Winter’s cold and dry air can be your skin’s worst natural nemesis. Lack of humidity means a lack of moisture, which can cause dry, flaky, and itchy skin. Let’s not forget the holidays are full of sweet treats and alcohol, two elements that may contribute to skin inflammation. The good news is you can do plenty of things to protect your skin in winter. In fact, you can take proactive and reactive measures to keep your skin soft, healthy, smooth, and radiant in the colder months.
Signs and Symptoms of Dry Skin
The importance of winter skin care is unmatched. A telltale sign you may need to give your skin a little extra tender, love, and care is if it appears or feels dry. How do you know if you have dry skin? You may have dry skin if:
- Your skin is very itchy, particularly after taking a shower.
- You have scaley skin.
- Your skin is cracked and may bleed in certain spots.
- Your skin may sting or burn.
- Your skin may be red, especially in irritated spots.
Let’s say you do not have dry skin in the winter. It would help if you still practiced good winter skin care.
How to Protect Your Skin in Winter
To protect your skin in winter, follow these tips:
Avoid Steaming Hot Showers – This can be hard to do, especially after spending the day outside in the frigid air. Few things feel as relaxing as a scorching shower; however, despite the nice benefits, there are drawbacks. Steaming hot showers can suck the moisture from your skin, causing it to dry out quickly. Opt for a warm to lukewarm shower instead. You want it warm enough so you are comfortable but not hot enough that it can poach your skin of valuable moisture.
Moisturizer is Your Friend – When you wake up, before you go to bed, and after your shower, you should liberally use moisturizer to keep your skin hydrated and happy. Determine the best moisturizer for your skin. There are many types on the market for oily, dry, sensitive, and more.
Dry Your Hands – After washing your hands, it can be easy to air dry them or rub them on your pants before going. If your hands are wet and exposed to cold temperatures, they will dry out faster. This will cause the skin of your hands to become rough, crack, and even bleed. You can avoid this by drying your hands thoroughly after washing and applying a hand lotion to your clean, dry hands.
Drink Your Water – We often associate hydration with the warmer months as we lose water while sweating. However, your skin relies on water year-round to be healthy, supple, and radiant. There may be water in that hot chocolate, but plain water is the best option (in addition to a cozy beverage). Your water doesn’t have to be icy cold. Room-temperature water works as well. Just be sure to hydrate throughout the day to promote healthy winter skin.
Don’t Skip the Sunscreen – The grey, cloudy days of winter may not look like a sunburn threat, but powerful and harmful UV rays are still present and strong on the cloudiest days. Before leaving home, apply SPF with sunscreen or a moisturizer with SPF built-in. Don’t forget a lip balm with SPF to protect your lips from the sun’s harmful rays. Skin damage caused by the sun is one of the leading causes of premature aging, such as fine lines, wrinkles, and leathery skin.
Get a Humidifier – We’ve already mentioned winter weather can suck the moisture from your skin. Even if the air is not frigid, it is certainly dry. To optimize winter skin health, consider purchasing a humidifier for your home. You can use it at night or in the room you spend the most time to create a safe and humid environment for your skin to thrive.
Beef Up Your Hyaluronic Acid – This powerful element can hold a thousand times its weight in water to retain moisture and prevent moisture loss. It can expedite the healing of wounds, lubricate joints, and even reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. For your winter skincare toolkit, stock up on products that contain hyaluronic acid. Winter may be the perfect time to receive dermal fillers. This treatment offers your skin a long-lasting but non-permanent synthetic form of hyaluronic acid. The gel mimics the naturally occurring substance by adding volume to the skin. The gel adds volume and hydration when fillers are injected under the skin’s surface. This results in smoothing fine lines and evening out skin depressions for a more youthful appearance.
If you are not ready to try dermal fillers, you may want to try HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator instead. It is hyaluronic acid in a bottle that allows you to apply it topically to areas of your skin that need hydration. This hydrator can even support your skin’s natural ability to replenish its own hyaluronic acid.
Consider Your Whole Body – When it comes to winter skin health, it can be easy to focus on the skin people see. You know, your hands, arms, face, and neck. But your legs are an area prone to winter dryness. Whatever you do to adjust your skincare routine for winter, be sure to add some steps to account for your extremities.
Temperature Check – Just as hot showers are not good for your skin, neither is a hot environment. Just like the hot shower, it can be tempting to crank up the heat after spending time outdoors. This will only make the air in your home drier and hotter. It will siphon the moisture right from your skin. Instead, choose a warm temperature that is comfortable but not overly hot. This will help not only your skin but your energy bill as well!
Book a facial – Book a facial for yourself if self-care and self-love are at the top of your New Year’s List of resolutions or commitments. You can receive a customized experience tailored to your unique skincare needs. Putting your best face forward may also motivate you to take extra care of your skin during winter.
Know Your Skin – You have a better chance of catching unusual skin disorders when you monitor your skin health daily. For example, if you know you have dry and itchy skin during the winter, chances are you know how to alleviate your symptoms. But if the dryness and irritation worsen, you’ll know something is up. You could develop dermatitis if you experience skin scaling around your nose or eyebrows. Cold weather is a known trigger for dermatitis. If you see anything unusual, be sure to contact your practitioner.
Getting Started with Winter Skincare
We covered a lot! Not sure where to start? Perhaps all you need to do is book a consultation with First Impressions Rejuvenation Clinic. The expert staff is always ready to answer any questions you may have, as well as recommend the right treatments for your skincare needs and goals. Your skincare is an essential component of your overall health. After all, your skin is your body’s largest organ and a premier defense mechanism against pathogens. Give your skin everything it needs to thrive this winter. You deserve it!
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