How to beat the dry heat ~HELP (Los Lunas: fit in, dermatologist)

[BlueRose]

Hi Everyone, this is my first winter here and my skin/scalp is so dry it hurts. I guess this is from the indoor heating. Can anyone reccomend what to do? Humidifyers? What kind? any ideas?

Other than that I am enjoying the holiday season here in New Mexico.

Bluerose

[TKO]

The cold humidifiers seem to work much better for me. Your skin will get used to it, but it takes a couple years. Sorry. It's worth it though. Los Lunas is a pretty cool town and close to a lot of neat things.

Take a drive one Saturday down the Bosque Apache this winter and see the amazing number of ducks, geese and cranes. It's spectacular. While you're there go to the Owl Bar in San Antonio and get a green chile cheesburger. World famous (at least in NM ) first frequented by Openheimer and crew when driving between our LA and Trinity site.

Welcome to NM. You seem like your gonna fit in just fine.

[Towanda]

BlueRose:

Thanks for your update after your move!

You are already there and you sound like you love it and I am SOOOOO jealous!!!!! I still have one year to wait before I move.

Keep the posts coming about how life is in your new home there.

[ontheroad]

Frequent hydration is the key. Drink plenty of fluids, preferably good water.

Also buy or use some high spf lotion. Use it about 2 or 3 times a day on your skin.

I have also bought some shampoo and conditioner at the health food store and my hair has improved. It has just enough oil in it to re-vitalize my hair. But, the downside is I have to wash my hair more often

Welcome to New Mexico!!! And happy holidays.

[Zoidberg]

What only some people realize is that it's not the dry air outside that gets you during the day, it's the furnace air at night. At night humidity can drop below 20% (which is the threshold of unhealthy). As that night air gets heated, its capacity for moisture increases, further dropping the humidity to under 10%. Nosebleeds anyone?

We have a "desert spring" humidifer coupled in with our furnace with a humidistat, and it takes tap water and puts it in the air. Even with an automatic timer to void out the water once a day, we still end up with calcium scale gumming the whole thing up about once a year.

Even still, it's a far sight better than having to get a pitcher and fill up a portable humidifier every day. They sell some cheap cute ones (pig, cow) at the BB&B at Winrock.

Another thing I like to do that weirds visitors out: just walk up to any sink, any time you feel dry, and just dump water on your face, only dabbing it enough to keep from dripping too much as you walk away. Spilled water never stays around very long in these conditions, anyway.

Enjoy the unnatural moisture!

[BlueRose]

TKO, Thanks for the suggestion about the birding. I am going to go this weekend and have a green chile cheeseburger too... any ideas are appreciated as I am still so new and learning about this area all the time. I bought a 10 gallon humidifyer from Sears this am, so hopefully that will help a bit.
Happy Holidays to all!!!!!

Thanks everyone for your reply

[brian_2]

Advice for living in cold, dry climates..

Monitor the humidity levels throughout the dry season(s) via internet/newspaper weather section

Acquire and..

1. Use a humidifier (one in room at night where you sleep)
2. Keep a personal steam inhaler on hand for those sinus infections (for relief)
3. Use moisturizing soap (preferably with colloidal oatmeal)
4. Use moisturizing lotion (also with colloidal oatmeal)
5. Use a non-comedogenic SPF 45+ sunscreen (when outdoors), you'll sunburn faster at higher altitudes - careful!
6. Use alcohol in moderation, or better, as little as possible, and fyi, smoking really harms your skin
7. Put shower filters on your shower heads (such as the Aquasana brand), avoid hot showers (warm water better),
and dry yourself off lightly and apply moisturizer afterwards
8. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water (don't over do it though)
9. Dress in layers and adjust to the temperature (this applies to all cold climatic conditions)
10. Locate a reputable dermatologist for annual checkups and visit when other skin conditions concern you.

[phxgal]

Thanks for all the great tips as well! I moved to Los Lunas 2 months ago and my skin is a mess right now as well... Its worth it though but I am becoming a lotion addict!

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by BlueRose

Hi Everyone, this is my first winter here and my skin/scalp is so dry it hurts. I guess this is from the indoor heating. Can anyone reccomend what to do? Humidifyers? What kind? any ideas?

Other than that I am enjoying the holiday season here in New Mexico.

Bluerose

Bluerose, happy to hear that you made your move, and are settling in!

One other thing that might help that hasn't been suggested yet would be a saline nasal spray. Most places have them in the pharmacy area, but OTC.


It's interesting to hear the other side of the story. As I've always lived in a relatively dry climate, I had no idea that people who moved from wetter areas had nosebleeds and all of the other problems mentioned!

[Towanda]

When I am visiting New Mexico, I make sure I have four things ... lotion with a lot of moisturizer, saline nasal spray, chapstick, and eye drops.