Tips to deal with Calgary’s skin cracking dry weather

Calgary’s dry climate in the winter is known for causing chapped lips and cracked skin, but what can Calgarians do to keep their skin hydrated?

Residents who spoke to CityNews said their strategies to avoid irritated skin include everything from lip balm, hand cream, lots of lotion and cold showers.

Others say they just focus on staying hydrated.

According to dermatologist Dr. Andrei Metelitsa, the co-director of Beacon Dermatology and clinical professor at the University of Calgary, hydrating from within is one of the many ways to keep your skin from getting dry.

“I recommend all of our clients drink lots of water, a simple rule is to reach a water intake of two litres, or eight glasses of water a day,” he says.

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He says investing in a humidifier is another good way to keep the skin hydrated.

It also helps to limit hot showers, which Metelitsa says strips the skin of its natural oils.

“I recommend keeping the shower temperature lukewarm, but not hot,” he says. “And try to limit the duration of a shower to less than 10 minutes.”

When it comes to choosing the right lotion, Metelitsa says there are a variety of ingredients Calgarians should look for, including hyaluronic acid which attracts lots of water, and ceramides, an important component for the lipid area of the skin.

January is typically the driest month in Calgary, with an average of 1.3 days of precipitation.

Though the city is drier than most other places all year, the dry season is roughly from mid-September to the start of May.