Cold weather can leave your skin feeling dry, rough, itchy and prone to damage. So how do you and your skin survive the cold temperature, low humidity, and high wind? We’ve got you covered.
With just a few simple dermatologist recommended steps, you can guard your skin during the cold weather. Read on to learn more.
Moisturize Often
Cold weather can strip your skin of moisture. Lack of hydration can lead to dry skin and makes it susceptible to premature aging. Step up your moisturizer or moisturize your skin often to lock in the moisture.
Your skin’s outermost layer (stratum corneum) acts as a protective barrier [1]. It prevents water from escaping the skin and harmful bacteria from entering the skin. Water is essential in maintaining the strength of the barrier.
Moisturizers contain ingredients that help in water retention in the skin. Consider using a barrier repair moisturizer [2] that repairs the skin’s natural barrier. It has the property to prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
Moisturizers come in the form of creams, lotions, gels and serums for different skin types. Know your skin first and stick to a moisturizer that suits your skin.
It is best to apply a moisturizer after cleansing. The lotion will lock all the water that is saturated after cleansing.
Using a hand cream after washing your hands in cold weather also helps keep your hands soft and moisturized.
Exercise With Caution
Exercise offers a ton of benefits for your skin. It flushes out toxins in the form of sweat, clears pores and increases blood circulation. However, while the weather is cold, consider working out indoors. During cold weather, air lacks humidity and getting exposed to such air damages your skin.
Take Warm Showers, Not Hot
It is tempting to take a hot shower in cold weather but did you know that hot water can strip the moisture of your skin. Hot showers can make your skin feel like a dry and withered leaf. Warm shower with a hydrating body wash can protect your skin from the harsh weather.
Don’t wash your hands with hot water. According to dermatologists, washing hands with cold water is as effective at removing germs as hot water.
Choose Gentle Products
Switch to gentle skincare products in cold weather. Avoid products that contain fragrances, sulfates, parabens, alcohol and other toxic ingredients.
Pick a cleanser that is free of harsh chemicals and pH balanced. Harsh cleansers tend to wash off the natural oils from your skin leaving it dry.
Use a moisturizer that suits your skin otherwise it can clog your pores.
We can’t stress enough on the benefits of sunscreen. Sun can have a damaging effect on the skin, ranging from dark spots to patches to tan to wrinkles to skin cancer. Don’t skip your sunscreen in winter thinking that it’s only for the summers. The sun’s rays in winter are not as strong as they are in the summers but your skin still needs to be shielded from the UV rays. Pick a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 for the cold weather [3].
In cold weather, under eye skin has a tendency to get even drier. The skin around the eyes is extremely thin and needs an eye cream that hydrates it to keep it supple.
Avoid Wearing Irritating Clothes
Since the skin in cold weather feels dry and sensitive already, make sure you don’t wear synthetic clothes that may irritate your skin further. Breathable cotton fabrics are a great option in cold weather.
You could layer up with sweaters and gloves for the hands to keep yourself warm. Change out of wet clothes to prevent itchy skin.
Use A Humidifier
Air lacks humidity when the weather is cold. Use a humidifier at home to increase the humidity in the air. This can prevent your skin from drying a lot
Limit Exfoliation
Exfoliation is crucial to get rid of the dead skin cells but limit it during the cold weather.
Exfoliation helps blemished skin, clogged pores, pigmentation, and suntan.
Exfoliating shouldn’t be done more than once a week since over exfoliation can strip off the natural oils from the skin and disrupt your skin’s pH balance, potentially leaving it even drier.
Eat Right And Stay Hydrated
Eat a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables to give your skin the required vitamins.
Fatty fish, avocado, walnuts, bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, green tea, dark chocolate are some of the many foods that are great for your skin.
We don’t feel thirsty in cold weather but our skin needs the same amount of hydration irrespective of the external environment. Make sure to drink at least three liters of water every day. You could include warm herbal teas during the day which also work as an alternative to caffeine.
Let us know how your skin feels after incorporating these steps in your routine during cold weather.
REFERENCES:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513299/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5849435/
- https://www.fda.gov/drugs/understanding-over-counter-medicines/sunscreen-how-help-protect-your-skin-sun
- https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002104.htm
Author Bio :
Nisha is passionate about writing and loves to share her thoughts with the world. She is a regular contributor to skinkraft.com and a few other websites. She has written many articles on yoga, fitness, wellness, remedies, and beauty. She keeps herself updated by going through interesting blogs every day. This fuels her passion and motivates her to write appealing and engaging articles.
LifeAsMama
Latest posts by LifeAsMama (see all)
- 5 Small and Smart Ideas for More Ethical Shopping - February 18, 2020
- How to Talk to Kids About Death - February 13, 2020
- 7 Tips For Eating Out On The Keto Diet - February 10, 2020
