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January 14, 2022Whether you’re a winter sports enthusiast or spend the season curled up by the fireplace, the low humidity, bitter winds, and dry indoor heat that accompany cold weather can deplete your skin’s natural moisture. Dry skin is not only painful, uncomfortable, and irritating; it also can lead to skin conditions such as eczema, which results in itchy, red, bumpy skin patches.
Follow these six tips to prevent and treat skin damage caused by winter dryness.
1. Do: Wear sunscreen all year long.
UV rays can easily penetrate cloudy skies to dry out exposed skin. And when the sun is shining, snow and ice reflect its rays, increasing UV exposure.
Getting a sunburn can cause severe dryness, premature aging of the skin, and skin cancer. Snow or shine, apply sunscreen before participating in any outdoor activity during the winter—especially if you take a tropical vacation to escape the cold; your skin is less accustomed to sunlight and more likely to burn quickly.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends sunscreen that offers protection against both UVA and UVB rays, and offers a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30.
That being said, if you are considering laser skin treatments to reduce wrinkles, hair, blemishes, or acne scars, winter is a better time to receive these procedures. Sun exposure shortly after a treatment increases the risk of hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin), and people are less likely to spend time outside during the winter.
Related reading: 7 Simple Ways to Protect Your Skin in the Sun2. Do: Skip products with drying ingredients.
Soaps or facial products you use in warm weather with no issues may irritate your skin during colder seasons. This is because they contain ingredients that can cause dryness, but the effects aren’t noticeable until they’re worsened by the dry winter climate.
You may need to take a break from:
- Anti-acne medications containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid
- Antibacterial and detergent-based soap
- Anything containing fragrance, from soap to hand sanitizer
Hand washing and the use of hand sanitizer, which contains a high level of skin-drying alcohol, cannot be avoided; we need to maintain good hand hygiene to stop the spread of germs. If your job or lifestyle requires frequent hand washing or sanitizing, routinely apply hand cream throughout the day as well.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I have seen a lot of people develop hand dermatitis—a condition with itchy, burning skin that can swell and blister—due to constant hand washing. Sometimes the fix is as simple as changing the soap they're using. Sensitive-skin soap is the best product for dry skin; it typically foams up less but still cleans the skin efficiently.
3. Do: Pay closer attention to thick skin.
Areas of thin skin, such as the face and backs of your hands, are usually exposed to the wind and sun the most. It’s easy to tell when they start drying out. But the thick skin on your palms and bottoms of your feet is also prone to dryness—and tends to receive less attention.
When thick skin gets dry, fissures form. You’ll see the surface turn white and scaly; then deep, linear cracks will appear. It isn’t as pliable as thin skin. When you’re constantly on your feet or using your hands to work, cook, and everything in between, dry thick skin cracks instead of flexing with your movements.
To soften cracked skin, gently massage a heavy-duty moisturizer—such as Vaseline—into the affected area once or twice a day. You can also talk with your doctor about using a skin-safe adhesive to close the fissures and help them heal faster.
Related reading: Follow these 5 Tips for Healthy Skin4. Don’t believe the myth that drinking more water will fix dry skin.
Contrary to popular belief, the amount of water or fluids you drink does not play a major role in skin hydration—unless you’re severely dehydrated. In the winter, especially, dry skin is caused by external elements; it should be treated from the outside as well.
The best way to keep skin hydrated and healthy is to apply fragrance-free cream or ointment—not lotion—to damp skin after a shower or bath. Some people need additional moisturizers for their hands, legs, or other areas prone to dryness.While some lotions are made better than others, most are a combination of water and powder that evaporates quickly. Creams and ointments work better because they contain ingredients that can help rebuild your skin barrier.
Look for products with ceramide, a fatty acid that helps rebuild the fat and protein barrier that holds your skin cells together. The AAD also recommends moisturizing ingredients such as:
- Dimethicone
- Glycerin
- Jojoba oil
- Lanolin
- Mineral oil
- Petrolatum
- Shea butter
For severely dry skin, you can try a “wet wrap” technique:
- Rinse a pair of tight-fitting pajamas in warm water and wring them out so they’re damp, not wet.
- Apply cream or ointment to your skin.
- Put on the damp pajamas, followed by a pair of dry pajamas, and wear the ensemble for several hours.
