When Winter is Upon Us

With the cold weather of winter coming, there will be less humidity in the air, and you will want to crank up the heat, and the thought of a really hot shower is so relaxing, especially after being in the cold for a while.

Ok, so, why does any of that matter?

Well, it matters because all of that is going to be drying out your skin!

So, if you want to keep your skin from dry, flaking, or itching, then you need to keep reading.

This is also going to help if you suffer from eczema or just areas of eczema.

What Not To Do

Even though you probably want to crank up the heat, it’s best to keep it between 68 degrees Fahrenheit and 72 degrees Fahrenheit.

The air outside already has less humidity and turning the heat up on the inside will deplete that moisture as well. Believe it or not, your skin does benefit from humidity.

This next one may be tough, it definitely was for me!

You know the hot bath or shower you look forward to after being in the cold? Well, sorry, it should only be lukewarm. The hot water will cause increased evaporation of your skin’s natural moisture.

Don’t use anything that contains alcohol. Be aware of all ingredients in your products. Makeup wipes, lotions, and toners are all guilty of adding alcohol to absorb the excess oil in the skin, which is ok in the summer.

Don’t over-exfoliate. Instead, use a gentle scrub such as Cetaphil Exfoliating Face Wash. Some gentle exfoliation is needed for those serums and creams to absorb better!

What You Should Do

First of all, just because it is winter doesn’t mean you don’t still need sunscreen. Even if it is cloudy outside, apply the SPF at least 30 minutes before going out.

Apply lip balm frequently.

Since you will be using some heat, the air is still going to be dry. The best way to even out moisture in your home will be to purchase some small humidifiers and place them around the house.

If you will use humectants, the way they work is by attracting moisture from the air into your skin.

Use creams that say “fragrance-free”, not “unscented”.  The unscented labeled creams can contain chemicals that are trying to hide the odor of other ingredients.

Take a lukewarm (not hot) bath and add oatmeal or baking soda. This will especially help if your skin has become so dry it is itching.

When you get out of the shower or tub, you should put on your moisturizer within one minute. This helps lock moisture in. An excellent moisturizer to use would be Neutrogena Lightweight Body Oil. It’s a light sesame formula that really locks in moisture!

Use creams, not lotions. Many lotions contain alcohol, and you know what alcohol will do!

For your face, you will benefit greatly from using a heavier ceramide cream such as CeraVe Moisturizing Cream.  During the winter, your skin’s barrier is pretty much under attack, which can cause a breakdown. The ceramides prevent this from happening. As an added benefit, this cream has hyaluronic acid.

If you are prone to areas of eczema during the winter after you have applied your regular moisturizer coat the area with Aquaphor. This will seal in the moisture.

Do your legs get flaky in the winter? If so then right after your shower apply cream and wrap them in plastic wrap. Don’t wrap too tight, though to cause constriction. Put on some long tube socks and sleep that way.

Now, how about those feet? Exfoliate them about once a week, this helps the moisture sink in faster and deeper. You will want to moisturize with a petroleum-based or glycerin cream. Aquaphor or Glysolid are both excellent choices!

If you try any or all of the steps above and nothing works for you, you may need to go see a dermatologist.

Conclusion

If you have been dreading the winter months and worrying about your skin drying out, you have found your solution!  Go ahead and give one, two, five, or all of them a try.

Please do me a favor and come back and tell me how you liked them!

Learn how to keep all your skin youthful looking. 

Thanks for visiting!