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When the humidity drops, your skin needs special care. Adjust your routine to take better care of your skin during cold weather. Despite evidence disproving them, certain winter health myths have long persisted. Can you tell fact from ction? Myth 1: Cold air automatically equals illness. Avoiding the outdoors because you're afraid you'll catch a cold? The brisk outdoor air could actually protect you from getting sick. The viruses that cause the common cold are more likely to live in warmer environments where people congregate, such as in your home. In addition, exercising in the cold can boost endorphin production, which can combat stressful or sad feelings. 4 WINTER HEALTH Myths BUSTING Myth 2: Chicken soup has no eect on the common cold. Ever had the snies and felt better after a bowl of chicken soup? New research suggests that chicken broth can help white blood cells move more quickly through the body, ghting inammation and easing congestion. Myth 3: You should always drink warm uids when you're sick. A warm drink can help perk you up when you're feeling under the weather, but it doesn't have to be warm to be eective. Staying hydrated can help you recover from a cold, no matter what the drink's temperature is. Just stay away from coee and coee drinks, colas, and caeinated teas, all of which can contribute to dehydration. Myth 4: Allergies occur only in the fall and spring. Allergens are often in our homes year-round. Dust and pet dander may build up during the holiday hustle and bustle, triggering allergic reactions. Be sure to change your heating and air lters during the winter and take antihistamines as needed to keep allergy symptoms in check. Winterize TAKING CARE OF your skin can minimize the appearance of wrinkles and help you avoid the discomfort of aking, cracking or bleeding skin. Try these tactics for keeping skin soft. Baby your skin. Use gentle cleansers and pat — don't rub — your skin dry to help minimize irritation. Avoid heavily scented soaps or other cleansers that can contain moisture-stripping alcohol. Clean up your act. Bathing daily is recommended to help seal in moisture, with a few caveats. First, keep humidity in the air by closing the bathroom door. Take short five- to 10-minute warm (not hot) baths or showers, and follow with moisturizer within three minutes to trap water in the skin. Cover up. Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher every day on all exposed skin. Apply lip balm with SPF 30 or higher throughout the day and especially when venturing outdoors. Petroleum jelly at bedtime can help extremely dry lips recover. Drink to your health. Women need about 9 cups of water daily, and men approximately 13 daily — in both hot and cold weather — to support proper organfunction. Give yourself a hand. Follow each hand washing with moisturizer, and wear gloves outdoors to minimize exposure to cold, dry air. Wearing waterproof gloves can protect hands from the drying eects of washing dishes. Your Skin MERCY MEDICAL CENTERCENTERVILLE /// www.mercycenterville.org 3