Glow rituals · 8 weeks
Harmattan Skin (Dry-Season Care)
An 8-week dry-season plan (about November to March) for ashy, cracked, itchy skin, lips and heels, using cheap, proven moisturisers. Suitable for the whole family.
- Length
- 8 weeks
- For
- Women, Men, Children (with a parent)
- Evidence B
- Good evidence: at least one controlled trial
- What to expect
- Ashiness improves the same day. Cracks heal in 1–3 weeks.
The goal: No ashy look, fewer cracks, less itch.
Emollient and urea trials (B), mostly lighter and older skin; no harmattan-specific trials. Ashy skin shows strongly on darker skin.
Start this program
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The plan
Weeks 1–8
Dry-season routine
Gentle wash, moisturise on damp skin, seal at night, protect lips and heels.
Humectants draw water in and occlusives seal it; together they counter low humidity and dust.
Morning
Short lukewarm wash; mild cleanser on folds only
5–10 minutes, lukewarm water; soap-free or mild cleanser on underarms, groin and feet only; pat dry.
Why: Hot water and harsh soaps strip the skin oils that harmattan dryness has already depleted.
Moisturiser with glycerin or urea (5–10%) on damp skin
Within 3 minutes of patting dry, smooth on a glycerin or urea 5–10% lotion or cream all over, more on shins, arms and hands. For children, use a plain fragrance-free cream or petroleum jelly.
Why: Humectants draw water into the outer skin layer and leave-on emollients improve dry skin in trials.
Sun protection (SPF 30+ for adults and children over 6 months)
Adults and children over 6 months: broad-spectrum SPF 30+ on exposed skin as the last morning step, 15 minutes before going out; reapply every 2 hours outdoors. Shade, hats and clothing first. Babies under 6 months: no sunscreen; keep them out of direct sun with shade and clothing instead.
Why: Harmattan sun is still strong; sun protection matters at every age, and babies under 6 months are protected with shade and clothing rather than sunscreen.
Evening
Seal with petroleum jelly or shea butter
At night, a thin layer of petroleum jelly or plain shea butter (ori) on shins, elbows, knees and hands.
Why: Occlusives slow water loss; both are cheap and widely available in Nigeria.
Cracked heels: urea cream + socks
Adults and teens: urea 10–25% heel cream at night with cotton socks. Children: petroleum jelly and socks instead (strong urea stings broken skin). No razor blades or scraping.
Why: Urea softens thick skin and RCTs show it improves foot dryness; blades cause cuts and infection.
Lips: petroleum jelly, no licking
Petroleum jelly several times a day and before bed; stop licking or peeling the lips.
Why: Saliva evaporates and dries the lips further.
Habits
Cover up against dust and wind
Long sleeves, a scarf over the face on dusty days; moisturise before going out.
Why: Dry, dusty harmattan wind pulls water from the skin.
Humidify the bedroom
A bowl of water or a damp towel in the bedroom at night.
Why: Slightly more humid air may reduce overnight drying (expert advice only).
Avoid hot baths and harsh soaps
Lukewarm water; no antiseptic or "medicated" soaps for daily washing.
Why: Hot water and harsh soaps strip skin oils.
Check every pack for a NAFDAC number
Before buying, look for the NAFDAC registration number and an intact seal. Buy from a registered pharmacy, not a market table or social-media seller.
Why: Counterfeit and mislabelled creams are common; some "plain" creams secretly contain steroids, mercury or strong bleaching agents.
Voice of Nigeria: NAFDAC warns against high-hydroquinone skin creams (2025)
Food
Hydration
Water with each meal and whenever thirsty; more in heat and harmattan.
Why: Supports overall health; skin hydration is mostly about the barrier, so pair water with moisturiser.
Milestones
Your weekly check-in
Ask yourself these once a week. If an answer worries you, stop and see a doctor or pharmacist.
Stop and see a doctor if
- Bleeding or infected heel cracks, especially with diabetes: see a doctor
- Itchy red patches (possible eczema): switch to the eczema program or see a doctor
- Widespread itch without a rash: see a doctor (liver, kidney, thyroid or iron causes)
In an emergency, call 112112999911911.
Sources
- AAD: Tips to relieve dry skin
- DermNet: Urea
- Cochrane: Emollients for eczema
- DermNet: Emollients and moisturisers
- Lichterfeld-Kottner et al. Maintaining skin integrity in the aged: systematic review (Int J Nurs Stud, 2020) (verify)
Education, not diagnosis. This plan cannot examine you; pending physician review where marked.
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