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Health

You in Winter

Mahtabi Zaman

Skin problems are a common irritation during winter which is a dry season and causes the skin to become flaky and itchy.

“This is a very common skin disease from which people suffer due to the dryness of winter. It can happen in any part of the body from head to toe. Moisturising those parts of the body is its treatment. You can use body oil, Vaseline lotion, liquid paraffin according to the need of your body,” Dr ATM Asaduzzaman, assistant professor of Skin, VD, Allergy and Sex at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, says.

Like dry skin, some other common skin diseases of the winter season are dry lips, dandruff, cracked hands and feet and scabies.

Starting from children to the elderly, everyone suffers from dry lips during the winter. It is because moisture dries up faster in this season. The weather creates a kind of stretch on your skin from top to bottom. As a result, your lips dry up. Such dryness create cracked lips. Sometimes people are seen pulling dry skin from lips. Doctors absolutely prohibit this, because often blood comes out from the crack exposing the skin to infection.

Doctors suggest any aroma free petroleum jelly, olive oil or Vaseline to treat cracked lips. These products prevent your lips from drying. Aromatic products may create another kind of irritation for some people. To avoid that, the dermatologists discourage perfumed lip balms.

Instead of using hot water, doctors suggest warm water for people. Strong soaps often cause skin to become dry and itchy so use a good hand and body lotion after a shower.

Dandruff on the skull, forehead, face and the other parts of your body is very common in winter. Many people suffer from dandruff, which eventually leads to hair fall. Doctors suggest using medicated shampoo once to thrice a week. They also recommend the use of pure oil such as olive oil, mustard oil and coconut oil. You can apply this oil on your body, feet and hair.

Cracked hands and feet are another common problem in winter which is a damper an one's social life. Doctors recommend dipping the hands and feet in warm water for at least 10 minutes in the morning and evening. This should be followed by applying a good moisturiser. Sometimes the cracked areas bleed, in which case you should see a doctor for medical treatment. The doctor, according to your condition, may recommend an antibiotic or anti-inflammatory ointment.

Allergies of various kinds are common in winter. Runny nose, sneezing and wheezing etc are expressions of such allergies caused by cold. Physicians discourage people to be in direct contact with fog in the morning. Children especially, should be given special attention so that they do not get exposed to early morning fog. They should be fully covered with caps, socks, and sweaters. Elderly people can use masks and wear warm clothes to avoid cold allergies. Dust, another culprit that causes allergy, must be avoided by wearing masks when outside and making sure clothes, furniture, carpets and other household objects are dust-free.

People suffer from winter diseases even if they don't have a hstory of allergy. Dr ATM Asaduzzaman says, “Eating a lot of seasonal vegetables and fruits can help you to have a healthy skin. It will help your skin to be smooth. To get full nutrition from your vegetables, you should wash them before peeling.”

Dr Asaduzzaman says that although scabies affect people round the year, patients of scabies are found more in number during winter, because sometimes people in a family like to stay close to each other during winter to keep warm. Most of the time one blanket, kantha or quilt is used by two or three people. As a result this contagious disease can infect many. So, doctors suggest using separate bed linen and getting the person affected by scabies immediately treated.

Skin diseases during winter can be treated quite easily by avoiding those factors– mainly dry skin and dust– that cause them and seeking medical help before the condition becomes severe.

 

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