Patient/caregiver was educated on complications of dry skin development as follows:
- Limiting time in the shower to 10 minutes and in the sauna units to no more than 15 minutes can help with preventing excessive sweating, fluid loss, and drying of skin.
- Maintain a minimum of 25 feet distance from the fireplace to help reduce excessive exposure to heat and risk for increased drying of skin. This can also help with preventing loss of protective oils that are naturally present in the skin to help soothing.
- Keep a check on your indoor humidity, using a hygrometer you can get from the hardware stores. Installing a humidifier in the house can add some humidity to the environment around and help prevent drying of skin.
- If your HVAC has a humidifier, adjusting the setting to between 30 – 50 during spring, summer, and fall and to a setting between 20 – 25 during peak winters can help improving moisture around and prevent drying of skin.
- Having some indoor plants that add moisture to the air, such as, areca palm, rubber plant, peace lily, or English ivy can help with preventing excessive drying of skin and development of rash. Do not forget to water the plants regularly.
