","tag-western-oregon-university","tag-wou"],"modified_by":"saragerrick","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24955","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1645"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24955"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24955\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24960,"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24955\/revisions\/24960"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/westernhowl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}