Dampness makes your skin more permeable and better able to absorb hydrating products. If the wet wrap or over-the-counter products aren’t working for you, talk with a dermatologist about prescription skin hydration options.
5. Don’t confuse skin conditions with dryness.
Skin conditions are often mistaken for dry skin because peeling or flaking are common symptoms. Redness of the skin or itching in addition to dryness and flaking indicates a skin condition that may need more than an over-the-counter moisturizer.
Skin cells are anchored together by a lipid and protein layer (like a brick and mortar wall). With very dry skin, the seal on this wall or barrier is not fully intact and water evaporates out of the skin’s surface. The skin will become itchy and red in addition to scaly or flaky. If you experience these symptoms, visit with a dermatologist.6. Don’t wait for symptoms to take care of dry skin.
Be proactive—the best way to maintain moisture is to apply hydrating creams and ointments directly to your skin on a regular basis. Start by applying them as part of your morning routine. Once you get used to that, add a nighttime application. And carry a container of it when you’re on the go or keep it in an easily accessible location at work.
You can’t avoid dry air, but you can take precautions to reduce its harsh effects on your skin. If over-the-counter products don’t seem to help, our dermatologists can provide an individualized treatment plan. Hydrated skin is healthy skin!
Does your skin get drier as the air gets colder?
Our dermatologists can help.
Call 202-877-DOCS (3627) or Request an Appointment
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August 13, 2021As a gynecologic surgeon, one of the best parts of my job is getting this joyful email from patients who’d had reproductive concerns: “We’re pregnant!”
So, when Shayna Frost, a Diabetes Educator at the MedStar Diabetes Institute and my patient, shared that she was expecting, we were touched and humbled. She had visited us just two months prior, and we had removed a very large dermoid cyst from her right ovary.
Also called mature teratomas, dermoid cysts are present at birth in approximately 10% of women. These cysts are most common in women ages 20-40. While 98-99% of dermoid cysts are benign (non-cancerous), the growths can make it difficult to become pregnant.
Dermoid cysts can grow to 10cm around or bigger, which is large enough to disrupt ovulation—the release of eggs from the ovary. Though Shayna’s cyst was large enough to press against her uterus, she had no symptoms other than irregular periods.
Dermoid cysts arise from germ cell tissue, which is the starter material for skin, fat, hair, muscle, bone, or thyroid tissue. While most are filled with fat, it’s not uncommon that dermoid cysts contain bits of teeth or hair. However, a dermoid is not an egg, and it could never have developed into a baby.
When Shayna visited our office, she was concerned that she might lose her ovary. But in our minimally invasive gynecologic surgery program at MedStar Health, more than 99% of patients with large ovarian cysts keep their ovary and experience excellent healing.
For Shayna and her husband, making the choice to seek subspecialty gynecologic care paved the way to achieve their dream—becoming parents to a precious baby boy just two days before Mother’s Day 2021.
A perfect Mother’s Day, two years in the making.
I spent my first Mother’s Day snuggling my 2-day old son, Ryan. I wouldn’t have gotten to feel that joy without the compassionate care I got from Dr. Morozov.
My husband and I had been trying to get pregnant since the summer of 2019, and we weren’t having any luck. By February 2020, my periods had become very irregular, and I felt depressed and defeated. Well-meaning friends told me to relax, that I was probably stressed out and I would get pregnant when the time was right. But I know my body and I knew that something was wrong.
In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S. in full force, and the stress of it all made us feel even worse about our situation. So, in April 2020, we decided to visit a local fertility clinic for help. Unfortunately, I had to go to all the appointments alone due to pandemic protocols.
I got all the typical workups—lab testing, physical exam, ultrasound—at the fertility clinic. After reviewing my results, the fertility doctor dropped a bombshell on me: “There is a mass that looks like a tumor in your ovary.”
I was floored. The mass, they said, was in my right ovary, and I hadn’t felt so much as an ache or pain. Sitting alone on the exam table, my thoughts began to race. How could I have an ovarian mass? Was it cancer?
Then it hit me like a ton of bricks: I might never be able to get pregnant. Before I fell apart, the fertility doctor suggested I see a gynecologic surgeon who could examine the mass and remove it. Rattled, I left the clinic with a referral card for Vadim Morozov, MD, at MedStar Health.
