Winter is a time full of snow, and fun holiday activities. It is also the time of year that you are most prone to dry skin. Some of us only have issues with dryness here and there, but for others it can seem like a constant battle. We are here to help, with seven great tips to help you fight dry skin this winter.
Moisturize
Moisturizing your skin is a not only a great way to help prevent dry skin, but to heal it as well. The best time to moisturize is right after a bath or shower to lock in the hydration. You may find that ointments and creams are more beneficial for dry skin than lotion. These items have less of a chance of irritating the skin, because they lack the perfumes that many lotions do. Creams infused with Shea butter, or olive oil are thicker and often last longer than other alternatives. Another good idea is to carry around a small tube of hand cream to apply while you are out and about. Don’t forget about your lips too! Regularly wearing lip balm can keep you from getting chapped lips during these cold months.
Turn Down the Hot Water
When it comes to dry skin, hot showers are not your friend. The heat actually breaks down the lipid barrier in the skin, causing it to become drier.
Cooler and shorter showers will get you just as clean, without the adverse effects to your skin.
Another trick to avoid drying out your skin while in the bath or shower, is to be sure to close the door. This helps all the moisture stay in the room. When you are finished blot yourself dry with a towel, rather than rubbing, to help avoid drying out the skin further.
Exfoliate
A light scrub can get rid of the top layer of dead skin, exposing newer and healthier skin. Some sources may say that exfoliating is counterproductive, but that is because it is all too common to overdo it. The key to exfoliation is to scrub very lightly, so as to not damage the healthy skin.
Humidifier
Using a humidifier can be very helpful in the winter months. The heating system can take the moisture out of the air, causing you to get dry skin. A humidifier helps put moisture back into the air. You may find one especially helpful in your bedroom while you sleep, and you can check your home heating system to see if there is an option for a built in humidifier.
Bundle Up
Your hands are the most exposed body part, and that is why they are often the area you first notice dry skin. Be sure to wear gloves whenever you go outside. The rest of your body also needs to be well covered when going outside in the cold winter months. Wearing layers is key. You can always take layers off if you become too hot, but you may not be able to add layers when you are cold.
A lack of coverage, and exposure to the elements, will almost definitely cause dry skin.
Soap Free Cleansers
When choosing a cleanser to use, you want to avoid products with added perfumes, and soaps. Some skincare products are too harsh to use on damaged skin, and can actually make it worse. Some of these products include deodorant, soaps, and alcohol based cleansers. Soap free cleansers are best when dealing with dry skin like Cetaphil, Oilatum, and Aquanil. If your skin is not damaged, but you are looking for a preventative, moisturizing cleansers are good to use too, such as Dove or Olay.
Choose Fabrics and Detergents Wisely
Certain fabrics, such as wool, have a scratchy tactile to them, and are not good to wear while you have dry skin as the irritation could get worse. You can avoid this by wearing silk underneath, as a barrier for your skin. Using hypoallergenic or fragrance free detergents can help prevent skin irritation. One should avoid using fabric softener for the same reason.
Using these tricks can really improve the condition of your skin and make this winter much more bearable.
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