How to deal with Dry Skin during Winter
Your skin responds to the changing seasons, and this is very evident in winter when your skin gets drier and flakier.
The cold winter months zap your skin of moisture and make it look less radiant than it usually does.
Thankfully, there are steps you can use to keep your skin looking healthy, even during the frigid, dry air of winter.
What are the signs of dry skin?
The medical term for dry skin is xerosis. Symptoms can range in severity and can be different depending on the area of your body that’s affected.
Some of the usual symptoms of dry skin include:
- Redness
- Itchiness
- Stinging or burning
- Cracks in your skin
- Flakiness or scaliness
- Rough texture
- Raw, irritated skin
So, how do you deal with dry skin during
winter?
By following these tips that will help you boost your skin during winter.
- Moisturize after you wash
Once you wash your face, hands, or body, your skin is stripped of its natural oils. These oils help to lock in moisture, and so you have to replace them. This is where the moisturizer comes in.
To help you get used to the procedure, keep a bottle of moisturizer next to your sink and keep a travel-sized one with you when you’re on the go.
- Use sunscreen daily
Winter days are shorter and this means less sunlight, but do not take this to mean a license to skip on sunscreen. Even in winter, harmful UV light can still affect your skin’s moisture barrier, and this will wreak havoc with the maintenance of your skin’s health and hydration.
We recommend that you add a layer of sunscreen daily once you’ve applied a moisturizer. Make sure the sunscreen is a mineral sunscreen and has at least SPF 30.
- Reduce the Temperature
A hot bath at the end of a cold winter’s day will generally feel especially soothing. But, if you want to keep your skin nourished, you should go with lukewarm water.
This is because hot water strips away your skin’s natural oils faster than lukewarm water. And once it does this, your body will overcompensate by making excess oils that clog your pores and cause acne and other skin breakouts.
- Go Easy on Exfoliants and Scrubs
Exfoliation, which helps remove dead skin cells from your skin usually keeps your skin looking smooth and vibrant. But, over-exfoliating your skin is possible if you do it too often or you use the wrong products.
If you have skin that looks dry or flaky, opt for a gentle chemical exfoliant instead of a physical scrub. Physical scrubs are more likely to break down your skin’s moisture barrier and create damage.
If your skin is cracked, raw, or irritated, it is best if you avoid exfoliation till your skin has healed properly. And then, use gentle chemical exfoliators.
- Use a humidifier
Humidifiers help to add moisture back into the air, and this can be helpful for you, especially since indoor heating will be increased during the winter months.
Having more moisture in the air helps to act as a natural moisturizing agent and this should help prevent skin dryness. Ensure you keep your humidifier setting to 60% or more so you can achieve this.
- Increase Fluids Intake
Another key step to ensuring your skin is healthy and glowing is staying well hydrated throughout the day. Not taking in enough fluids will affect the look of your skin and also make your skin dry out faster.
Apart from staying hydrated, focus on consuming foods high in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.
Both of these nutrients help to protect your cells from damage and help your body produce healthy cells, including skin cells.
- Wear non-irritating fabrics
It’s good practice to avoid wearing harsh materials during winter. The skin usually has a tendency to be drier during this time, so irritating fabrics would only serve to, well, irritate you.
Wear loose, comfortable, natural fabrics that will help reduce the risk of extra physical irritation.
Also, don’t wash your clothes with regular detergents. Use detergents made for sensitive skin, as they will be free of harsh chemicals and fragrances.
- Wear gloves
Gloves are a powerful physical barrier against the frigid wind and other environmental agents that can dry out your skin.
Wear warm gloves when stepping out into the cold and use silicone gloves when washing dishes.
This will help to limit the dry air and hot water that touches your skin, and it will also help keep your hands smooth and very well hydrated.
Scorpion Rick’s Bottomline
Winter is a great time. Instead of dreading it, get prepared for it. By taking our advice, you’ll never have to be uncomfortable with your skin during winter anymore.
