Pakistani winters are dry in a way that catches people out. Lahore and Islamabad drop into single figures with very low humidity; even Karachi's mild winter brings a noticeable change in skin.
The result is predictable: lips that crack no matter how much you lick them, heels that split, and rough patches on elbows, knuckles and shins.
Most of it comes down to one thing moisture leaving the skin faster than it's replaced. Here's how to deal with each, and where petroleum jelly genuinely helps.
Why skin dries out more in winter
Cold air holds less moisture than warm air, so it draws water out of the skin faster. Indoor heating makes this worse by drying the air further.
Your skin has a natural barrier of oils that slows water loss. In winter that barrier is under more strain, and hot showers which almost everyone takes more of in cold weather strip it further.
So the fix has two parts: stop stripping the barrier, and seal in what moisture is there.
What petroleum jelly actually does
Petroleum jelly is an occlusive. It forms a physical barrier on the skin's surface that dramatically reduces water loss.
This is worth understanding precisely, because it's usually described wrongly. Petroleum jelly does not moisturise it contains no water and adds none. What it does is stop the moisture already in your skin from escaping.
That distinction changes how you use it. Applied to dry skin, it seals in dryness. Applied to damp skin, it seals in the water. Same product, very different results.
The rule: always apply to slightly damp skin.
Chapped lips
Lip skin has no oil glands and is far thinner than skin elsewhere, so it loses moisture faster and can't replenish its own barrier.
That's why lips crack first, and why licking them makes it worse saliva evaporates and takes surface moisture with it.
What works:
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Stop licking. This is most of the problem for most people.
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Apply a lip balm or petroleum jelly after drinking water, when lips are slightly damp
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Reapply before bed overnight is when a barrier product does the most work
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Don't peel flaking skin. It tears the layer underneath and restarts the cycle.
Balm or petroleum jelly? A dedicated lip balm is more convenient it stays where you put it, travels well, and usually includes conditioning ingredients alongside the barrier. Petroleum jelly is heavier and better suited to overnight use.
Many people use both: balm through the day, a thicker layer at night.
If lips crack at the corners, stay painfully split for weeks, or bleed repeatedly, that can indicate something other than dryness worth seeing a doctor rather than persisting with balm.
Cracked heels
Heel skin is the thickest on the body and has no oil glands. In dry weather it hardens, loses flexibility, and splits under the pressure of walking.
Cracked heels need more than moisturiser because the problem is thickened skin, not just dry skin. A cream applied over hardened callus doesn't reach anything useful.
The routine that works:
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Soak feet in warm water for 10–15 minutes
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Use a pumice stone or foot file gently on the softened skin thin it down, don't try to remove it all in one go
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Pat dry, leaving skin slightly damp
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Apply a thick layer of petroleum jelly or a heel repair cream
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Put on cotton socks and leave overnight
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Repeat 3–4 times a week until it improves, then twice weekly to maintain
The socks matter more than people expect. They keep the product on your heels rather than on your bedsheets and hold it in contact for hours.
Give it two to three weeks. Heel skin is slow. Nightly application for a fortnight does more than an intensive weekend.
⚠️ See a doctor if cracks are deep enough to bleed, look infected, or if you have diabetes. Foot problems in diabetes need medical attention, not home care.
Dry patches on elbows, knuckles and shins
These areas have fewer oil glands and thinner underlying fat, so they dry and roughen first.
Knuckles have an extra problem in winter: frequent hand washing in cold weather strips them repeatedly through the day.
What works:
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Apply immediately after washing, while skin is still damp this is the single most effective change
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Keep a small container where you wash your hands, so it actually happens
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Use petroleum jelly at night on elbows and knees, where a heavier layer is fine because nothing rubs against it
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Lower your shower temperature. Hot water feels good in winter and is hard on the skin barrier.
A simple winter routine
Morning: cleanse gently, moisturise on damp skin, sunscreen. Sun exposure doesn't stop in winter.
Through the day: barrier product on hands after each wash. Lip balm as needed.
Night: cleanse, moisturise on damp skin, then petroleum jelly on the areas that need it heels, elbows, lips. Cotton socks if you're treating heels.
Weekly: gentle exfoliation on heels only. Not on lips, not on already-irritated skin.
The rest of the skincare range covers the cleansing and moisturising steps either side of it.
Things worth avoiding
Applying to dry skin. Seals dryness in. Damp skin, always.
Using it on the face if you're acne-prone. Petroleum jelly is occlusive on breakout-prone skin it can trap what's underneath. Fine on lips, less so across the whole face.
Exfoliating chapped lips. Cracked lips are already damaged. Scrubbing them delays healing.
Expecting it overnight. Barrier repair takes days for lips, weeks for heels.
Very hot showers. The most common winter habit working against everything else.
Hemani products for winter
Natural Lip Balm Rs.290 daily conditioning balm for dry and chapped lips.
Petroleum Jelly collection multi-purpose barrier care for heels, elbows and dry patches.
Hand & Foot Care including heel repair cream.
FAQ
Does petroleum jelly moisturise skin?
No. It's an occlusive it seals in moisture that's already there. That's why it should always go on slightly damp skin.
Can I use petroleum jelly on my face?
On lips and dry patches, yes. Across the whole face, it may not suit acne-prone skin, since it traps what's underneath.
How long do cracked heels take to heal?
With nightly application and gentle filing, most people see improvement in two to three weeks. Deep or bleeding cracks need a doctor.
Is petroleum jelly better than lip balm?
Different jobs. Lip balm is more practical through the day; petroleum jelly is a heavier overnight layer. Many people use both.
Why do my lips get worse when I keep licking them?
Saliva evaporates and takes surface moisture with it, leaving lips drier than before.
