EMMAUS, Pa. — The cold winter weather can often lead to dry, cracked skin on hands, feet, lips and other parts of the body.
A Lehigh Valley skin care expert has some ways to fight rough skin conditions.
"I hear almost a couple times a day from my clients when they come for a facial, 'I have cracked lips. What do you recommend?'" said Farah Aghayeva, owner of Fany Esthetics in Emmaus.
Her business offers facials, waxing and paraffin treatments, as well as lash and brow services.
“Alcohol and excessive salt intake drains moisture from the body."Farah Aghayeva, owner, Fany Esthetics
"I'm more holistic," Aghayeva said. "I love going inside the body first, instead of just putting facial creams or things on the face.”
She said that because of the lack of sun during winter in Pennsylvania, vitamin deficiencies, such as a deficiency in A, D, Zinc, Iron or B3, can cause dry skin and cracked lips.
She recommends everyone get a blood test through their primary care doctor to find out if that applies to them.
Aghayeva said cracked lips, itchy skin and peeling hands and feet are all conditions she sees clients come in with this time of year, especially those with rosacea, psoriasis or eczema.
She said people with these skin conditions should use a humidifier all day, not just at night, for added moisture.
Avoiding dehydration
Aghayeva said she "would love people to cut caffeine intake, especially in wintertime."
"I know it tastes good, it smells good, but a couple cups a day is not good," she said. "It really dehydrates the skin.
“Alcohol and excessive salt intake drains moisture from the body. So if you can pay attention to all of these, you will see a huge improvement on your skin."
Aghayeva said another way to avoid dehydrating the outer organ is to avoid long, hot showers because it strips the body of natural oils.
"Avocado oil is amazing for the lips."Farah Aghayeva, owner, Fany Esthetics
She said applying lotion, then wearing gloves and socks to bed, also can help alleviate dry skin.
"I use Aquaphor for my hands and then put gloves on and for the heels, same thing, I will put my socks on and go to bed with them,” she said.
When it comes to lips, Aghayeva said to use a scrub, such as a black sugar scrub that can be made at home, and apply shea butter, then avocado oil at night.
"Avocado oil is amazing for the lips,” she said.
Aghayeva said using moisturizers, serums and other topics can help, but a change in diet can be just as effective. She said eating fish, nuts and greens rich in vitamin B3 all can help improve dry skin conditions and cracked lips.
She said that as a supplement to home remedies for such conditions, professional treatments such as paraffin wax treatments and facials also can help improve the overall look and feel of the skin.