Though I didn’t know it at the time, Dr. Morozov and his team would restore my hope and set me on the path toward holding Ryan in my arms less than a year later.
Shayna’s first #MothersDay couldn’t have been sweeter. Her son was born 1 year after she was diagnosed with a dermoid #OvarianCyst. See how specialized #gynsurgery with Dr. Vadim Morozov helped make her #pregnancy possible: https://bit.ly/3CKowNa.
My visit with Dr. Morozov.
The minimally invasive gynecologic surgery team put me at ease immediately. Dr. Morozov listened to me with empathy, answering all my questions about COVID-19 safety protocols and whether surgery would be better for me than continuing to try to hope my functioning ovary would pick up the slack.
Left alone, Dr. Morozov explained, dermoid cysts will continue to grow, albeit slowly, and the option to save the affected ovary later would be much slimmer. Also, the dermoid cyst could cause ovarian torsion—a condition in which the ovary twists unnaturally, making simple movements like standing up excruciatingly painful. Ovarian torsion requires emergency surgery, and I’d almost certainly lose my ovary.
However, Dr. Morozov reassured me that if I chose to have laparoscopic cystectomy surgery, the risk of losing my ovary was less than 1%. Though this procedure is complex, it involves just a few steps:
- I’d be placed under general anesthesia, and he would make a few small incisions near my belly button.
- Then, he would inflate my abdomen with carbon dioxide gas to pull my abdominal muscles away from my ovaries for a better line of sight.
- Through the small openings in my abdomen, he would insert tiny surgical tools under visual guidance and make an incision on my ovary.
- Then, he would open the ovary, “like a clamshell,” he said, peeling away the healthy tissue to expose the cyst.
- He would then surround the cyst in a special surgical bag and remove it carefully to avoid spilling any of its contents into my abdomen.
- Finally, he would close up the ovary, allowing it to heal naturally over the next few weeks.
Dr. Morozov said that the ovaries have a remarkable ability to heal after laparoscopic cystectomy, and most women have excellent outcomes. To me, the risks of leaving the cyst alone and potentially being unable to get pregnant weighed heavier than having surgery. My procedure was scheduled in early June 2020, just two weeks after my first visit with Dr. Morozov.
Preparing for the big day.
The whole team at MedStar Health made me feel very prepared and comfortable leading up to the surgery. They’d given me a surgical package that contained pain medication, an anti-nausea patch to wear during surgery, and a special soap to sterilize my abdomen for the procedure.
The package also included directions to MedStar Health at Lafayette Centre, as well as parking information and the cell phone numbers of my core care team. Those extra touches made me feel calm and cared for on what could have been a very stressful day.
Right before the procedure, Dr. Morozov stepped into my room and kindly asked, “Are you ready to go?” I was more than ready—I was eager for the opportunities and excitement that laid ahead.
Recovery, and a big surprise.
After surgery, my diet consisted mainly of liquids and soft foods for the first few days because I was a little queasy. But it only took about three days before I started to feel like myself again. I was restricted from sexual activity and lifting anything over 10 pounds for eight weeks—just in time to get ready to move an hour away.
In August 2020, with the pandemic in full swing, we started packing up our home. I was supposed to go back to the fertility clinic that month to follow-up on another hormonal issue they thought I might have. With everything going on, I decided to postpone the appointment until we were settled in our new community.
As I was packing in the bathroom, I found a pregnancy test kit in the vanity drawer—something that never would have happened in 2019 when I was frantically taking tests every time I missed a period. I decided to take the test and braced myself for disappointment.
Instead, I saw tiny lines forming in the viewer window. The test was positive. It was unbelievable—the happiest day of my life up to that point! Once my Ob/Gyn confirmed the pregnancy, I sent Dr. Morozov a note. He was thrilled for us and eager for updates.
Difficult journey, beautiful ending.
Ryan was born May 7, 2021, almost a year from the day I found out about the dermoid cyst. Now, he’s almost three months old and starting to babble—what a difference a year can make!
Shayna and baby Ryan.
Raising a baby takes a village, and I am so glad Dr. Morozov was in ours from the start. The journey to become pregnant was difficult, but it was so worth it. I felt extremely cared for, and my sweet baby brings me so much joy.
