We have always been told not to “judge a book by its cover”. Nevertheless, when it comes to the assessment of health, we should judge our skin (our “cover”) as it forms a mirror that reflects the interaction between internal problems, external factors, and factors specific to the skin.
Skin care becomes a particular challenge in the cold months since the external environmental factors are exaggerated. Here are some tips to minimize the effect of the harsh winter weather on your skin:
1. On a cold winter day, a hot bath may feel wonderful.
However, always remember that too much water is not good for the skin as it disrupts the lipid barrier that forms the outer layers of the skin. When these outer layers are damaged and unhealthy, you get reddened or irritated skin, or a dry, rough, dull, dehydrated look. Follow these simple shower rules to prevent this:
Your activity level and climate determine how often you should shower. Despite the rumors, most people should skip the daily shower and take one every two or three days. Rather than drowning your skin in excess water, you may like to read a few Modere reviews to learn if they could help you improve the appearance of your skin.
2. Keep the bathroom door closed to humidify the room.
3. Always limit time spent in the bathtub or shower to 5-10 minutes.
Spending more time in water depletes the skin of moisture. Use warm water, rather than hot water, as the latter removes natural oils from the skin, leading to drier skin.
4. Use a gentle, fragrance- and alcohol-free cleanser.
Gently pat the skin while drying it to retain moisture and minimize irritation. Having done your research into something like recommended Green Roads CBD oil review and getting your hands on essential skincare products from companies such as HerbMighty, after patting your face dry, adding oils onto your skin will help bring back the moisture that was lost through the cleansing process. This is very important to do whenever you wash your face, but more so in the winter months, where the weather can become quite harsh. Apply moisturizer within three minutes of getting out of the water to lock the moisture in the skin. If you are unsure about using CBD products on your skin, then you can find out more about how to use CBD to improve your skin here.
5. Choosing an optimum moisturizer is essential.
Choose a moisturizer with a heavy oil base, like grape seed oil, for dry skin, a petrolatum base for extremely dry and cracked skin, and a light water base for oily skin. A cream or ointment from any of the Rituals gift sets is best for dry skin, a serum or gel for combination skin, and a lotion for oily skin. Remember that special areas need special care: The lips are more vulnerable than the rest of the body to the effects of dry air. Apply an emollient lip gloss or lip balm on your lips frequently. It is best to use one with a SPF of at least 30.
6. Hands often show the effects of a dry environment more than any other part of the body.
Apply hand cream after each hand wash. Apply petroleum jelly or glycerin on your feet and hands every night to lock in moisture and prevent cracking. Always keep your feet and hands warm to prevent conditions like chilblains and frostbite.
7. Low humidity is the cause of most weather-related dry skin.
The hot air blasted by heaters decreases the humidity in the air. Humidifiers increase the moisture in the air to prevent the skin from drying. If you don’t have a humidifier, keep a damp cloth in the room when you turn on your heater.
8. You should apply sunscreen 365 days a year.
Apply a sunscreen with a SPF of at least 30 half an hour before going outside and reapply it every 3 hours if you are still outdoors. Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand because they reflect the damaging rays of the sun.
9. If you want to wear wool and other rough fabrics, wear a soft fabric like cotton underneath.
Remember that children and the elderly require more skin care in winter as their skin is more prone to dryness.
If the above tips do not help to prevent and relieve dry skin, seek the advice of your dermatologist as you may need certain medicated ointments or creams or you could have an underlying condition that requires different management.
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