People 35 years old or older with a family history of heart disease should start their exercise program with a visit to their doctor. While not a serious health problem, dry skin is an uncomfortable condition that often requires treatment. In Arizona's desert climate nearly everyone suffers to some extent from skin dryness, but dry skin at this time of year is more common for two reasons. First, lower air temperatures and low humidity result in drier air. This dryness is intensified by forced-air heating in our homes and offices.
Dry air increases the evaporation of water from the skin.
Second, as we age, we lose the capacity to hold water in the skin. Aging depletes the oil layer that retains moisture in the skin and prevents dry air from drawing water out of our skin. Older adults living in the desert climate have greater difficulty with dry skin during the winter months. Frequent bathing, showering or swimming also remove this protective oil layer. Moisturizers, also known as emollients or lubricants, prevent dry air from absorbing water from your skin and help hold water in the skin for a longer time.