All winter flakes are not made of snow. Cold weather, with its low relative humidity, wreaks havoc on our skin, making it dry and flaky. Not only is the air dry, but interior heating additionally depletes the skin of moisture. The result? Winter itch.
Skin health is crucial not only for looks’ sake but more critically because skin performs so many of the body’s essential jobs. Among other things, it defends the body from the many viruses and germs that a person is exposed to daily. It also protects against the sun's dangerous UV rays that can damage cells. Healthy skin also helps a person react better to critical changes around them by experiencing pain or pressure. The cold weather months can substantially affect skin health, producing such disorders as xerosis (dry skin) or eczema (itchy, dry, reddish patches or lesions on the skin) which can vary in severity.
Winter-proof Your Skin with These Suggestions
1. Moisturize Every Day
Petroleum or cream-based moisturizers are preferable to lotions for normal to dry skin. If you have sensitive skin, consider a moisturizer without fragrance or lanolin. Apply moisturizer directly to your wet skin after bathing so the moisturizer can help capture surface moisture.
2. Cleanse Your Skin, But Don’t Overdo It
Too much cleaning eliminates the skin’s natural moisturizers. It is enough to wash your face, hands, feet, and within the folds of your skin once a day. While you can rinse your trunk, arms, and legs every day, it is not necessary to use soap or cleanser on these regions every day.
3. Limit the Use of Hot Water and Soap
If you experience “winter itch,” try short lukewarm showers or baths with a non-irritating, non-detergent-based cleanser. Immediately afterward, use a thick cream or petroleum-jelly-type moisturizer. Gently pat skin dry.
4. Humidify
Dry air can take the moisture from your skin. Room humidifiers can be quite beneficial. However, make sure to clean the unit and change the water according to the manufacturer’s instructions to reduce mold and fungal growth.
5. Protect Yourself from the Wind
Cover your face and use a petroleum-based lip balm. Skin protectants that comprise petroleum and lotions with ceramides are beneficial as well.
6. Avoid Excessive Cold
Cold temperatures can induce skin problems or frostbite in some people. See a doctor promptly if you get color changes in your hands or feet accompanied by pain or ulceration. If you experience intense pain followed by loss of sensation in a finger or toe, you may have frostbite.
7. Protect Your Skin from the Sun
Remember that winter sun can also be damaging to the skin. Even in the winter, you should use a sunscreen with a sun-protection factor of 15 or above if you want to be outdoors for significant durations. Overexposure to sunlight can contribute to accelerated aging of the skin and skin cancer.
8. Avoid Winter Tanning
Tanning beds and artificial sunlamps are always detrimental to the skin and raise the risk of skin cancer. If you want to preserve your summer glow, apply self-tanners coupled with extra moisturizer, as self-tanners can also dry out the skin.
9. Take Vitamin D Pills
During the summer, your natural vitamin D production grows as a result of everyday sun exposure, but as winter rolls around that exposure drops. Taking vitamin supplements helps guarantee that you get the appropriate quantities of vitamin D all year round.
10. See Your Dermatologist
If you experience chronic dry skin, scaling, itching, rashes, or skin growths that concern you, consult your dermatologist – not only in winter but any time of the year.