Do you love the cold windy days that come with Winter? Most of us don’t for many reasons. One of the peskiest reasons however is dry, chapped, flaky and sore skin! Our face, hands, and feet are the most affected by this weather; sometimes even resulting in eczema – which is an inflammation of the skin.
For some people, this is much more than a cosmetic issue. Of course, none of us likes to see visible dry patches on our skin, but for some it can get very itchy and uncomfortable, even affecting their sleep.
Normally the layers of our skin lay flat on the surface. When the weather changes to cold and we have low humidity in the air, the skin will instead start to lift and clump – which is what makes your skin look and feel dry.
What Are Some Things We Can Do To Prevent Dry Winter Skin?
1 – Drink Plenty of Water!
Water is the answer for many things, isn’t it? Winter skin is no different – keep your body well hydrated to keep your skin cells plump and hydrated too. The cells function better that way so they can remain plump and nourished, and the natural barrier that your skin offers against the elements remains strong.
Keep up with drinking your 8 glasses per day, or more if you find yourself particularly dehydrated or if you exercise rigorously.
During the winter months, surprisingly, you might feel less thirsty – but your body still needs just as much water as it does in the warmer months, maybe even more.
2 – Consume More Healthy Fats and Oils
The other part that we can control is our diet – try to amp up your consumption of healthy oils from foods rich in omega-3 and 6 fatty acids. This can include avocados (of course), nuts, seeds, and fatty fish such as salmon and sardines.
You can also take your fat game to the next level by switching your butter to organic & grass-fed. Grass-fed butter contains 26% more healthy omega 3 oils than mainstream butter.
3 – Include Extra Vitamin C
Vitamin C is a readily available and potent antioxidant which many of us already take to protect us from developing colds in the winter. But vitamin C has many more uses in the body – not least of which is to promote collagen synthesis, leading to healthier, more supple skin!
You can bump up your consumption by eating more dark leafy greens and citrus fruit, or taking a vitamin C supplement.
4- Avoid Overly Hot Showers
Hot showers may feel wonderful on a freezing cold day, but if you want to protect your skin try to keep your time in the hot water to a minimum.
Instead of warming your bones under a long, scalding shower, preserve the moisture in your skin by showering in warm or lukewarm water for 5 minutes or so (and put your best wool socks on afterwards).
When we spend 20 minutes under really hot water, it strips our skin of its natural moisture because it breaks down the skin’s lipid barriers (aka natural oils) – leading to those dry, flaky legs and sore, red face we would all prefer to avoid.
5 – Keep The Air In Your Home Moist
When the heating is cranked up high as it is in many homes right now, that naturally makes the air very dry. If you don’t already have one, get yourself a humidifier. These moisture-saving machines gently pump water droplets into the air over a few hours, making it much kinder on the skin and preventing such awkward winter issues as nighttime nosebleeds.
As for your cosy evenings – as nice as it feels, don’t sit right next to the fireplace! Direct heat wreaks even more havoc on your skin. Instead, snuggle up under a warm blanket further from the flames, perhaps nursing a mug of herbal tea.
6 – Double Moisturise
The goal of a good moisturiser is to trap and preserve the moisture/oils that you already have in your skin. One way you can boost the effect of your favourite moisturiser during the dry winter months is by adding a thin layer of natural oil to your face and body even before you apply it.
Oils that work wonders for the skin, depending on your skin type, include rosehip, jojoba, almond and hazelnut. You should do this after every shower and in the evening when you wash your face for best effects.
7 – Exercise For Glowing Skin
And finally, you didn’t think we would forget about exercise did you?
Anything will do really – whether you prefer to go out for an afternoon stroll, or pump some iron at the gym, just go for it! The goal is to activate your body’s circulation to get nutrients flowing well into your cells.
An added bonus is that exercise promotes endorphins (the happy hormone) so you will feel good too, giving your skin a natural healthy glow from within!
Looking For Professional Help With Your Skin Issues?
If you have decided to amp up your skincare game but really don’t know where to start, it may be wise to seek the opinion of a professional.
The Marsden Centre’s new integrative skin care program delivers a full spectrum of services aimed at supporting beautiful skin by combining naturopathic and medical aesthetic principals. If you are ready to tackle your skin from the inside out… and the outside in… give us a call!
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