Please go see Dr. Morozov if you develop an ovarian cyst. He is an expert in fertility-sparing cyst removal, and he will help you understand all your options before you make the choice to have surgery.
Expert gynecologic surgery at MedStar Health.
Stories like Shayna’s remind me of why I became a gynecologic surgeon—to help patients live life to the fullest. Our team works hard to make sure every patient feels supported, reassured, and confident in making healthcare decisions.
Though many women’s health providers may recommend removing the entire ovary (oophorectomy) to treat a large cyst, that is rarely the case at MedStar Health. Our gynecologic surgeons are fellowship-trained in the most delicate and complex surgeries. In more than 99% of patients, we can remove the cyst, sparing the ovary and preserving fertility.
MedStar Health is one of the country’s leading training sites for minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. We are pioneers in the latest techniques and technology. Our team is equipped with the energy and expertise to manage the most challenging and unique gynecologic conditions, and we are eager to support you in making your dreams a reality.
Even in complex cases, there is rarely just one treatment option. If you are uncomfortable with the solution a doctor suggests, seek a second opinion. Getting more information takes a little extra time, but it will be time well spent if you can avoid an unnecessarily invasive or permanent procedure.
Do you need to see a gynecologic surgeon?
Visit the experts at MedStar Health.
Call 202-877-DOCS (3627) or Request an Appointment
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August 11, 2021By Sarah Heins, Medical Student, COVID Recovery Program
As the status of the COVID-19 virus in the United States continues to improve amidst widespread vaccinations and the fresh outdoor air of the warm summer months, many people’s lives are beginning to approach a welcomed sense of pre-pandemic normalcy. However, for many Americans suffering from new or persistent symptoms after an initial COVID-19 infection, such normalcy feels much farther from reach.
While a majority of people fully recover from COVID-19 infections, it is increasingly evident that many experience symptoms that last long after recovering from the virus. These post-COVID conditions are often referred to as “long COVID” or “long-term COVID,” and have been officially entitled by the CDC as PASC (Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19). PASC is defined as a “wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems people can experience more than four weeks after first being infected with the virus that causes COVID-19.”
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August 04, 2021By Andrew Radu, MD, MBE, Psychiatrist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Did you know that most Olympic hopefuls begin intense training in their sport before their tenth birthday? After years of unrelenting pressure and stress related to athletic performance, it should come as no surprise that many elite athletes struggle with their mental health.
Today, athletes are increasingly sharing their “humanness” with the public. They’re exposing mental health issues caused by a variety of factors. From toxic coaching and pressure from family, to scrutiny on social media. However, even athletes with strong support systems can suffer from feelings of depression and anxiety as they strive to meet their own expectations.
It’s encouraging that elite athletes are finally stepping up to acknowledge their own mental health challenges. But calling them “brave” or “strong” may perpetuate the false narrative that individuals who are struggling in private with their mental health are weak or abnormal. It’s time to reframe how we prioritize our mental health, and that starts with elevating self-care in young athletes.
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August 02, 2021The Delta variant is the fourth known mutation of the COVID-19 virus. Like any mutated virus or bacteria, each strain of the COVID-19 virus behaves a little differently than the others. While data on the variant are still being analyzed, it appears to spread more easily than the other variants and may cause more severe disease in people who have not been vaccinated.
All forms of the current vaccine offer protection against severe COVID-19 infection from all strains of the virus. While you may still catch the Delta mutated virus if you are vaccinated, you will be more protected against getting hospitalized or dying.
However, more than one-third of the U.S. population is not vaccinated, so the virus continues to spread. As long as spreading continues, the virus will keep mutating. Future, stronger mutations may necessitate tweaking of the vaccine—just like we do with the flu vaccine each season.
The cycle can be stopped.
We can stop this cycle, just like we have with other nefarious diseases in the past, such as polio, measles, chickenpox, and diphtheria. All it will take is more people age 12 and older getting the free vaccine.
The Mid-Atlantic has, so far, avoided a spike in Delta variant infections. Our communities have been highly receptive overall to getting vaccinated. However, the south and central U.S. are seeing continuously increasing numbers.
As we say in the world of infectious disease medicine, an outbreak is just a plane ride away. Exposure to a spreading, mutating virus can cause a new wave of illness in our vaccinated and unvaccinated populations. Even people who have had COVID-19 should get vaccinated so as not to spread the Delta variant to others.
