REMARKABLE SKINCARE TIPS FOR HARSH WINTER

Winter adds charm and coziness to the ambiance, making it ideal for a steaming cup of coffee or some peaceful time under the quilt. However, when your skin begins to exhibit indications of dryness owing to a lack of moisture over the winter, you may lose that cheerful feeling. It might be aggravating to have to put in extra work in terms of skincare and diet in order to maintain good health from the inside out.

With the proper amount of care and a healthy routine, you can enjoy the season’s gifts without fear of negative consequences. If you’re someone who suffers from dry skin, take a look at these winter precautions that can help you avoid skin damage.

Winter can be harsh on your skin, and it may feel as if there is no way out: Outside, the cold, blustery weather leaves your skin red and raw, while inside, the heat zaps moisture from the air and your skin.

As the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) points out, even the things that make winter so pleasant, such as sitting by a crackling fire, can dry up your skin. According to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, while a hot shower helps warm you up, it also drains your skin of its natural oils.

KNOW YOUR SKIN

The biggest organ in the body, the skin covers the whole exterior surface of the body. The epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis are the three layers that make up the skin, each with its own structure and function. The skin is made up of a complex network that acts as the body’s first line of defense against viruses, UV rays, chemicals, and mechanical harm.

It also controls the volume of water released into the environment and the temperature. The relevant anatomical structures of the epidermal layer of the skin, as well as their structure, function, embryology, vascular supply, innervation, surgical considerations, and clinical relevance, are discussed in this article.

The skin maintains homeostasis in the body by controlling temperature and water loss, as well as performing endocrine and exocrine processes. The generation of vitamin D in keratinocytes, which are responsible for converting 7-dehydrocholesterol in the epidermis to vitamin D with the help of UV light from the sun, is one of the endocrine tasks.

Somatic and autonomic nerves are both found in the skin. Pain (nociceptors), temperature, light touch, discriminative touch, vibration, pressure, and proprioception are all controlled by the somatic sensory system, which is primarily controlled by specialized cutaneous receptors/end organs such as Merkel discs, Pacinian corpuscles, Meissner’s corpuscles, and Ruffini corpuscles.

Let us now take a look at some remarkable skincare tips for harsh winter.

REMARKABLE SKINCARE TIPS

1] ALWAYS STAY HYDRATED

Isn’t it true that you don’t feel compelled to drink much water during the winter? This is a universal emotion, and we completely understand it. Nonetheless, you should drink plenty of water during the winter to protect your skin from the dry air. Staying hydrated aids in the retention of moisture in the body. Using a humidifier at home can also be beneficial because it helps to maintain the necessary moisture level inside your home.

A moisturizing face mask for winter can take your skin to the next level of renewal. This mask can be used once or twice each week. Finely mashed banana, 1 tablespoon honey, curd, and a few drops of almond oil are required. Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and apply to the face. Rinse the skin with regular or lukewarm water once the mixture has dried. After that, you must use a moisturizer. After you’ve finished massaging, go ahead and execute this step.

2] SKIN PROTECTION

Do you intend to leave the house on a chilly winter day? Don’t forget your sunscreen lotion, gloves, caps, and sunglasses! This is because, while you may love the sun’s warmth, the sun’s direct UV radiation can still harm your skin. Applying a good sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide will suffice.

During the winter, exposure to harsh and freezing winds can cause dry skin. So, always moisturize your skin and apply hyaluronic acid for the best benefits. Retinol is an excellent skin plumping and smoothing agent. It should always be followed up with a broad-spectrum sunscreen.

It improves the appearance of pigmentation by increasing cell turnover, regulating oil flow, and increasing cell turnover. UV rays can harm our skin at any time of the year. For lightness, breathability, ocean friendliness, and ease of use utilize a mineral-based SPF.

3] AVOID BOILING HOT WATER

When it’s cold outside, it’s only natural to want to shower in boiling hot water. However, you should be aware that hot water can quickly dry your skin and cause fissures. To avoid dryness, shower with lukewarm water and use a clean moisturizer (with ceramides and hyaluronic acid) immediately thereafter.

“It’s tempting to turn up the heat in the winter, but hot water removes the oils from your skin, making it more prone to drying out, cracking, and peeling,” explains Dr. Engelman. To conserve as much moisture as possible, chill it on the water temperature.

4] PAY ATTENTION TO HANDS AND FEET

During your hectic routine, don’t forget about your hands and feet. Because hands have fewer oil glands than other parts of the body, they require more attention. Feet can become extremely dry, resulting in cracks and dead skin. After exfoliating the skin and removing the dead skin, moisturize your hands and apply petroleum jelly/glycerine-based treatments to your feet.

Because we should all be continually washing our hands, it’s not enough to simply apply hand cream in the morning and call it a day. Keep one at your workplace, in your car, and in your purse to remind you to reapply. Use a cuticle oil once a day for added moisture and to keep your nails in tip-top form.

5] DO NOT OVER-EXFOLIATE

Exfoliating your facial skin removes dead skin cells as well as a little amount of skin oil. So, throughout the winter, be careful not to exfoliate too much, as this can cause your skin to become drier. Exfoliate your skin gently once or twice a week, depending on your skin type (oily or dry). This will assist skin regeneration while also facilitating better absorption.

In the winter, exfoliation is also necessary to remove dead, flaky skin. However, moderate exfoliation should be done in the winter and on alternate days. You can use a gentle scrub or a homemade scrub prepared with oats or coffee and coconut oil or milk for this stage.

A WORD ON HEALTHY WINTER SKIN

Stein Gold recommends using an over-the-counter 1 percent hydrocortisone lotion if you still have dryness, pain, or irritation after following these healthy skin treatments. “Talk to your doctor if you don’t observe improvement in a few days,” Stein Gold advises. According to the AAD, you may require a prescription-strength moisturizer to combat the drying effects of winter on your skin, or your dry skin could be a sign of a skin issue that needs to be addressed.

Remember to keep yourself always hydrated and moisturized to avoid dry, scaly, and chapped skin, Follow the above tips and have a healthy skin for this winter season!