Winter Skin Care

Winter Skin Care

Winter can be one of the worst times of the year to take care of your skin. Your skin either gets extremely dry or a combination of all of the above. When the weather changes, so should your skin care treatments. Your skin is slowly adapting to the environmental changes around it, but once your skin has fully adapted it is time for it to change yet once again, so your skin never really settles down during the winter. Your skin gets dry in low humidity which is what the winter brings along with it. In low humidity your skin gets dehydrated and fragile. This is where moisturizer comes into play. The more the better!

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

Moisturizing is about the only thing you can do to treat dry skin in the winter. Taking a hot bath and lathering on the moisturizing crème is an easy and quick start to healing and preparing your skin for the cold elements that it will face for the day. After taking a shower apply baby oil to your skin. This will help to keep the moisture in and the dryness out.

Some of the best types of moisturizer for winter weather are ones that contain oils in them, just because your body isn’t producing the oils needed to have hydrated skin. Lanolin, vitamin E oils, and avocado oils are perfect for absorbing moisture and retaining it in the skin. Protein from milk is a great way to soften skin that is dry or wrinkled. Honey is also a great moisturizer that is all natural.

Exfoliating the Dryness Away

Finding a good exfoliating regime is one of the first things besides the moisturizer to seek out. With your skin drying out constantly, exfoliating it is a good way to keep your skin looking great. You should exfoliate your skin at least two times a week to keep the flaky dry skin away. Your skin diminishes it oil production in the winter which in turn causes the dry skin. This is due to the low temperatures outside and the heat from inside which removes most of the moisture from your skin.

The Importance of Water

Water is important no matter what time of year it is, but it is extremely important in thewinter. You should drink at least eight glasses of water a day to replenish the water lost from the winter air taking it out of your skin. There is one ancient Chinese remedy that is a safe method give your body a boost of energy. This includes warm water mixed with lemon. This concoction detoxifies the body of toxins and removes those that cause your skin to be dry.

A good night’s sleep is also a good step to take. While you sleep at night, your body is replenishing itself and preparing itself for the oncoming day ahead whether it be hot or cold. If you aren’t getting enough sleep at night, your body as well as your skin will not be health and glowing.

Eating the Right Foods

In the winter time we regularly eat a lot more than we do in any other season. This is good as long as we are eating the right foods. Eating foods rich in protein, vitamin A, B1, and B2 is a great way to improve your skins healthiness. By consuming these types of foods, you can help your skin build up a defense against the elements along with your regular skin care regiment. In winter time, your skin needs all the help it can get. Foods that are full of antioxidants help your skin to fight off inflammation and protect the cells of the membranes from being destroyed by the elements. Drinking green tea or eating foods with omega 3 are other great ways to help. These are rich with antioxidants. Taking a multi-vitamin is also a great way to help your skin along.

Dry Skin Problems

How do I treat dry skin?

Moisturizers work well to treat dry skin. Choose a moisturizer that is hypoallergenic (it should say so on the label). This means that this type of moisturizer is less likely to cause an allergic reaction on your skin. The best moisturizers are also the most "gooey." Ointments (or oils) are best, followed by creams, and then lotions.

Put a moisturizer on your skin 3 or 4 times during the day. Put moisturizer on right after you wash or bathe. This will hold in the moisture from the water. If you have very dry hands, put petroleum jelly (one brand name: Vaseline) on them before you go to bed at night and sleep with your hands in cotton-lined gloves.

Changing your bathing habits can also help. If you bathe too often, it may dry out your skin. Try to take short, lukewarm baths or showers. Oatmeal baths (one brand name: Aveeno) may be soothing to dry skin. Use a mild soap every day to clean your genital area and under your arms. Use soap on other parts of your body 2 or 3 times a week only.

Some people use bath oils to help make their skin less dry. However, these oils can make your tub slippery. To avoid slipping and falling, put the oil on your skin after you get out of the bathtub. Plain baby oil works well.

How can I relieve itching?

A moisturizer might be all you need to relieve itching. If a moisturizer does not help enough, you could try using 1% hydrocortisone steroid skin cream for a week. If this is not helpful, your doctor may prescribe stronger steroids or antihistamine pills.

Be sure to talk with your doctor if you are using a steroid cream or ointment to treat your itching. Do not use steroid creams to treat itching for longer than 1 to 2 weeks unless it is recommended by your doctor. Do not put a steroid cream on your face or genital area. Steroid creams may make your skin get very thin and may cause other skin problems.

When should I see my doctor because of itchy skin?

Dry, irritated skin is more likely to get infected. Infected skin is red, warm and swollen. It may ooze fluid. You may need antibiotics to get rid of this kind of infection.

Severe itching or pain, especially in older adults, sometimes is caused by a serious medical problem. Call your doctor if you are an older person who has severe itching or pain that doesn't have an obvious cause and does n't get better within 2 weeks.