The COVID-19 vaccine is proven safe and effective. If you or a loved one have been on the fence about getting vaccinated, now is the time to do it. I’ve laid out some data-driven points on some of the more common concerns we’ve heard from patients about the vaccine.
1. Why is the CDC recommending masks for the vaccinated?
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, guidance has changed as new data becomes available. The re-recommendation of wearing masks is one of those instances—and it’s the right thing to do. Though we are over a year into the pandemic, the virus is still relatively new and we are still learning about it.
However, we know that certain safety protocols work, including masking, social distancing, and getting vaccinated. It’s like the safety elements of a car: the brakes, seatbelt, airbag offer multiple levels of cumulative protection:
- Vaccines are like the airbag: You get it, and it stays with you, protecting you behind the scenes.
- Masking is like the seatbelt: You have to remember to put it on, but when you do, it adds an extra layer of protection for yourself and others near you.
- Social distancing is like following traffic signals: If everyone plays it safe, we will all be safer.
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July 23, 2021Women today face many contradictions about how to handle their personal health, especially when it comes to common—but not normal—pelvic floor disorders such as pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence (UI).
Society says these conditions are a “normal” part of aging or an expected outcome of having children. So, many women avoid getting help because they’re embarrassed or don’t feel good about getting care “just to feel more comfortable.”
It’s true that prolapse and UI are common. Approximately half of women will develop a pelvic floor disorder in their lifetime, and 20-50% of them will have symptoms that disrupt their daily life.
But these conditions aren’t normal or inevitable. You have options to reduce or eliminate uncomfortable, isolating symptoms such as:
- A bulging sensation in the vagina
- Pelvic pressure
- Constipation due to reduced pelvic support
- Low-back pain
- Urinary leakage, urgency, or frequency
- Urinary tract infections or skin irritation from frequently wearing pads
If your symptoms don’t bother you, treatment isn’t necessary. But if symptoms keep you from exercising, doing errands, or spending time with friends, it’s time for a change.
The urogynecologists at MedStar Health are internationally recognized experts in pelvic floor disorders. We are one of just 66 urogynecology fellowship training sites in the U.S., which means we teach the latest, most advanced medical and surgical treatments.
As an academic medical center, all the specialty care you might need is available under one roof.Today’s treatments are safer, more effective, and less invasive than ever before—there have been at least 2,000 studies on UI treatments since the 1990s. Most patients don’t need surgery, and those who do can get minimally invasive outpatient procedures with no need for a hospital stay.
Let’s discuss the causes, symptoms, and risk factors of prolapse and UI, as well as treatment options to help you get back to doing what you love.
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July 21, 2021Whether it’s the first day of summer or the end of a weekend beach getaway, nearly everyone has experienced the painful discoloration of a sunburn. But far fewer people know when, “Whoops, I forgot my sunscreen” should become, “I need to go to the doctor.”
The average sunburn behaves like a first-degree burn, meaning only the outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, has been damaged. Burns that reach deeper than the epidermis are at least a partial thickness burn, also known as a second-degree burn. These can often be recognized by blisters or breaks in the skin. If you experience a burn that reaches this depth, you should seek care from a doctor who specializes in burn treatment.
Experienced providers at the Burn Center at MedStar Washington Hospital Center—the only adult burn treatment center in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area—treat all types of burns 24/7, 365 days a year. We can quickly and accurately interpret the depth of your burn before providing treatment based on the location and extent of your burn, as well as any other medical conditions you might have.
Seek immediate care if you experience these symptoms after a sunburn:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Headache
With a severe sunburn, you may be in danger of dehydration, especially as we more frequently experience record-high temperatures.
Without proper treatment of broken or blistered skin, risk increases for infection, scarring and permanent skin color changes. Other long-term risks of sunburn include skin cancer. In fact, the American Academy of Dermatology has shared that experiencing five or more blistering sunburns between ages 15 and 20 increases one’s melanoma risk by 80% and non-melanoma skin cancer risk by 68%.
As we resume normal summertime activities amidst the pandemic, we must also reinstate good sun-safety and sunburn care habits. The next time you overdo it in the sun, use this list to find the best ways to treat sunburn at home, what not to do, and when to visit the Burn Center.
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