Winter brings along the onset of dry skin, among other things. What can you do to ensure that your skin stays healthy and hydrated this winter? Here are some suggestions from skin care experts. (Interestingly, most of these recommendations apply to how you care for your skin at night or during your morning routine. Even if your work environment does its worst to dry you out, you can still stay ahead of the rough, flaky, cracked skin this winter!)
- Use a humidifier at night. Both your lungs and your skin will thank you for creating a gentler environment.
- Use a heavier moisturizing cream in the winter than in summer. (Mayo Clinic suggests Eucerin or Cetaphil.)
- Exercise or do something that makes you sweat! Sweating flushes toxins and dead cells from your skin, which allows for better absorption of moisturizers.
- Just before bedtime, apply a thick layer of moisturizer to your feet and then wear socks to bed.
- Go easy on the hot water when you shower. Hot water strips oils from your skin and makes it difficult for your body to hydrate naturally. Stick to shorter showers and warm water—even when that long hot shower seems like the only way you can possibly face the day.
- Use mild soaps or body washes with added oils.
- Apply moisturizer while your skin is still wet from your shower. This helps your skin absorb and seal in additional moisture. (Mayo Clinic suggests switching from a lotion to an oil because oils typically last longer.)
- Some skin-healthy foods that can help your body heal itself and produce its own oils include spinach (high in Vitamin A), berries (high in antioxidants and Vitamin C), and foods rich in Omega-3 oils such as salmon, walnuts, and flax seed. Including some of these foods regularly in your diet provides an internal hydration boost.
Don’t let the challenge of maintaining healthy skin cramp your enjoyment of fuzzy sweaters, peppermint mocha lattes, and crackling fires this winter. Let these tips from the pros help you weather the winter with ease.