Winter is tough on skin. Outside, cold winds blow hard. Indoors the heating system blasts air that makes the office feel like the Arizona desert. The result is lips and elbows that feel like sand paper, and a complexion that looks flakey.
But the consequences of dry skin are not just aesthetic; well-moisturized skin is the body’s barrier from infectious viruses and bacteria. Healthy skin helps promote overall health. So if your skin is looking and feeling less than optimal this time of year, here are 10 tips to help soothe it.
1. Cleanse Gently
Skip the deodorant and antibacterial soaps, which strip skin’s essential oils, advises WebMD.com. Choose mild, lightly scented, or unscented soaps, which are gentler on the skin. Also, consider using a more mild laundry detergent as well, one less likely to leave residue on clothes that can irritate dry, chapped skin. Nix the harsh facial peels, masks, and alcohol-based toners and astringents, as well. Use foaming or milk cleansers instead.
2. Moisturize
Choose products that are oil based and will create a protective layer on skin, skin care experts say. Products with oils like almond and avocado, which don’t clog pores, are recommended. Apply moisturizer within three minutes of bathing or showering — while skin is still moist. For severely dry skin, choose a moisturizer containing urea or lactic acid — ingredients that help skin retain water, advises the American Academy of Dermatology.
3. Take shorter showers
The American Academy of Dermatology says taking five- to 10-minute showers adds moisture to your skin, but anything more than that leaves skin less hydrated than it was when you stepped behind the curtain. Make sure water is lukewarm, not steamy, because hot water removes skin’s natural oils faster than warm or cold water does.
4. Shave with care
Shaving can irritate skin, especially if it is already dry. So take care to use a sharp, not dull razor, and a good lubricating shaving cream, suggests WebMD.com. Change your blades often and shave in the direction hair grows in to avoid any further irritation. Apply moisturizer after shaving to soothe skin and promote smoothness.
5. Use a humidifier
The air from central heating systems and even space heaters is extremely drying and is a big culprit when it comes to chapped skin. Combat the dryness of today’s indoor heating systems with a humidifier, which will bring much-needed moisture to the air. Adding a few plants to your surroundings will also help — water in plants diffuses, creating a more moist environment, RealSimple.com explains.
6. Wear sunscreen
Overexposure to sun can cause skin dryness, premature aging, wrinkles, age spots, freckles, and skin cancers. Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 30, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends. Make sure it provides broad-spectrum protection against skin-damaging ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B rays. And remember that sun can penetrate clouds and snow — summer isn’t the only time for sunscreen.
7. Cover up
Be sure to wear gloves or mittens when outdoors in wintry weather to protect your hands, which are especially prone to chapping. Waxed-based products like lip balm and lipstick create a protective barrier for lips, which have no oil glands and easily dry out. Avoid licking them, which promotes chapping.
8. Don’t smoke
Here is yet another reason not to smoke: Smoking dries our skin, reports RealSimple.com. Smoking is toxic to skin, promotes premature wrinkling, and deprives skin’s outer layer of oxygen and nutrients. So if you want to avoid those pucker lines around your mouth — to say nothing of prolonging your life — stop sucking on cigarettes.
9. Eat well
Consuming a balanced diet rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean protein can give you healthy skin, the American Academy of Dermatology says. Drinking water also is vital for overall health, but the average person’s skin does not reflect the amount of water being consumed, Dr. Kenneth Bielinski, a dermatologist in Oak Lawn, Ill., tells WebMD.com. The idea that drinking lots of water keeps skin young looking is a myth.
10. De-stress
Keeping stress in check helps maintain good skin health, skin care experts say. Chronic stress can worsen skin conditions, like rosacea (persistent facial redness); psoriasis (patches of raised, red skin with white scales); and acne; and can cause nails to become brittle or ridged, and hair to fall out, the American Academy of Dermatology reports.
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