Winter Skin Care Routines From the Pros!
It’s cold. It’s harsh. It’s not good for your skin. Our skin is our most vulnerable organ when it comes to cold climates. It needs to be pampered and treated delicately. Cold weather can inhibit us from treating our skin with the care it deserves.
The most rampant skin care hurdle in the winter season is dryness. For some it could just be a noticeable tightness in the skin. Mainly on the face, hands and feet. But for others, their skin can get so dry it begins to flake and crack. Some even experience severe eczema, which is basically the inflammation of your dermis. Please note that if you are experiencing symptoms of severe eczema it’s highly recommended that you seek the professional help of a dermatologist.
Since we’re going to be focusing on treating and preventing dry skin, we’ll be stealing routines and tips from the world’s top dermatologists!
Tip One: Use a Humidifier to Keep a Moist Atmosphere.
According to Dr. Angela Lamb (Director of Westside Mount Sinai Dermatology Faculty Practice in NYC) your skin is the “barrier that keeps water inside of your body, so when it is dry and cold, water evaporates off of the surface faster and easier.” She recommends routinely using a humidifier for your home. Humidifiers are an easy and affordable way to add moisture back into your living space. Many homeowners tend to turn up their heat during the colder months. This adds to the dryness of your home’s atmosphere. This is why using a humidifier is so important to offset the dry air your skin may not be used to.
Tip Two: Switch to Softer Skin Care Products.
Your skin is already doing its best to keep its softness. The harsh weather changes are enough of a challenge. Choosing products that are more gentle and plain tend to allow your skin to retain its necessary moisture. There’s even speculation that if you’re seeing a more severe breakout of dryness on your skin to only clean it with water and avoid products all together.
Tip Three: Stay Away From Hot Showers & Baths.
It may seem counterintuitive to steer away from hot water when you’re cold and dry, but it’s necessary. Since hot water evaporates quickly, your skin may not be moisturized as effectively. This leads to cracks on the surface of your dermis and exposes the nerves of the skin. A lot of people refer to this as “winter’s itch.” Try to keep your water temperature moderate, and be sure to moisturize your skin after you dry off.
Tip Four: Oil up. Bathe. Then put on a cream moisturizer.
Dr. Angela Lamb suggests that applying coconut oil to your body can make a protective barrier for your skin before getting into a warm bath. This will help your skin retain its moisture. After your bath/shower, it’s important to moisturize. Please refrain from moisturizing with lotions. These come in a pump container and are not as thick as moisturizers that will optimize your skin’s health. Creamy moisturizers tend to come in jars, and still, taking Tip 3 into consideration, choose one that is fragrance free. The less possible irritants the better.
Tip Five: Reduce Exfoliation.
If your skin is dry, then it’s a bad idea to exfoliate. Many believe that by exfoliating the dry skin, they are ridding themselves of it, but this is definitely false. You will only be exposing your skin and making it more vulnerable to harsh conditions. If you do want to exfoliate, keep it to a maximum of once a week during the winter months.
Tip Six: Drink water.
This is the last and probably most obvious tip, but it’s worth it. A few extra cups of water a day will help your body get what it needs. Stay hydrated!
We hope that you can steal these tips and implement them into your winter skin care routines! Please let us know if you have any other tips that we can share. As always, if you have any questions feel free to reach out!
