Samantha Burton hasn't felt well since October. The 28-year-old Stafford County resident has had two colds. Her biggest problems, she said, have been a stuffy nose and chapped lips.
"I quit smoking cause it was so bad, but it just never seemed to go away," Burton said. "Now I have a new cold--stuffy nose, dry cracked lips. It just seems to never end."
When winter weather comes, most people turn the thermostat up and seal up the house. But keeping your home warm might do more than run up your heating bill--it can dry out your skin, irritate your nose and exacerbate existing conditions.
The Mayo Clinic says dry air can cause nosebleeds, dry skin and chapped lips.
Michael Stevens, a dermatologist with Fredericksburg Dermatological Associates, said he's seen patients coming in with dry-heat-related skin problems.
"It's one of the more common things we're seeing now," Stevens said, "and we'll see it through the winter."
Stevens said dry heat can exacerbate conditions like herpes simplex, or cold sores around the mouth. Also, he said it could make worse any problem that is "aggravated by trauma to the skin."
The Mayo Clinic recommends calling the doctor when you feel uncomfortable.
Taking lots of showers and baths to stay hydrated won't help. In fact, it's the absolute wrong approach.
"As paradoxical as it sounds, water dries skin out--not while you're in it, but when you get out of the bathtub," Stevens said.
He said "insensible perspiration" causes moisture to leave the skin as you dry off.
"What you want to do is minimize the washing, pat dry and put a moisturizer on," Stevens said.
Another thing that can aggravate skin problems, according to Stevens, is going inside and outside frequently, or from one extreme to another.
Stevens said the elderly should be most vigilant.
"Wintertime itch and dryness becomes much more of a problem as we get older," Stevens said
Children, however, are more resistant when it comes to drying out.
That seems to be the case for Burton, who said her four children have been able to avoid getting sick for the most part.
Drinking water and fluids can help prevent some effects of dry indoor air.
"Manipulating the environment" is another thing you can do, Stevens said.
Humidifiers may be the best bet for fending off run-of-the-mill problems related to dry indoor heat. The Mayo Clinic says humidifiers can prevent nosebleeds and dry skin.
But the Mayo Clinic notes that there is a threshold for humidity: Too much can promote the growth of bacteria, dust mites, mold and fungi in the home. The clinic recommends a humidity level of 30 percent to 50 percent, which can be achieved with a humidifier.
A dirty humidifier can make things worse, not better, so keep yours clean.
Here are some humidifier tips from the Mayo Clinic.
Change the water every day.
Use distilled or demineralized water. Tap water contains minerals that can create bacteria-friendly deposits on the humidifier. When released into the air, these minerals often appear as white dust on your furniture.
Clean the humidifier every three days with a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution. Rinse the tank after cleaning.
Change the filter regularly.
Keep the humidity between 30 percent and 50 percent.
Keep the surrounding area dry.
Drain and clean your humidifiers before storing them.
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