The New Year brings the coldest weather of the year to the Northern Hemisphere. The days are shorter, the nights are longer and temperatures are dropping. Extreme low weather temperatures present special challenges to skin care and the need for added skin protection. Snow, ice, strong winds and the harsh winter climate can wreak havoc on the complexion, causing chapping, windburn, drying and flaking of the skin.
In addition to harsh outdoor weather, the cold winter air outside combined with hot air inside creates low relative humidity which dries the skin, leading to cracking and peeling. Heaters can dry the air and blow hot, dry air on the face. People with rosacea and other sensitive skin issues may experience winter skin problems to a greater degree along with facial redness due to the weather and/or heaters.
Although winter presents extra challenges for the skin, a proactive approach to skin care can counteract some of these issues. The following are 7 skin care tips for healthy winter skin to help your skin look its best in the New Year.
1. Do not bathe the hands or face too frequently. Over washing the skin can dry and irritate it.
2. Avoid harsh soaps. Face care starts with cleansing, but harsh soaps can irritate and dry the skin, especially with sensitive skin. Choose a gentle exfoliating wash to remove dry, dead skin.
3. Wash and dry the face gently. Use only lukewarm water and wash the face with the fingertips without scrubbing. Pat dry gently with a soft towel to prevent removal of natural lipids from the skin.
4. Moisturize every day. Use a daily pro-vitamin hydrating moisturizer to protect the skin. Look for a daily moisturizer that nourishes skin with vitamins, hydrates and protects with ingredients like Dimethicone.
5. Moisturize every night. For healthy-looking skin, use a night cream for the face that helps restore and replenish the skin's moisture balance.
6. For the body, topical skin moisturizers made from petroleum oils/jellys, vegetable oils/butters, and lanolin can be applied to dehydrated, chapped, flaky winter skin as needed to soothe and moisturize. Applying good moisturizers and emollients every day protects the skin from strong winds and cold winter weather.
7. Take daily vitamins. Vitamin A and Vitamin D are particularly important for winter skin care, especially since less sun in the winter usually means less Vitamin D. Dry skin, or xeroderma, can be caused by a deficiency of vitamins A and D, so take those multi-vitamins or vitamin supplements.
Although winter air can be hard on the skin, fresh air and exercise are still necessary, so wear a daily moisturizer and a moisturizing sunscreen and continue an active lifestyle during the winter. Adding a moisturizing facial wash and a good night cream to your daytime moisturizer and sunscreen should create a balanced regimen for good skin protection. Add a good eye cream and lip serum to your regimen, and your face should be prepared for and protected from winter weather for a skin-healthy New Year.
Also See: Rodan+Fields * Skin, Health & Beauty on Facebook * SkinHealthBeauty
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