Experts Reveal 2Items to Avoid When Choosing Winter Skin Care

     
If you're going through a rough skin patch this Winter, you're not alone. After all, with cold weather typically comes a lack of moisture and, asa result, dry and evenscalyskin. 

That said, there are things you could be doing to make the situation worse. Before you pick up another bar of soap, read on. 

We asked dermatologists to share which ingredients to steer clear of when choosing skin- and body-care products during cold-weather months.Related:10 Ingredients to Look For in Your Winter Skin Care, According to the ExpertsBlizzard Beauty:

 9 Products to Transform a Snow Day Into a Spa Day1. PetrolatumWhile it may seem counterintuitive,Daniel Foitl, M.D.recommends putting down the petrolatum-based products in Winter. 

"The comedogenic properties of petrolatum truly seal off our skin from air, water, or anything else that wants to enter or leave," he explains. 

"They don't allow ambient moisture to enter our skin. 

In addition, they can trap oil and dirt leading to blackheads, pimples, and whiteheads.

"2. SoapTraditional soaps — those made with lye and fat —are extremely harsh on the skin. That's because oftheir high pH, which clashes with skin's lower pH.

"True soaps tend to disrupt the acidic pH that the skin needs to function best at (it likes to live at a pH of 5.5 for optimal barrier function, whereas soaps can have a basic pH of 9 in some cases). They also strip the skin of crucial lipids," 

saysSherry Ingraham, M.D."I recommend avoiding soap-based cleansers whenever possible, especially during the dry, Winter months," she adds. Instead, Dr.

 Ingraham suggests looking for cleansers that are pH neutral to slightly acidic andsynthetic: "Look forsyndets (synthetic detergent cleansers) from brands like Cetaphil, CeraVe, La Roche-Posay, and Aveeno."