Some effective points to keep in mind if you want to win your war against winter skin problems.
“Being warm in the winter is the real win,” they say. But keeping your skin healthy in the winter is the real challenge. If you are struggling to maintain your skin in the winter, we have some winter face care tips that will help you maintain your skin’s moisture levels. The skin loses its natural moisture, causing itchy and dry skin. In some cases, it can even lead to psoriasis, eczema, and other skin conditions (1). That’s why we’ve compiled a list of 15 tips that can help keep your winter skincare worries at bay. Continue reading!
10+ skin care tips for winter
1. Don’t over-exfoliate your skin
Exfoliating the skin helps get rid of dead cells. In winter, you have to be careful because the skin barrier is already weakened by the dry and cold weather. Exfoliating the skin once a week is fine – it helps stimulate skin regeneration and better absorption of the product (2). You should also exfoliate depending on your skin type. If you have very dry skin, rub it lightly. If you have a combination and oily skin, once a week is fine.
2. Don’t forget your hands
The skin on your hands has fewer sebaceous glands than the skin on any other part of the body. Therefore, moisture escapes quickly from the hands, making them more prone to cracking and itching. Apply a moisturizer before going out.
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3. Take care of your feet
Choose glycerin-based creams and petroleum jelly to moisturize your feet (3). Also, be sure to exfoliate the skin on your feet from time to time so that it can easily absorb the moisturizer.
4. Do not wear wet clothes for too long
This will further irritate the skin and cause itching. Walking and playing in the snow is fine, but be sure to remove wet socks, pants, and gloves as soon as possible.
5. Avoid anything that irritates the skin
Follow this if you have persistent skin issues like eczema. Winter skin is extremely sensitive, and contact with allergens can trigger your symptoms. Many people are allergic to wool but can’t resist the temptation to wear their winter knitwear. If this is your case, always choose quality woolen winter clothes. Opt for cotton winter clothes whenever possible.
6. Don’t drop your sunglasses
This is especially true for those who live in places where there is a lot of snowfall. Glare from the sun and snow can damage the skin around your eyes, causing dark spots, fine lines, and other issues. So when you go out, be sure to wear good quality UV blocking sunglasses, preferably with wide temples.
7. Follow a daily skin care routine
It doesn’t need to be wordy. Here is a very basic and simple skin care routine that anyone can follow to keep their skin happy this winter. Cleanse your skin once or twice a day, preferably in the morning and before going to bed. After washing your face in the morning, apply a lightweight moisturizer daily to lock in moisture. Use a strong moisturizer or night cream at night. This should be done on damp skin, as freshly washed skin absorbs moisture better.
8. Watch your diet
Eat plenty of seasonal fruits and vegetables (4). Berries are exceptional sources of vitamins and antioxidants that your skin needs to stay healthy in cold weather. Strawberries, grapes, blueberries, raspberries or cherries – choose whatever you like. And if you think you are missing the hydration part (limited water intake), add fruits, vegetables and other foods like soups, salads, juices and milk. This way your body receives the nutrients to keep your skin healthy.
9. Exercise
Yup! I know it’s hard to leave the warmth and coziness of the blanket behind and get moving on a cold winter morning. But do it if you love your skin. Exercise increases the heart rate, which in turn pumps more blood to the organs and skin.
10. Use lukewarm water
It is very tempting to take a hot shower when the temperature drops. But if you love your skin, avoid them. Instead, use lukewarm water to shower and wash your face. Hot showers quickly dry out your skin, and if you don’t moisturize it right away, your skin can develop chapping and winter eczema (5). After a lukewarm shower, apply a moisturizer containing hyaluronic acid and ceramides. This keeps the moisture barrier intact and prevents drying out.
11. Stay hydrated
Whether indoors or outdoors, the air is drier in winter. And hence, water easily evaporates from your body. Therefore, you need to moisturize your skin. You can also install a humidifier to regulate the humidity level in your home (6). It will surely make your skin happy.
12. Choose skin care products wisely
What made your skin happy in the summer can make it sad in the winter. And that’s why you need to change your skin care products accordingly. The key to healthy, glowing winter skin is to use gentle skin care products. Choose cleansers that contain moisturizers to prevent your skin from losing its natural moisture barrier. If you have acne or breakouts, use products containing ceramides, hyaluronic acid, hydrating serums and glycerin to repair your skin’s moisture barrier (7). Avoid masks and scrubs, astringent lotions and all products containing alcohol as they dry out your skin in winter.
13. Protect your skin
You should protect your skin from cold wind, snow or rain when you go out in winter. So wear gloves and a hat and don’t forget your sunscreen. The hot rays of the sun are pleasant to the touch, but UV rays can still do a lot of damage to your skin. Choose a sunscreen with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. In winter, the sebaceous and sweat glands in your body and blood vessels narrow slightly. This makes it difficult for your skin to stay healthy and glowing naturally, which is why it needs your help. These tips aren’t hard to follow and you can easily incorporate them into your daily routine.
When winter comes, most people, especially those with dry skin, fear that their skin will become dry and flaky in cold weather. If you’re struggling to keep your skin hydrated this season, the winter face care tips mentioned above may come in handy. Remember that diet, exercise, and hydration play an important role in keeping your skin fresh. By following these tips and tricks you will keep your skin healthy and glowing. However, if you are still experiencing dryness, irritation, or discomfort after following these guidelines for healthy skin, see a dermatologist for medical attention.
Sources
- 1. The Winter Season Affects More Severely the Facial Skin than the Forearm Skin: Comparative Biophysical Studies Conducted in the Same Japanese Females in Later Summer and Winter
- https://www.karger.com/article/Abstract/47989
- 2. Exfoliative Skin-peeling Benefits from This Procedure and Our Experience
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4720453/
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3. Moisturisers for the treatment of foot xerosis: a systematic review
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5297015/
- 4. Plant-Based Foods for Skin Health: A Narrative Review
- https://www.jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(21)01433-7/fulltext
- 5. Eczema and Bathing
- https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/treatment/bathing/
- 6. The effect of air humidification on symptoms and perception of indoor air quality in office workers: a six-period cross-over trial
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1540009/
- 7. Skin hydration is significantly increased by a cream formulated to mimic the skin’s own natural moisturizing systems
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6197824/
