Cold temps and blustery winds bring many skin concerns that go far beyond just dry skin, your basic daily skincare routine just isn't enough.
Here's how to keep the skin on your face and body soft and supple all season long.
Dry Skin
If you use a lightweight lotion in the summer, switch to a heavier cream and do not contain any alcohol. Apply every time you shower or wash your face while skin is still damp, and use lukewarm water (not hot, which can irritate skin), keep your shower as short as possible, and choose gentle fragrance-free soap, or cleansers. in the winter You don't need to scrub your body, it removes the skin’s natural oils.
Sensitive Skin
Sensitive skin can get inflamed very easily during harsh winter months, causing raw, red cheeks in paler complexions and long-lasting hyper-pigmentation spots in darker ones. Choose products that are free of colors and fragrances, not just face and body washes, but detergents and fabric softeners, as well. Find a soap-free non-foaming face wash that you can try wipe off with a soft cloth rather than rinsing with water.
Chapped Lips
Dry skin on cheeks is not the only issue in winter, it also commonly manifests itself as chapped, cracked lips, as well. A natural lip balm with cocoa butter, vitamin A and E, and beeswax, will help soothe and repair broken skin and make them soft and smooth.
50 or Older
Even if you never had dry skin, chances are you'll notice a change as you get older. The sebaceous glands on the body that produce oil actually slow down and shrink after middle age, but we usually don't alter our bathing habits. We continue to scrub ourselves head to toe, and that's when we experience eczema or severely dry skin for the first time in our lives. If you have dry, itchy patches that were never there before, switch to a gentle facial cleanser and body wash and slather on a heavier moisturizer, head to toe after showering or washing your face.
Eczema or Psoriasis
Conditions like Eczema and Psoriasis are prone to winter flare-ups when it's hard to keep skin moist. Again -Keep showers short and luke-warm, and pat yourself dry (rather than rubbing) with a towel and apply a rich moisturizer immediately. Experts recommend keeping stress levels low (and I can vouch for that) and getting a flu shot, since these conditions may be linked to immune function. In fact, there was a study done that found the skin's ability to retain water is reduced during stress. The lack of sunlight in the winter can make psoriasis worse. In severe cases, phototherapy with UV light, two to three times a week, may help.
