Winter Weather Drying You Out?
Winter dryness can really wreak havoc when it comes to your eyes, nose and skin this time of year. I have found that a little planning for this annual event where the air is quite dry (both indoors and outside) throughout the country can prevent unwanted symptoms.
What can you do to improve your wintertime health?
- Water, water, water! Increase the amount of fluids you drink during the winter to help nourish the surface of the eyes. Drinking water will also help to wash away pollutants and allergens, and replenish the moisture your skin loses during this time of year. Nasal salt water solutions and saline gel can help to moisturize your sinuses.
- Moisturize. Use non-fragranced moisturizers on your skin that are hypoallergenic — especially for the face and body. Artificial tears and nasal saline gel drops can also help.
- Sleep well. Adequate sleep can also help to replenish moisture and give you a more refreshing awakening in the morning.
- Antioxidants. Load up on Omega-3s and other antioxidant rich foods (Think “Mediterranean” diet).
- Go natural. Watch out for “drying” effects of alcohol-based personal products/cosmetics and harsh soaps.
- Take a break. Give your eyes a rest while you’re working. Frequent breaks from the computer will help to avoid worsening eye fatigue and dryness, and so will closing your eyes at intervals.
- Don’t smoke. Smoke free is the way to be since tobacco smoke can dry the surface of the skin and has negative effects on your eyes and nasal passages.
- De-stress! Learn anti-stress and positive lifestyle behaviors and coping skills.
And remember ladies, mature women may be at particular risk as a result of a reduction in estrogen that can lead to drying of the skin — particularly during the winter months!
For more information, log onto www.dryeyeremedy.com.
Dr. Clifford W. Bassett is an assistant clinical professor of medicine at the Long Island College Hospital and on the faculty of NYU School of Medicine. He is the current vice chair for public education committee of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. No information in this blog is intended as medical advice to any reader or intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition.
Our eyes and vision were designed for viewing distance as hunters and gatherers, and not for ongoing near work as required by regular computer use. As a result, Computer Eye Strain is becoming one of the major eye complaints heard by eye doctors today.
Symptoms can include increased myopia, blurred vision, headaches, slow refocusing, difficulty concentrating, neck, shoulder and back pain
Eye strain can be reduced significantly by taking regular breaks from the computer, resting your eyes, stretching and doing eye exercises.
For a demo of 3 great eye exercises by Dr. Grossman, one of the Country’s leading behavioral optometrists, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W10j2fL0hy0
Dr. Grossman also offers his free eye exercise booklet at his website at Natural Eye Care Free Eye Exercises with his 11 favorite eye exercises and acupressure eye points to massage regularly.
Finally, there is also an excellent section at his website on “Computer Eye Strain” under “Eye Diseases” that provides a Computer Eye Strain “Self-Help“ section with great tips of relieving eyestrain due to computer use.
For more information, go to Natural Eye Care for Computer Eye Strain
After reading the article I understand the need for all the things listed in order to help with the effects of drying out. However I have tried many of them listed and still find that the dry skin issues by far are the hardest for me to get a handle on.
Does anyone have any specific products that they have found beneficial for their dry skin problem?
Thank you