Throughout the year, your skin experiences plenty of changes due to fluctuating weather. The wintertime offers some of the harshest weather conditions and it can wreak havoc on your skin. Taking action to prevent dry winter skin can help you maintain the health of your skin throughout the season.
Moisturize Often
The key to combating dry skin is to keep it moisturized. Your skin needs to be moisturized to keep it healthy. Dryness can damage your skin and lead to other issues such as acne. Moisturizing helps balance out your skin to prevent these issues, hide blemishes, and protect your skin. When you moisturize, it creates a protective barrier over your skin which locks in moisture while also keeping out bacteria, dust, and other irritants. For your face, find a moisturizer that compliments your skin type (oily, dry, combination, etc.). On your body, make sure you are using quality body lotion. Moisturizing after a hot shower is a good time to give all your skin some attention.
Go Easy on Exfoliating
Exfoliating is an essential part of your skincare routine. Regularly exfoliating allows you to remove dead skin cells and reveal a new layer of skin. However, it is possible to overdo it and this is very common during the dry, winter months. If you exfoliate too much, you can actually damage your skin further. If you notice your skin is flaky, cracked, or excessively dry, it might be best to go easy on the exfoliating. You can also switch to a more gentle exfoliator for a while.
Use a Humidifier
If you’re especially worried about dry skin or if you live in a dry climate, then you might want to begin using a humidifier. A humidifier will add moisture back into the air. This extra moisture can help prevent your skin from getting too dry. A humidifier can also combat the dryness that comes from turning up the heat in the winter. Using a humidifier in your home at about 60% is a great way to naturally replace the moisture your skin needs. You can leave a humidifier running throughout the day or even just at night while you’re sleeping.
Hydrate
While there’s a lot you can do on the outside to keep your skin moist, you can also work from the inside. Drinking plenty of water and staying hydrated. Dehydration can impact how your skin looks and it can make it more prone to drying out as well as being sensitive to the dry air. Throughout the day, you need to make sure you’re getting plenty of water. You might even want to drink more water than you normally would. In addition to drinking water, you should also eat foods that have a high water content such as fruits and vegetables.
Change Your Routine
During the winter, your skin is more sensitive and susceptible to drying out. It can also cause your skin to become irritated by products that you normally don’t have a problem with. To give it some extra help, you might want to change up your skincare routine. Take a look at all the products you use. For the winter, you may want to switch to more gentle products just to give your skin an extra break.
Yes, dry skin is a common winter problem; however, it doesn’t have to be your problem this winter. There are plenty of things you can do to keep your skin moisturized and healthy all winter long. No need for flaky, dry, bleeding skin this season!
If you’re concerned about your skin, you can meet with our dermatologist or skin care professional for extra assistance. Click here to learn more about dermatology services at Premier Family Medical.
